CSMS Message: 97-000023

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : CARLA ZZ-DONOFRIO

SUBJECT : ELVIS-SINGAPORE

DATE : 01/08/97

JANUARY 7, 1997

SPE-2 FO:TC:I:E CDD
CATEGORY: TEX

TO : ALL PORT DIRECTORS, CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT CENTER
(CMC) DIRECTORS AND STRATEGIC TRADE CENTER (STC)
DIRECTORS

FROM : DIRECTOR, TRADE COMPLIANCE

PASS TO : ALL IMPORT SPECIALISTS, NATIONAL IMPORT
SPECIALISTS, ENTRY OFFICERS, INSPECTORS
AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE SPECIALISTS, BROKERS
AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
SUBJECT : TBT-97-005 - CONSOLIDATION AND AMENDMENT OF
EXPORT
VISA REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE THE ELECTRONIC VISA
INFORMATION SYSTEM (ELVIS) FOR CERTAIN COTTON,
WOOL,AND MAN-MADE FIBER TEXTILE PRODUCTS
PRODUCED OR MANUFACTURED IN SINGAPORE
COUNTRY : SINGAPORE

BACKGROUND :

A CITA DIRECTIVE DATED, DECEMBER 9, 1996, DIRECTED U.S.
CUSTOMS TO PROHIBIT, EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1, 1997, ENTRY
INTO CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR CONSUMPTION
AND WITHDRAWAL FROM WAREHOUSE FOR CONSUMPTION OF COTTON,
WOOL, AND MAN-MADE FIBER, TEXTILE PRODUCTS IN CATEGORIES 200-
239, 300-369, 400-469, AND 600-670, INCLUDING PART
CATEGORIES, PRODUCED OR MANUFACTURED IN SINGAPORE AND
EXPORTED ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 1997 FOR WHICH THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE HAS NOT ISSUED AN
APPROPRIATE EXPORT VISA AND-OR ELECTRONIC VISA INFORMATION
SYSTEM (ELVIS) TRANSMISSION FULLY DESCRIBED BELOW. SHOULD
ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES OR PART CATEGORIES BECOME SUBJECT TO
IMPORT QUOTA THE ENTIRE CATEGORY(S) OR PART CATEGORY(S)
SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE COVERAGE OF THIS ARRANGEMENT.

A VISA MUST ACCOMPANY EACH COMMERCIAL SHIPMENT OF THE
AFOREMENTIONED TEXTILE PRODUCTS. A CIRCULAR STAMPED MARKING
IN BLUE INK WILL APPEAR ON THE FRONT OF THE ORIGINAL
COMMERCIAL INVOICE. THE ORIGINAL VISA SHALL NOT BE STAMPED
ON DUPLICATE COPIES OF THE INVOICE. THE ORIGINAL INVOICE
WITH THE ORIGINAL VISA STAMP WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE
SHIPMENT INTO THE UNITED STATES. DUPLICATES OF THE INVOICE
AND-OR VISA MAY NOT BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

EACH VISA STAMP SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

1. THE VISA NUMBER. A UNIQUE VISA NUMBER SHALL BE IN
THE STANDARD NINE DIGIT LETTER FORMAT, BEGINNING WITH
ONE NUMERICAL DIGIT FOR THE LAST DIGIT OF THE YEAR OF
EXPORT, FOLLOWED BY THE TWO CHARACTER ALPHA COUNTRY
CODE SPECIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR
STANDARDIZATION (ISO) (THE CODE FOR SINGAPORE IS
``SG''), AND A SIX DIGIT NUMERICAL SERIAL NUMBER
IDENTIFYING THE SHIPMENT; E.G., 7SG123456.

2. THE DATE OF ISSUANCE. THE DATE OF ISSUANCE SHALL BE
THE DAY, MONTH AND YEAR ON WHICH THE VISA WAS ISSUED.

3. THE ORIGINAL SIGNATURE OF THE ISSUING OFFICIAL OF
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE.

4. THE CORRECT CATEGORY(S), PART CATEGORY(S),
QUANTITY(S) AND UNIT(S) OF QUANTITY IN THE SHIPMENT AS
SET FORTH IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
CORRELATION AND IN THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF
THE UNITED STATES, ANNOTATED OR SUCCESSOR DOCUMENTS
SHALL BE REPORTED IN THE SPACES PROVIDED WITHIN THE
VISA STAMP (E.G., ``CAT. 340-510 DOZ'').

