Entries typically comprised of commercial shipments supported with a surety bond to ensure payment of duties and compliance per the requirements of U.S. Customs and Border Protection- U.S.CBP.   

Below, are three of the most common ways to enter goods into the United States:

• Section 321 Entry (shipments valued at less than $200)

- Entries valued at less than $200.

- In most cases, U.S. Customs will not assess duty, merchandise processing fees or a surety bond. However, some exceptions may include: textiles, clothing, alcohol, etc- in which case a formal entry may be required by U.S. Customs regardless of the value.

• Informal Entry (shipments valued at less than $2000 and more than $200)

- Entries including personal shipments, commercial shipments, and mail shipments entering into the United States for consumption. Consumption refers to the use, or sale of these goods.

- Generally, an informal entry is used for shipments valued at $2000 or less- exceptions may include textiles, plastic / rubber/ leather articles, and other goods that may be subject to certain requirements such as visa or quota.    

• Formal Entry (shipments valued more than $2000- with exceptions)

- Most formal entries are shipments valued more than $2000. Some exceptions include shipments such as textiles and plastic articles where the value is less than $2000, but formal entry IS required by U.S. Customs.