Dear US-based importers, please put down what you're doing and listen to this: Starting September 18th, US CBP is serious.
This is not a rumor, not hearsay; it's a written federal regulation.
Simply put, Customs will be strictly scrutinizing your "Importer Identity"-that is, your IOR information.
Previously, for convenience, you used freight forwarder addresses, customs broker phone numbers, and third-party email addresses… all of these practices will no longer work after September 18th.
CBP has drawn several red lines, effectively cutting off any loopholes.
| Previous practices? |
How will it be judged now? |
| Address using a freight forwarder's or customs broker's address |
❌ Not accepted, immediately invalid. |
| Filling in a virtual office or post office address |
❌ Not accepted, immediately invalid. |
| Phone number provided by a freight forwarder |
❌ Not accepted, immediately invalid. |
| Email address provided by a service provider |
❌ Not accepted, immediately invalid. |
CBP explicitly stated: It must be the importer's actual business or residential address.
Once discovered, the consequences are not as simple as "just add some documents":
Immediate invalidation
Form 5106 fails review, the IOR number is immediately invalidated, with no grace period and no opportunity for correction.
Cargo detained at port
With the IOR number invalidated, goods in transit cannot clear customs and will be stuck at the port, awaiting hefty demurrage and container demurrage fees.
Peak season stockouts
September is peak season for stocking up. If you can't get your goods out, your store will be out of stock, and your ranking will drop. The losses are immeasurable, far exceeding a few hundred dollars in shipping costs.
Moreover, existing accounts are also subject to scrutiny. Those accounts you previously thought were "safe" are actually high-risk targets. CBP is already fully reviewing all existing data, and September 18th is the day the floodgates open.
A word of advice: Immediately contact your freight forwarder to confirm that the IOR address, phone number, and email address are all yours. If not, there's still time to change them before September 18th.
Don't wait until your goods arrive at the port to discover your IOR number is invalid. By then, it will be too late.
For assistance with verification or to understand the details of the new regulations, feel free to contact me.
About author: Vilien Wu, Salesperson from Shenzhen Senghor Sea & Air Logistics Co., Ltd. Specializes in traditional sea freight and air freight door-to-door services in markets such as Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Has extensive practical experience in consolidating shipments and integrating shipments from multiple suppliers.
Since entering the industry, I've worked with many small and medium-sized importers and found that many foreign trade professionals have only a superficial understanding of logistics, with most of their experience gained through trial and error. Therefore, I've decided to share some real-world shipping cases and logistics knowledge to help more foreign trade professionals avoid pitfalls in the shipping process.
Whether a shipment can be successfully shipped depends on the freight forwarder's control and predictive ability at each stage. Choosing a reliable freight forwarder is crucial, but as a foreign trade professional, having some logistics knowledge yourself allows for better judgment and selection.
Welcome to contact me anytime if you have shipping needs or logistics questions.
Send an email: sales09@senghorlogistics.com
