Port of entry: New York
Customs broker for JFK International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is CBP port 4701 in the New York Field Office. Allied CHB files entries for air cargo, express shipments and held mail at JFK in ACE under filer code 9AJ.
Port facts
What does CBP port 4701 cover?
- CBP port code
- 4701
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
- Mode
- Air
- Air cargo, express shipments and international mail
- CBP field office
- New York
- The field office also covers port 4601, New York/Newark.
- CBP port office
- Building 77, Jamaica, NY 11430
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Entry deadline
- 15 calendar days after landing
- 19 CFR 142.2
- General order
- From day 15 after landing
- Cargo without an entry goes to a general order warehouse at the importer's risk and expense (19 CFR 122.50).
- FDA
- Division of Northeast Imports
- New York District Office, Jamaica, NY
- USDA APHIS PPQ
- Plant inspection station
- Jamaica, NY
- USFWS designated port
- Yes
- New York, New York (50 CFR 14.12)
Which agencies check cargo at JFK?
| Agency | Office for JFK | What it means for your cargo |
|---|---|---|
| CBP | Port 4701, New York Field Office | Cargo release, exams, holds and penalties. The CBP port page lists contacts for cargo operations, the International Mail Facility and Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures. |
| FDA | Division of Northeast Imports, New York District Office (Jamaica, NY) | Food, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. FDA lists port 4701 under this office, and also codes for express facilities in Jamaica, NY, for example 4770 (Federal Express) and 4772 (DHL). |
| USDA APHIS PPQ | Plant inspection station, Jamaica, NY | Plants, cuttings and seeds for planting go to a plant inspection station for clearance. Most need a phytosanitary certificate and a USDA import permit. |
| USDA APHIS Veterinary Services | New York Animal Import Center, Rock Tavern (Newburgh), NY | Quarantine for imported birds, poultry, horses and other livestock. APHIS put the center near JFK, Stewart and Newark airports. |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Designated port: New York, New York | Wildlife and wildlife products can enter here. The importer files Form 3-177 with the Service (50 CFR 14.61). |
| CDC | CDC-registered animal care facility at JFK | A foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country for dog rabies needs a reservation at a CDC-registered facility. In the New York area, CDC lists one at JFK only. |
FDA asks that questions about an entry under initial review go to the FDA ImportShield Program. Questions about an exam, a sample, a detention or a refusal go to the import operations of the Division of Northeast Imports.
What arrives at JFK, and which rules matter most?
E-commerce and express parcels
The de minimis exemption (Section 321) is suspended for all countries since August 29, 2025 (EO 14324). Each parcel now needs an entry and pays duty. A seller who ships in bulk to a U.S. warehouse can use one entry for the whole shipment. See our e-commerce page.
Air freight consolidations
One master air waybill can hold many house air waybills. For CBP, each house air waybill is a separate shipment. Send us the house air waybill number, not only the master.
Food, supplements and cosmetics
FDA needs prior notice for food no less than 4 hours before the aircraft arrives (21 CFR 1.279). Drugs, devices and cosmetics also go through FDA review in ACE. Read our FDA prior notice guide.
Plants and seeds for planting
Material for planting goes to the APHIS plant inspection station in Jamaica, NY. Most shipments need a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country and a USDA import permit.
Live animals and pets
Horses, birds and other livestock go to USDA quarantine. Dogs follow CDC rules, and cats and other pets have their own rules. See our pet import page.
International mail
CBP has an International Mail Facility at JFK. CBP holds a parcel there when it needs a formal entry or more information. From October 22, 2026, CBP enforces formal entry rules for low-value mail. Read the mail formal entry update.
What goes wrong at JFK, and what should I do?
CBP orders an exam
The cargo moves to a centralized examination station (CES). A CES is a private facility where CBP officers examine goods (19 CFR 118.1). The importer pays to prepare the goods for exam (19 CFR 151.6) and the CES fees on its approved fee schedule (19 CFR 118.4). Keep the invoice, packing list and product details ready.
