Vision Importer Security Filing Software Training Seller Module Training V3_0214 English

Beginning January 26, 2009 USA Importers are required by law to submit no fewer than 10 data elements + bill of lading number to US Customs no later than 24 hours prior to the container loading on board a vessel at the foreign port. This regulation ONLY applies to OCEAN shipments at this time. Beginning July 9 th 2013, U.S. Customs started issuing penalties for ISF violations. The importer may face penalties amounting to as much as $10, for each late or inaccurate filing. Foreign sellers are required to enter some shipment information into our Vision ISF system NO LATER THAN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE CONTAINER LOADING ON BOARD THE VESSEL. V. Alexander is providing this Internet based software to allow for filing the Importer Security Filing. This software is very easy to learn and use. V. Alexander is acting as the US Customs Broker for your U.S. customer and will be filing the ISF data with U.S. Customs based on the information that you provide to us. ISF FACTS

Step One: You will be receiving an generated from our Vision ISF system that will allow you, as a seller, to login and use the ISF software. This contains your system username and password, as well as links to ISF instructional videos and other information. CREATING YOUR ACCOUNT

Step Two: To access the Vision ISF system go to and look for the Login to Vision link at the top right. SYSTEM LOGIN NOTE: CHANGE GRAPHIC, no longer VNET

Step Three: After logging into the system the first thing that you, as the seller, will need to do is confirm your company information and add the other ISF parties into the system (such as consolidator, stuffing location and manufacturer. These other parties can easily be added later when you begin filing ISF information on shipments.) Click on ADDRESS BOOK at the top menu. CONFIRM INFORMATION NOTE: New screen shot required

In the address book, it is important that you verify your company information and add any missing or incorrect data, including phone and fax information. Then CLICK SUBMIT to save your changes. CONFIRM INFORMATION NOTE: New screen shot required

Step Four: The OTHER PARTIES tab is where you will input the “other parties” of the ISF filing, such as the consolidator or (container stuffer), container stuffing location and manufacturer. ADD OTHER PARTIES PLEASE NOTE: You do NOT need to input your company information in the other parties tab. In most transactions your company may be the stuffer, stuffing location and manufacturer and the filing screen will allow you to use your company information for almost any ISF party.

Step Five: The USERS tab is where you can add contacts for any party. Contacts are not required for the ISF filing but may assist us should we need to ask any questions about preparing the filing. Contacts will receive all ISF related notifications. You can also add other ISF users within your company. To do this simply add a contact for your company and make sure you check the box “SEND ACCOUNT SETUP ”. That new user will receive an with system access information. ADD USERS

REMOVE THIS SLIDE IMPORTERS SCREEN

Step Six: This is your ISF CONTROL PANEL. This is where you will be able to view all shipments entered into the VNET ISF system. You will be able to monitor the status of the ISF acceptance by U.S. Customs, file amendments and view summary information for any ISF transaction. Access this screen by clicking on the control panel button on the top menu. CONTROL PANEL NOTE: Remember that gear icon has been removed, hover over line for other options

Step Seven: Next, let’s take a look at how to FILE the Importer Security Filing in the Vision ISF system. When you have commercial invoice details and a bill of lading number you are ready to input the ISF. This MUST BE filed no later than 72 hours prior to the container loading on board the vessel. Additionally, U.S. Customs requires that if any information changes before the vessel arrives at the first U.S. port then the ISF must be amended. To begin, click on NEW FILING. ISF FILING SCREEN

If you have any templates saved you can start a new filing by selecting “New From Template.” This option will not be visible if you have not created any templates. Fill in the screen with your ISF information. To save time for future ISF filings, you can save a filing as a “template”. ISF FILING SCREEN

Next, enter the bill of lading number. If you have a house bill of lading you must use this, otherwise use the master bill of lading number. The ISF regulations state that you must report the “lowest” bill of lading level. Because the bill of lading number is so critical, the system requires you to enter it twice to insure it is accurate. The SCAC code is a four character code that precedes any bill of lading. This must be an accurate code recognized by US Customs, the system will only allow valid SCAC codes. The bill of lading used should be the same bill of lading reported by the carrier or consolidator as the AMS bill of lading. ISF FILING SCREEN

Next you will select the ISF parties. If you have previously set these up in your address book then just select them from the drop down list. If not, simply click the icon and add it here. If you need to remove a party from the filing just click REMOVE. ISF FILING SCREEN

In the final step, upload the commercial invoice. To do this simply click browse and choose documents from your computer. You can attach as many documents as you need. V. Alexander must have this information to classify the invoice accurately for U.S. Customs. V. Alexander will determine the proper HS tariff number to use. ISF FILING SCREEN

When the ISF is submitted you also have the option to save it as a template. This is optional but allows you to quickly complete future ISF filings. To save a filing as a template, simply enter a name and check the box to save it. Now click submit and the ISF is finished. ISF FILING SCREEN

As soon as you submit the ISF Filing Screen, our V. Alexander staff will be notified and begin processing the ISF to be sent to U.S. Customs. As soon as we have notification from U.S. Customs that they have accepted the ISF transmission our system will send you an confirmation. Additionally, you will see the status change on your control panel to “OK TO LOAD”. At this point you are safe to allow the container to load on the vessel. ISF FILING PROCESS

Step Eight: Now that the ISF has been submitted, the shipment is shown on your control panel. From here you can monitor filing status, file amendments, view attached document and other functions. SELLER CONTROL PANEL

It is very important to monitor the ISF STATUS column. It is here that you will be notified when a container is OK TO LOAD. The system will also send you an when the shipment has been accepted by US Customs. SELLER CONTROL PANEL

At any time during operating hours you can click on LIVE HELP and one of our ISF Entry Specialists, if available, will be very happy to assist you or call and ask for ISF Operations. LIVE SUPPORT

V. Alexander is committed to making your import customer’s ISF program a success. It will require your complete cooperation and possibly a dramatic change in your document flow. However, with careful attention it is certainly manageable. Remember, the ISF must be filed no later than 48 to 72 hours prior to the container loading on the vessel at the foreign port. This is the most important aspect of this rule. Even if all information is not known at the time of filing, you should file the best information available and amend it later. Be sure to check ww.valexander.com and look for the IMPORTER SECURITY FILING section for the latest news and updates on this program. You can also download important documents such as our ISF webinar, FAQ document and the final rule document from the Federal Register.ww.valexander.com Finally, THANK YOU for your patience and support. For technical support questions on the software For questions relating to information in the ISF such as bill of lading, parties, documentation and other operational issues SUMMARY

WORKING NOTES – NOT PART OF PROJECT [Slide 8] The “Contacts” tab is now “Users”. Whereas before they could add contacts to any party, now the “Users” tab is simply to add additional ISF users. For Sellers, that just means additional users for their company. For Importers, this could mean adding additional users for their company OR adding users to/for an associated Seller. [DAVID] Are you saying that the it is now the “USERS” tab? Are you saying that if you are a seller you can ONLY add users for your company but you can no longer add users for other parties? [Slide 14] Instead of clicking an “X” icon, they now click the “remove” link to remove a party from the filing. A definite change that really applies to the whole program, but especially the filing parties is that they can now type-to-select the parties. Of course, this used to be the case in the old ISF as well. However, it has been broken for so long due to the browser/Telerik issue that it might bare re-introduction. [Slide 15] They now click “Select File” instead of “Browse…” and “Upload File” instead of “Attach Document”. [Slide 16] They must now click on “New Template…” before saving the item as a template.