19 U.S.C. § 1434 : US Code - Section 1434: Entry; vessels

Search 19 U.S.C. § 1434 : US Code - Section 1434: Entry; vessels

(a) Formal entry
Within 24 hours (or such other period of time as may be provided
under subsection (c)(2) of this section) after the arrival at any
port or place in the United States of -
(1) any vessel from a foreign port or place;
(2) any foreign vessel from a domestic port;
(3) any vessel of the United States having on board foreign
merchandise for which entry has not been made; or
(4) any vessel which has visited a hovering vessel or has
delivered or received merchandise while outside the territorial
sea;
the master of the vessel shall, unless otherwise provided by law,
make formal entry at the nearest customs facility or such other
place as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.
(b) Preliminary entry
The Secretary may by regulation permit the master to make
preliminary entry of the vessel with the Customs Service in lieu of
formal entry or before formal entry is made. In permitting
preliminary entry, the Customs Service shall board a sufficient
number of vessels to ensure compliance with the laws it enforces.
(c) Regulations
The Secretary may by regulation -
(1) prescribe the manner and format in which entry under
subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section,
or both, must be made, and such regulations may provide that any
such entry may be made electronically pursuant to an electronic
data interchange system;
(2) provide that -
(A) formal entry must be made within a greater or lesser time
than 24 hours after arrival, but in no case more than 48 hours
after arrival, and
(B) formal entry may be made before arrival; and
(3) authorize the Customs Service to permit entry or
preliminary entry of any vessel to be made at a place other than
a designated port of entry, under such conditions as may be
prescribed.