FDA holds the shipment
FDA can ask for documents, take a sample or detain the goods. Send the documents to your filer on the same day. If FDA detains the goods, you can answer with evidence or ask to recondition them. See FDA holds and detentions.
Storage and general order
Air cargo terminals charge storage after their free time. If no entry is filed, the cargo goes to a general order warehouse from the 15th calendar day after landing (19 CFR 122.50). Goods left in CBP custody for 6 months from import are treated as unclaimed and abandoned (19 CFR 127.11).
The cargo must move to another port
Cargo can land at JFK and move in-bond to another port. The carrier must deliver it within 30 days (19 CFR 18.1(i)) and report arrival within two business days (19 CFR 18.1(j)). See in-bond moves.
CBP seizes the goods or issues a penalty
The CBP port page lists a Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures office for JFK. The notice gives the deadline to answer. Do not let it pass. See penalty petitions.
How does Allied CHB file an entry at JFK?
Allied CHB files entries remotely in ACE under filer code 9AJ at every U.S. port of entry. For JFK, the cargo stays at the airport terminal or the CES. We file the entry, answer CBP and the other agencies, and tell you when the cargo is released for pickup.
We can file before the aircraft lands (19 CFR 142.2(b)). Send the documents when the flight leaves. For the first entry, sign the power of attorney online.
Master and house air waybill numbers
Commercial invoice and packing list
Importer of record number and a customs bond
A formal entry needs a bond. See customs bonds.
Agency data
For FDA, USDA or USFWS goods: manufacturer, FDA registration numbers, permits and certificates.
A signed power of attorney
One time, before the first entry.
Quote on request
How do I get a quote?
Request: Customs entry at JFK Airport
Quote on request
Questions
Questions about customs at JFK
What is the CBP port code for JFK?
4701. CBP lists John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York as port 4701 in the New York Field Office. FDA also lists express facilities in Jamaica, NY under their own codes, for example 4770 for Federal Express and 4772 for DHL.
Do I need a customs broker with an office at JFK?
No. A licensed broker with a national permit can do customs business at every U.S. port (19 CFR 111.19). Allied CHB is in Rahway, New Jersey and files JFK entries in ACE. The cargo, the exam and the pickup stay at the airport.
How long can my air cargo stay at JFK without an entry?
Until the 15th calendar day after landing (19 CFR 122.50). After that, it goes to a general order warehouse at your risk and expense. Terminal storage charges usually start sooner, when the terminal free time ends.
Can I bring a dog into the United States through JFK?
Yes, if the dog meets the CDC rules. A foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country for dog rabies needs a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility. In the New York area, CDC lists that facility at JFK, not at Newark or LaGuardia. See our pet import page.
CBP holds my parcel at the JFK International Mail Facility. What do I do?
Read the CBP notice. It names the facility and tells you what CBP needs. If CBP asks for a formal entry, a licensed broker can file it for you. See detained mail.
Can wildlife products enter at JFK?
Yes. New York, New York is a designated port for wildlife (50 CFR 14.12). The importer files Form 3-177 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Species listed under CITES also need CITES documents.
Cargo landing at JFK?
Call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com
Last reviewed September 28, 2026. This page explains customs rules in general terms. It is not legal advice. Duty rates and CBP procedures change often, and we confirm the figures for your shipment in writing before you commit.
Sources
- CBP: John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York - 4701
- CBP: New York Field Office
- FDA: New York import offices and ports of entry
- USDA APHIS: Plant inspection stations (Program Aid 1942)
- USDA APHIS: Animal import centers
- CDC: CDC-registered animal care facilities
- 19 CFR 122.50 (general order, aircraft)
- 19 CFR part 118 (centralized examination stations)
- 19 CFR 18.1 (in-bond)
- 50 CFR 14.12 (designated ports)