5 Key Facts About Interglobo Customs Broker Inc
If you’ve come across Interglobo Customs Broker Inc while searching for import services and want to know whether they’re the right fit, this guide covers the five most important things to verify before you hire any customs broker — using Interglobo as a concrete case study. Knowing what to look for saves you from compliance headaches, surprise fees, and delayed shipments.
Licensed customs broker: A firm or individual holding a valid license issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under 19 USC § 1641, authorized to prepare customs entries, classify goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, pay duties on behalf of importers, and serve as a legal agent in all CBP transactions. Only licensed brokers may transact customs business on behalf of others for compensation.
There are more than 11,000 CBP-licensed customs brokers active in the United States. Most importers never dig deeper than a Google search before hiring one — which is exactly where problems start. The five facts below give you a framework for evaluating Interglobo Customs Broker Inc, and any other broker you’re comparing them against.
Comparison: What to Check for Any Customs Broker
| Evaluation Factor | What to Look For | Where to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| CBP License Status | Active license, no suspensions | CBP.gov broker lookup |
| Commodity Specialty | Experience with your specific HTS chapter | Ask directly; check client references |
| Port Coverage | Licensed at or near your entry port | CBP port listings, broker profile |
| Fee Transparency | Itemized schedule — entry, ISF, bond, exam | Request in writing before signing |
| NCBFAA Membership | Adherence to professional code of conduct | NCBFAA member directory |
1. Verify the CBP License Is Active
Why it matters: Only a firm or individual holding an active, non-suspended CBP license may legally file customs entries on your behalf for compensation. Hiring an unlicensed party — or one whose license has lapsed — exposes you to fines and entry rejections.
CBP licenses are issued under 19 USC § 1641 and tracked in CBP’s public records. You can confirm any broker’s license status directly on CBP.gov using their name or license number. The search takes under two minutes.
Interglobo Customs Broker Inc operates as a licensed entity, meaning you can — and should — confirm their license number is listed as active in the CBP database before signing any service agreement. Do not rely on a broker’s own website or sales pitch as proof of licensure. Always cross-reference the official record.
Concrete use case: An importer sourcing electronics from Shenzhen hired a “customs broker” who turned out to be an unlicensed freight forwarder. CBP rejected three consecutive entries, each costing the importer a week of warehouse storage fees. A 90-second license check would have prevented it.
You can search all CBP-licensed customs brokers on CustomsBrokerIndex.com and confirm license numbers against CBP’s official records in one step.
2. Confirm Port of Entry Coverage
Why it matters: A customs broker must be licensed at or have an authorized employee at the port where your goods will enter. If your cargo arrives at Miami but your broker only operates out of Chicago, clearance can be delayed or require a costly port-to-port transfer arrangement.
CBP maintains 328 ports of entry across sea, air, land, and rail. About 80% of U.S. import value flows through roughly 20 major ports. Interglobo Customs Broker Inc services specific ports — confirm their primary and secondary port coverage matches your supply chain before you commit.
Ask the broker two direct questions:
- At which ports are you licensed or do you have authorized staff?
- What is your process when cargo arrives at a port outside your primary coverage?
Brokers who are vague about port coverage are often relying on third-party sub-agents, which adds a communication layer that slows entry processing. You can browse brokers by U.S. port of entry to compare options at your specific entry point.
Stat to know: CBP processed over 36 million entry summaries in fiscal year 2023, with the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach alone accounting for more than 25% of containerized imports by value.
3. Assess Commodity and Specialty Experience
Why it matters: Customs classification is not one-size-fits-all. An importer filing under the wrong HTS code — even by one subheading — can face back-duties, penalties under 19 CFR Part 162, and CBP audit exposure. A broker who has filed hundreds of entries for pharmaceutical products knows the FDA Prior Notice requirements and PGA (Partner Government Agency) flags that a generalist broker might miss.
Interglobo Customs Broker Inc should be able to tell you, specifically:
- Which HTS chapters they most frequently work with
- Whether they have experience with any regulated commodity you import (FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT)
- How many entries per year they file for goods similar to yours
If they can’t answer these questions with specifics, that’s a signal to dig deeper. Request references from current clients who import the same commodity type.
You can browse brokers by specialty — including automotive, pharmaceutical, food, electronics, and chemicals — to see all licensed brokers with specialty designations at CustomsBrokerIndex.com. For additional context on how specialty brokers handle complex compliance, see 7 Agencies with Customs Clearance in the US.
Stat to know: FDA-regulated goods account for roughly 20 cents of every dollar of U.S. imports. Brokers without FDA experience routinely miss Prior Notice filings, triggering automatic holds that average 3–5 business days per shipment.
4. Get a Full Fee Breakdown in Writing
Why it matters: Customs broker fees are not regulated by the federal government (unlike ocean carrier tariffs). This means pricing varies widely — and brokers who quote low entry fees often make up the difference in ancillary charges that aren’t disclosed upfront.