QUANTITIES MUST BE STATED IN WHOLE NUMBERS. DECIMALS
OR FRACTIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

U.S. CUSTOMS SHALL NOT PERMIT ENTRY IF THE SHIPMENT
DOES NOT HAVE A VISA, OR IF THE VISA NUMBER, DATE OF
ISSUANCE, SIGNATURE, CATEGORY, QUANTITY OR UNITS OF
QUANTITY ARE MISSING, INCORRECT OR ILLEGIBLE, OR HAVE
BEEN CROSSED OUT OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY. IF THE
QUANTITY INDICATED ON THE VISA IS LESS THAN THAT OF THE
SHIPMENT, ENTRY SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED. IF THE
QUANTITY INDICATED ON THE VISA IS MORE THAN THAT OF THE
SHIPMENT, ENTRY SHALL BE PERMITTED AND ONLY THE AMOUNT
ENTERED SHALL BE CHARGED TO ANY APPLICABLE QUOTA.

IF THE VISA IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THEN A NEW CORRECT VISA
OR A VISA WAIVER MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE U.S. CUSTOMS
SERVICE BEFORE ANY PORTION OF THE SHIPMENT WILL BE
RELEASED. A VISA WAIVER MAY BE ISSUED BY THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AT THE REQUEST OF THE EMBASSY IN
WASHINGTON FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
SINGAPORE. THE WAIVER, IF USED, ONLY WAIVES THE
REQUIREMENT TO PRESENT A VISA WITH THE SHIPMENT. IT
DOES NOT WAIVE THE QUOTA REQUIREMENT. VISA WAIVERS WILL
ONLY BE ISSUED FOR CLASSIFICATION PURPOSES OR FOR ONE
TIME SPECIAL PURPOSE SHIPMENTS THAT ARE NOT PART OF AN
ONGOING COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.

IF THE VISAED INVOICE IS DEFICIENT, THE U.S. CUSTOMS
SERVICE WILL NOT RETURN THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT AFTER
ENTRY, BUT WILL PROVIDE A CERTIFIED COPY OF THAT VISAED
INVOICE FOR USE IN OBTAINING A NEW CORRECT ORIGINAL
VISAED INVOICE, OR A VISA WAIVER.

ELVIS REQUIREMENTS:

A. EACH ELVIS MESSAGE WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION:

I. THE VISA NUMBER. THE VISA NUMBER SHALL BE IN THE
STANDARD NINE DIGIT LETTER FORMAT, BEGINNING WITH ONE
NUMERICAL DIGIT FOR THE LAST DIGIT OF THE YEAR OF
EXPORT, FOLLOWED BY THE TWO CHARACTER ALPHA COUNTRY
CODE SPECIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR
STANDARDIZATION (ISO) (THE CODE FOR SINGAPORE IS
``SG''), AND A SIX DIGIT NUMERICAL SERIAL NUMBER
IDENTIFYING THE SHIPMENT; E.G., 7SG123456.

II. THE DATE OF ISSUANCE. THE DATE OF ISSUANCE SHALL
BE THE DAY, MONTH AND YEAR ON WHICH THE VISA WAS
ISSUED.

III. THE CORRECT CATEGORY(S), PART CATEGORY(S),
QUANTITY(S) AND UNIT(S) OF QUANTITY IN THE SHIPMENT AS
SET FORTH IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
CORRELATION AND IN THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF
THE UNITED STATES, ANNOTATED OR SUCCESSOR DOCUMENTS.

IV. THE MANUFACTURER ID NUMBER (MID). THE MID SHALL
BEGIN WITH `SG,' FOLLOWED BY THE FIRST THREE CHARACTERS
FROM EACH OF THE FIRST TWO WORDS OF THE NAME OF THE
MANUFACTURER, FOLLOWED BY THE LARGEST NUMBER ON THE
ADDRESS LINE UP TO THE FIRST FOUR DIGITS, FOLLOWED BY
THREE LETTERS FROM THE CITY NAME.

B. ENTRY OF A SHIPMENT SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED:

I. IF AN ELVIS TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED FOR
THE SHIPMENT FROM SINGAPORE;

II. IF THE ELVIS TRANSMISSION FOR THAT SHIPMENT IS
MISSING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

A. VISA NUMBER
B. CATEGORY OR PART CATEGORY
C. QUANTITY
D. UNIT OF MEASURE
E. DATE OF ISSUANCE
F. MANUFACTURER ID NUMBER

III. IF THE ELVIS TRANSMISSION FOR THE SHIPMENT DOES
NOT MATCH THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE IMPORTER WITH
REGARD TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

A. VISA NUMBER
B. CATEGORY OR PART CATEGORY
C. UNIT OF MEASURE

IV. IF THE QUANTITY BEING ENTERED IS GREATER THAN THE
QUANTITY TRANSMITTED.

V. IF THE VISA NUMBER HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN USED, EXCEPT
IN THE CASE OF A SPLIT SHIPMENT, OR CANCELED, EXCEPT
WHEN AN ENTRY HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE USING THE VISA
NUMBER.

