Paper Filers to See Delays After Feb. 28, Says LA Field Office

Entries and entry summaries filed on paper after Feb. 28 at the Los Angeles area ports will face delays, said Anne Maricich, acting director of field operations in L.A in a Jan. 15 public bulletin. As of Feb. 28, the Automated Commercial Environment will be available and electronic filing will be required in ACE, she said. The L.A. international airport, L.A./Long Beach Seaport and "outlying ports will give priority to processing all electronic entries and entry summaries," said Maricich. "Filers who submit paper entries will face delays in cargo processing, impacting the release of their shipments." Only 12 percent of "cargo" and 69 percent of entry summaries are being filed at the area's ports in ACE as of the end of 2015, said Maricich. Low levels of cargo release submissions is a source of some concern at CBP ahead of the ACE transition dates (see 1510190017 and 1601140031).