A complete, honest fee schedule from any licensed broker should include:
- Entry filing fee — typically $75–$350 depending on complexity
- ISF (Importer Security Filing) fee — typically $25–$75 per ocean shipment
- Customs bond fee — if the broker arranges your single-entry or continuous bond
- Exam/inspection surcharge — CBP and CES exam fees passed through to importer
- Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) / Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) disbursement fee — some brokers charge for paying government fees on your behalf
Ask Interglobo Customs Broker Inc — or any broker — to provide this in writing before signing. A broker who resists providing an itemized schedule is not a broker you want handling your compliance.
Stat to know: The Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) for formal entries is 0.3464% of the cargo value, with a minimum of $32.71 and a maximum of $634.62 per entry (FY2024 rates, per CBP.gov). Importers who don’t understand this fee are often surprised by their first entry invoice.
For additional context on what brokers charge and why, the 5 Key Facts About Davidson and Sons Customs Broker article walks through a similar fee evaluation framework.
5. Check for NCBFAA Membership and Professional Standing
Why it matters: Membership in the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) is a professional signal. NCBFAA members agree to a code of ethics and have access to ongoing compliance training, regulatory updates, and legal resources that non-member brokers may not receive.
It is not a requirement for licensure, but it indicates a broker who takes the professional side of their business seriously. When evaluating Interglobo Customs Broker Inc, check:
- Are they an NCBFAA member?
- Have they faced any CBP disciplinary actions (suspensions, revocations)?
- Are they enrolled in CBP’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, or do they work primarily with C-TPAT certified importers?
CBP disciplinary records for brokers are public. You can verify absence of formal sanctions via CBP.gov. A clean record is not a guarantee of quality, but a disciplinary history — even a resolved one — warrants a direct conversation before you commit.
For a parallel example of how to research a small customs broker firm’s credentials and track record, see 5 Key Facts About Soo Hoo Customs Broker.
How to Choose the Right Customs Broker
After verifying the five facts above, your decision should come down to three things:
1. Port match. Does the broker have licensed personnel at the specific port where your goods enter? If not, how do they handle it, and is that process documented?
2. Commodity fit. Has the broker filed entries for goods in your HTS chapter before? Can they name the PGA requirements that apply to your product? If you import regulated goods — food, pharma, chemicals, vehicles — specialty experience is non-negotiable.
3. Communication standard. Entry status updates, exam hold notifications, and classification decisions happen on tight timelines. Confirm how the broker communicates, how fast they respond to emails, and who your dedicated contact will be. Brokers who don’t assign a specific point of contact tend to have response gaps exactly when you need them most.
If Interglobo Customs Broker Inc passes these three filters for your specific situation, they may be a strong fit. If not, browse brokers by state to compare all licensed options in your region.
Find the Right Licensed Customs Broker for Your Shipment
CustomsBrokerIndex.com lists more than 11,000 CBP-licensed customs brokers across all 50 states, every major port of entry, and dozens of import specialties. Every listing includes the broker’s CBP license number — sourced directly from official CBP records — so you can verify credentials in one place.
Whether you’re comparing Interglobo Customs Broker Inc against regional alternatives or starting your search from scratch, search all CBP-licensed customs brokers to find verified options by location, port, and specialty today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a licensed customs broker?
A licensed customs broker is an individual or firm holding a valid license issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under 19 USC § 1641. Brokers are authorized to prepare and file entry documents, pay duties, and act as a legal agent on behalf of importers during the clearance process. Licensing requires passing a rigorous CBP exam and a background check.
How do I evaluate a customs broker before hiring one?
Verify the broker’s CBP license number on the official CBP.gov broker lookup, confirm their experience with your commodity type and port of entry, and ask for references from current clients who import similar goods. Also check whether the broker is a member of NCBFAA, which requires adherence to a professional code of conduct.
How much does a customs broker charge for entry filing?
Most licensed customs brokers charge between $75 and $350 per customs entry for standard ocean or air shipments, though complex entries involving antidumping duties, FDA review, or USDA inspection can push fees higher. Additional charges may apply for ISF filing ($25–$75), exam holds, or bond fees. Always request an itemized fee schedule before signing.
How does Interglobo compare to a large national customs broker?
Smaller regional brokers like Interglobo Customs Broker Inc typically offer more direct account management and faster response times than large national firms, where clients can be passed between representatives. The trade-off is that large national brokers may have deeper technology infrastructure and multi-port staffing. Your choice should depend on shipment volume, commodity complexity, and how much hands-on service you need.
What is the most common mistake importers make when hiring a customs broker?
The most common mistake is choosing a broker based on price alone without verifying their CBP license, specialty experience, or port coverage. A broker who quotes the lowest entry fee but lacks experience with your commodity type — pharmaceutical, food, automotive — can cause costly exam holds, misfiled HTS codes, or compliance violations that far exceed any fee savings.