C. A NEW, CORRECT ELVIS TRANSMISSION FROM SINGAPORE IS
REQUIRED BEFORE A SHIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN DENIED ENTRY FOR
ONE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 3.B.I-V WILL
BE RELEASED.

D. VISA WAIVERS WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED FOR PARAGRAPH 3.B.I.,
IF THE SHIPMENT QUALIFIES AS A ONE-TIME SPECIAL PURPOSE
SHIPMENT THAT IS NOT PART OF AN ONGOING COMMERCIAL
ENTERPRISE.

E. SHIPMENTS WILL NOT BE RELEASED FOR FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OR 2
CALENDAR DAYS IN THE EVENT OF A SYSTEM FAILURE. IF SYSTEM
FAILURE EXCEEDS FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OR 2 CALENDAR DAYS, FOR
THE REMAINING PERIOD OF THE SYSTEM FAILURE THE U.S. CUSTOMS
SERVICE WILL RELEASE SHIPMENTS ON THE BASIS OF THE PAPER
VISAED DOCUMENT.

F. IF IMPORT QUOTAS ARE IN FORCE, U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE SHALL
CHARGE ONLY THE ACTUAL QUANTITY IN THE SHIPMENT TO THE
CORRECT CATEGORY LIMIT. IF A SHIPMENT FROM SINGAPORE HAS
BEEN ALLOWED ENTRY INTO THE COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES
WITH EITHER AN INCORRECT VISA, NO VISA, AN INCORRECT ELVIS
TRANSMISSION, OR NO ELVIS TRANSMISSION, AND REDELIVERY IS
REQUESTED BUT CANNOT BE MADE, AND AFTER THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE DOES NOT ISSUE A VISA OR ELVIS
TRANSMISSION OR REQUEST A VISA WAIVER (IF APPLICABLE), THE
SHIPMENT WILL BE CHARGED TO THE CORRECT CATEGORY LIMIT
WHETHER OR NOT A REPLACEMENT VISA OR WAIVER IS PROVIDED OR A
NEW ELVIS MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED.

OTHER PROVISIONS.

MERCHANDISE IMPORTED FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF THE IMPORTER
AND NOT FOR RESALE, REGARDLESS OF VALUE, AND PROPERLY MARKED
COMMERCIAL SAMPLE SHIPMENTS VALUED AT U.S.$250 OR LESS, DO
NOT REQUIRE AN EXPORT VISA OR ELVIS TRANSMISSION FOR ENTRY
AND SHALL NOT BE CHARGED TO AGREEMENT LEVELS, IF APPLICABLE.

THE VISA STAMP REMAINS UNCHANGED.

THE ACTIONS TAKEN CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF SINGAPORE WITH RESPECT TO IMPORTS OF TEXTILES AND TEXTILE
PRODUCTS IN THE FOREGOING CATEGORIES HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY
THE COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
TO INVOLVE FOREIGN AFFAIRS FUNCTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES.
THEREFORE, THESE DIRECTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS,
WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH ACTIONS,
FALL WITHIN THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS EXCEPTION TO THE RULEMAKING
PROVISIONS OF 5 U.S.C. 553(A)(1). THIS LETTER WILL BE
PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.

ACTION:

THIS TBT FORMALIZES THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
TO AMEND THE EXISTING VISA ARRANGEMENT FOR TEXTILE PRODUCTS,
PRODUCED OR MANUFACTURED IN SINGAPORE AND EXPORTED ON AND
AFTER JANURY 1, 1997. THE AMENDED ARRANGEMENT CONSOLIDATES
EXISTING AND NEW PROVISIONS OF THE EXPORT VISA ARRANGEMENT,
INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR THE ELECTRONIC VISA INFORMATION
SYSTEM (ELVIS).

INFORMATION:

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS TELEX, DON'T
HESITATE TO CONTACT CARLA D'ONOFRIO AT (202) 927-0424, JUNE
PERGOLA AT (202) 927-0705, OR BOB DORSETT AT (202) 927-7002,
TRADE COMPLIANCE.

PHILIP METZGER