Every product needs the correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule code applied to it at the time of importation, so you pay the duty you actually owe, not more. This is not always a simple process. It requires expert analysis into the products, how it was made and how it is used. In addition establishing the country of origin is also a very important issue for the products. This also requires expert analysis. With tariff policy shifting more frequently than it has in years, getting this wrong is an expensive mistake to make.
US Customs Brokerage & Clearance Services
Navia's US customs clearance is handled entirely in-house, by the same team managing your freight, not handed off to a third-party broker who's never seen your shipment. Our licensed customs team manages classification, documentation, ISF filing, and CBP clearance for sea, air cross border freight moving through every US port.
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What Our US Customs Brokerage Covers
Customs is where freight gets held, and where the cost of a mistake is highest. We manage the full entry process for your shipment, not just the paperwork. Our customs brokerage include a through review of you products process and valuation.
✔ In-house customs brokerage, no third-party handoff
✔ CTPAT-certified across our US operations
✔ One team accountable for your freight and your clearance
HTS Classification & Duty Assessment
ISF Filing
Importer Security Filings are required to be submitted to CBP ahead of vessel loading, so your ocean freight isn't the reason for a delay before it's even left origin. Shipments that lack the correct ISF filing at least 48 hours prior to loading may be subject to costly penalties up to $5000 per shipment in addition to being held at the port of arrival where even more costly storage and demurrage charges may accumulate.
Entry Preparation & Documentation
Commercial invoices, packing lists, and entry documentation prepared and checked against each other before filing. Document mismatches cause more avoidable delays than anything else in the process.
Partner Government Agency Coordination
There are 42 partnering agencies. Products may need pre approval before shipping. We manage that process directly with the import and the agency.
Navia works before the shipment is ready to insure all PGA reporting is accurate compliance and consistent.
We develop product databases and collect all the information required prior to the entry of the cargo.
Duty Drawback & Trade Programs
We identify where duty drawback, bonded warehousing, or preferential trade programs apply to your freight profile, and handle the filings to claim them.
Exception Handling
The NaviaHub's Critical Chain module flags customs holds and documentation gaps the moment they happen. A flagged exam or a documentation query gets worked by our team while it's still fixable, instead of turning into a shipment you're chasing answers on.
Why Customs Brokerage Matters
Most freight forwarders subcontract customs clearance to an outside broker. Every question about your entry has to pass through that separate relationship first. This is against the law and should not occur. When something goes wrong, you can end up waiting on two organizations to agree on whose problem it is before either one gets around to fixing it. Navia's customs team sits inside the same operation moving your freight. There's no re-explaining the shipment to a broker who wasn't part of the original booking, and no gap in accountability when a clearance issue needs to be resolved fast.
One team, managing your freight from origin pickup through CBP release to final delivery. Navia’s customs team also will clear your goods when other forwarders are being used. Customers with direct contracts can still use Navia for their customs brokerage and get complete customs visibility. Multiple import trade lanes, terms of sale, and shipping contracts can all be managed through one company.
We review your product profile before anything ships
HTS classifications confirmed, PGA requirements identified, country of origin. and any applicable trade programs flagged, before your first shipment is even booked.
Documentation is prepared and cross-checked
Commercial invoice, packing list, and entry paperwork are reconciled against each other, so CBP doesn't kick it back for a mismatch.
Entry is filed and duty is settled
We file your entry with CBP and manage duty payment.
CBP flags get worked immediately
Exams, PGA reviews, and documentation queries get actioned as soon as they're raised. You can see the status in the NaviaHub the entire time.
Cargo is released and moves to final delivery
The same team that managed your clearance coordinates onward road delivery to your warehouse or distribution center, no separate carrier to arrange.
How Long Does US Customs Clearance Take?
Clearance timing depends on the mode of transport, the accuracy of your documentation, and whether CBP selects your shipment for an exam. As general guidance: Unless the goods are quota or there is a pending change in duty rates, Navia clears all ocean shipments 5 days prior to arrival of the vessel when the client provides proper documentation. Navia will clear all airfreight shipments as soon as the airline can confirm the manifest and flight has left.
The single biggest lever you have over your own clearance time is documentation accuracy. Most delays trace back to incorrect HTS codes, poor descriptions of goods , failure to follow PGA regulations, an improper invoice value that doesn't reconcile with the declared quantity, or missing certificates rather than bad luck. These are all due to poor communications with the broker. We check for all this before shipping, so they don't turn into a hold at the port with extremely high penalties, seizure or refusal of admission and cause to re-export.
Talk to a US customs broker.
Have a shipment that's already stuck, or want to see what a clearance process without the third-party broker looks like?
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Do I legally need a customs broker to import into the US?
Not always, but for anything beyond a personal, low-value shipment, using a licensed broker is the practical choice. Only very large companies who make the choice to self file and hire their own customs compliance team do not use customs brokers. Importers are ultimately responsible for meeting all CBP entry requirements, HTS classification, and PGA rules are detailed enough that mistakes are common and costly when importers file on their own. 98% of goods entering the US are through a customs broker.
What causes most customs clearance delays?
Lack of communication and documentation errors are the most common causes, but also a mismatched HTS code, an invoice value that doesn't reconcile with the declared quantity, or a missing certificate. Physical exams and PGA holds account for most of the rest.
Can Navia help recover overpaid duty?
Yes. Where goods have been misclassified, certain trade programs have not been used, or preferential trade program eligibility applies, we identify it and manage the filing to claim it.
Which US ports and airports does Navia clear customs through?
Navia, like most brokers, has a National permit. We can clear goods though all US ports of entry and airports. We manage clearance for sea and air freight through every US gateway we operate in, including the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Chicago O'Hare, Houston, and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, with onward road delivery to any US address.
What happens if my shipment is flagged for a customs exam?
The NaviaHub surfaces the hold the moment CBP raises it. Our team works directly with CBP to resolve it, whether that's a document request, a non-intrusive scan, or a physical inspection, and you can see where things stand without having to call and ask.
What are organizations looking for in a customs broker, and what sets Navia apart?
Navia offers deep technical expertise in import classification and tariff consulting. We proactively issue trade alerts on shifts in the tariff landscape, so clients stay ahead of regulatory change. We maintain comprehensive client product databases that support ongoing customs compliance, backed by extensive AI-audited reporting. Finally, our technical programs convert data from client-provided paperwork automatically, minimizing the risk of manual data-entry errors.