Licensed Customs Broker in Miami
AP Customs LLC is a licensed U.S. customs brokerage (CHB License #42750) serving importers, freight forwarders, and NVOCCs through PortMiami, Miami International Airport (MIA), and Port Everglades.
Customs Clearance at Every South Florida Gateway
PortMiami — Ocean Container Cargo
PortMiami is one of the busiest container ports in the Southeast, handling over a million TEUs a year with heavy trade lanes to and from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe. Ocean imports arriving here move through the port's container terminals, and any shipment flagged for an intensive exam is transferred to a local CES (Centralized Examination Station) — a process a broker needs to actively manage, not just watch.
For PortMiami entries we handle ISF (10+2) filing before vessel departure, entry filing and duty payment, release monitoring, and CES exam coordination — including communicating with the exam station and your trucker so a hold doesn't quietly turn into a week of demurrage.
Miami International Airport (MIA) — Air Cargo
MIA is the leading U.S. airport for international freight, and the primary U.S. gateway for perishables, flowers, pharmaceuticals, and high-value cargo from Latin America and the Caribbean. Air cargo clearance at MIA moves fast — entries are typically filed on flight arrival information, and time-sensitive goods can't sit while a distant broker works a queue.
We clear air shipments through MIA with pre-arrival entry preparation where possible, coordination with airline cargo facilities and CFS warehouses, and fast turnaround on documents so perishable and time-critical freight releases without avoidable storage charges.
Port Everglades — Fort Lauderdale Ocean Gateway
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is South Florida's second major ocean container gateway, minutes from our Sunrise, FL office. Many South Florida importers split volume between PortMiami and Port Everglades depending on carrier and service — and your broker should be equally comfortable filing through either.
We support Port Everglades entries with the same workflow: ISF filing, entry clearance, exam coordination, and release tracking, with the added advantage of being physically based in Broward County.
Brokerage Services for Miami Importers
- ISF Filing Support — In-house ISF (10+2) filing with deadline tracking — filed at least 24 hours before vessel loading.
- CBP Exam Coordination — CES/CFS scheduling, documentation, and trucker communication when Miami cargo is held or examined.
- HTS Classification Review — Independent classification review to catch duty errors and AD/CVD exposure before entries reach CBP.
- Brokerage Process Review — A structured audit of your current clearance workflow — where delays, ISF risk, and blind spots hide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get customs clearance in Miami?
Customs clearance in Miami works the same way as at any U.S. port: a licensed customs broker files your entry with CBP electronically, pays duties on your behalf, and monitors the shipment through release. For ocean cargo you (or your broker) must also file an ISF at least 24 hours before the vessel departs the foreign port. In practice, clearance speed in Miami depends on how quickly your broker files, how clean your documents are, and how well they handle any CBP hold or exam. AP Customs handles the full process — ISF, entry filing, duty payment, exam coordination, and release — for cargo arriving at PortMiami, MIA, and Port Everglades.
Do I need a local Miami customs broker?
Not strictly required — a licensed CHB in any state can file entries through any U.S. port. But local knowledge matters in Miami. A broker who regularly files through PortMiami and MIA knows the local terminal operators, exam station processes, and port-specific procedures in ways that a distant broker routing entries through a central hub may not. For consistent Miami import volume, local experience is worth prioritizing.
What's the difference between an import broker and a customs broker?
They're usually the same thing — 'import broker' is an informal term for a licensed customs broker (CHB), the only party legally authorized to file formal customs entries on an importer's behalf. What matters is the license: ask for the CHB license number and verify it through CBP's public broker directory. AP Customs LLC holds CHB License #42750.
Who files my ISF — do I need a separate ISF broker?
No separate provider is needed. ISF (Importer Security Filing, or '10+2') is typically filed by your customs broker, and keeping ISF and entry filing with the same broker avoids data mismatches between the two filings — a common source of CBP holds. The critical requirement is timing: ISF must be filed at least 24 hours before the vessel loads at the foreign port. Late or inaccurate ISF filings carry penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. AP Customs files ISF in-house with deadline tracking on every shipment.
What does a customs broker charge?
Customs broker fees vary by entry type, commodity complexity, and the services included. Common fee components include an entry filing fee, ISF filing fee, document review fee, and disbursement fees for duties and charges paid on your behalf. Request a complete fee schedule upfront — not just a base entry fee — so you understand the total cost per shipment.
Can one broker handle both air and ocean imports through Miami?
Yes. A licensed CHB can file entries for both ocean and air cargo at any U.S. port of entry. Whether your cargo arrives at PortMiami or MIA, the same broker can handle clearance — though you should confirm they have active experience with both port environments, as air cargo release procedures at MIA differ from ocean terminal procedures at PortMiami.
My container was flagged for a CBP exam at PortMiami — what happens now?
The container is moved to a Centralized Examination Station (CES), where CBP physically inspects the cargo. You pay the CES fees, drayage, and any storage while it waits. What your broker controls is speed: promptly providing documents CBP requests, coordinating with the exam station, and keeping your trucker informed so the container moves as soon as it's released. Slow coordination here is where importers lose the most money in demurrage and storage.