Customs and International Trade Law Blog : International Trade Lawyer & Attorney : Becker & Poliakoff Law Firm : Customs Law, Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry program is a smashing success. I have been a member for a few years, and have personally experienced its principal benefit of rapidly and easily clearing Customs upon arrival in the United States.  Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.   Applicants must first pass a comprehensive background investigation  Not everyone gets accepted, however, and for those people who have applied and been denied, there is an appeal process.

To apply, simply answer some questions on-line at www.globalentry.gov, then schedule an appointment at one of the many CBP enrollment centers. Bring with you a few required documents such as a passport, answer a few simple questions about your international travels, and you will soon be notified of your acceptance or disapproval into Global Entry.

If disapproved, you will be notified electronically and the CBP disapproval letter will be from "Supervisor, Global Entry Enrollment Center, U.S. Customs and Border Protection," located in Williston, Vermont.  A typical disapproval letter will say.

We regret to inform you that your membership in Global Entry has been disapproved for the following reason(s):

You have been found to have violated CBP laws, regulations, or other related laws.

CBP has never set forth any specific guidelines for disapproving an applicant except "other circumstances that indicate to CBP that you have not qualified as 'low risk' - whatever that means.  

Fortunately, there is an administrative appeal process which the applicant should pursue.  There is no court, no judge, no meeting with CBP, and not even any conversation with CBP as part of the appeal; it is all done by paper to the Vermont address.  You get one chance to do it right, so make sure your appeal is comprehensive and persuasive.

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Comments or questions, click below, or contact me directly.

Peter Quinter, Partner in Charge, Customs and International Trade Law Department

(954) 270-1864 or pquinter@becker-poliakoff.com

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Hundreds of people apply every year to become a customs broker. Customs brokers are licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The process requires passing a rigorous multiple choice examination, and then passing a background investigation.  For many applicants who successfully pass the examination, they are denied a license because the background investigation revealed a poor credit history and rating. 

Although the application to be a customs broker is submitted to the local port, the decision letter granting or denying a broker license is issued by Allen Gina, Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Trade, CBP Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  A typical denial letter would state:

After careful evaluation of the information obtained from the background investigation, we must deny your application due to your financial history.

The denial letter always cites the CBP regulation at 19 CFR 111.16 - a failure to establish the business integrity and good character of the applicant.  Fortunately, the letter also cites 19 CFR 111.17 which provides the right of appeal of the denial of the customs broker license.

The appeal must be filed, in writing, and submitted to Mr. Gina no later than 60 days from the date of the denial letter. The appeal must persuasively argue why the applicant has business integrity and good character.  For example, if the applicant went through a divorce, and the former spouse failed to pay certain bills which negatively affected the applicant's credit history and rating, that is an important fact that must be argued, and documented, in the appeal.  

There are numerous reasons why CBP may legitimately deny a customs broker license to an applicant who has a spotty financial history. Similarly, there are numerous reasons to explain to CBP that despite what appears to be a questionable financial history, the applicant has business integrity and good character, and should still receive the customs broker license.

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Comments or questions, click below, or contact me directly.

Peter Quinter, Partner in Charge

Customs and International Trade Law Department

(954) 270-1864 or pquinter@becker-poliakoff.com

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