(a) Individual. In order to obtain a broker's license, an individual must:

(1) Be a citizen of the United States on the date of submission of the application referred to in § 111.12(a) and not an officer or employee of the United States Government;

(2) Attain the age of 21 prior to the date of submission of the application referred to in § 111.12(a);

(3) Be of good moral character; and

(4) Have established, by attaining a passing (75 percent or higher) grade on an examination taken within the 3-year period before submission of the application referred to in § 111.12(a), that he has sufficient knowledge of customs and related laws, regulations and procedures, bookkeeping, accounting, and all other appropriate matters to render valuable service to importers and exporters.

(b) Partnership. In order to qualify for a broker's license, a partnership must have at least one member of the partnership who is a broker.

(c) Association or corporation. In order to qualify for a broker's license, an association or corporation must:

(1) Be empowered under its articles of association or articles of incorporation to transact customs business as a broker; and

(2) Have at least one officer who is a broker.

(a) Submission of application and fee. An application for a broker's license must be timely submitted to the processing Center after the applicant attains a passing grade on the examination. The application must be executed on CBP Form 3124. The application must be accompanied by the application fee prescribed in § 111.96(a) and one copy of the appropriate attachment required by the application form (Articles of Agreement or an affidavit signed by all partners, Articles of Agreement of the association, or the Articles of Incorporation). If the applicant proposes to operate under a trade or fictitious name in one or more States, evidence of the applicant's authority to use the name in each of those States must accompany the application. The application, application fee and any additional documentation as required above may be submitted to a CBP-authorized electronic data interchange (EDI) system. If a CBP-authorized EDI system is not available, then the information must be submitted in writing to the processing Center. An application for an individual license must be submitted within the 3-year period after the applicant took and passed the examination referred to in §§ 111.11(a)(4) and 111.13. The processing Center may require an individual applicant to provide a copy of the notification that the applicant passed the examination (see § 111.13(e)) and will require the applicant to submit fingerprints at the time of the interview. The processing Center may reject an application as improperly filed if the application is incomplete or, if on its face, the application demonstrates that one or more of the basic requirements set forth in § 111.11 has not been met at the time of filing; in either case the application and fee will be returned to the filer without further action.

(b) Withdrawal of application. An applicant for a broker's license may withdraw the application at any time prior to issuance of the license by providing written notice of the withdrawal to the processing Center or through a CBP-authorized EDI system, if available. However, withdrawal of the application does not entitle the applicant to a refund of the application fee set forth in § 111.96(a).

(a) Scope of examination. The examination for an individual broker's license will be designed to determine the individual's knowledge of customs and related laws, regulations and procedures, bookkeeping, accounting, and all other appropriate matters necessary to render valuable service to importers and exporters. The examination will be prepared by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

(b) Basic requirements, date, and place of examination. In order to be eligible to take the examination, an individual must on the date of examination be a citizen of the United States who has attained the age of 18 years and who is not an officer or employee of the United States Government. CBP will publish a notice announcing each examination on its Web site. Examinations will be given on the fourth Wednesday in April and October unless the regularly scheduled examination date conflicts with a national holiday, religious observance, or other foreseeable event and the agency publishes in the Federal Register an appropriate notice of a change in the examination date. An individual who intends to take the examination must complete the electronic application at least 30 calendar days prior to the scheduled examination date and must remit the examination fee prescribed in § 111.96(a) at that time. CBP will give notice of the time and place for the examination, including whether alternatives to on-site testing will be available, which is at CBP's sole discretion.

(c) Special examination. If a partnership, association, or corporation loses the required member or officer having an individual broker's license (see § 111.11(b) and (c)(2)) and its license would be revoked by operation of law under the provisions of 19 U.S.C. 1641(b)(5) and § 111.45(a) before the next scheduled examination, CBP may authorize a special examination for a prospective applicant for an individual license who would serve as the required licensed member or officer. CBP may also authorize a special examination for an individual for purposes of continuing the business of a sole proprietorship broker. A special examination for an individual may also be authorized by CBP if a brokerage firm loses the individual broker who was exercising responsible supervision and control over the transaction of customs business before the next scheduled examination. A request for a special examination must be submitted to the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, in writing and must describe the circumstances giving rise to the need for the examination. If the request is granted, the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade or his/her designee, will notify the prospective examinee of the exact time and place for the examination. If the individual attains a passing grade on the special examination, the application for the license may be submitted in accordance with § 111.12. The examinee will be responsible for all additional costs incurred by CBP in preparing and administering the special examination that exceed the examination fee prescribed in § 111.96(a), and those additional costs must be reimbursed to CBP before the examination is given.

(d) Failure to appear for examination. If a prospective examinee advises the Office of Trade at the Headquarters of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Attn: Broker Management Branch, electronically in a manner specified by CBP at least 2 working days prior to the date of a regularly scheduled examination that he will not appear for the examination, CBP will refund the examination fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this section. No refund of the examination fee or additional reimbursed costs will be made in the case of a special written examination provided for under paragraph (c) of this section.

(e) Notice of examination result. CBP will provide to each examinee written or electronic notice of the result of the examination taken under this section. A failure of an examinee to attain a passing grade on the examination will preclude the submission of an application under § 111.12 but will not preclude the examinee from taking an examination again at a later date in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

(f) Appeal of failing grade on examination. If an examinee fails to attain a passing grade on the examination taken under this section, the examinee may challenge that result by filing a written or electronic appeal with the Office of Trade at the Headquarters of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Attn: Broker Management Branch, within 60 calendar days after the date of the written or electronic notice provided for in paragraph (e) of this section. CBP will provide to the examinee written or electronic notice of the decision on the appeal. If the CBP decision on the appeal affirms the result of the examination, the examinee may request review of the decision on the appeal by submitting a written or electronic request to the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, within 60 calendar days after the date of the notice on that decision.

(a) Scope of background investigation. A background investigation under this section will ascertain facts relevant to the question of whether the applicant is qualified and will cover, but need not be limited to:

(1) The accuracy of the statements made in the application and interview;

(2) The business integrity and financial responsibility of the applicant; and

(3) When the applicant is an individual (including a member of a partnership or an officer of an association or corporation), the character and reputation of the applicant, including any association with any individuals or groups that may present a risk to the security or to the revenue collection of the United States.

(b) Referral to Headquarters. The processing Center will forward the application and supporting documentation to the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade. The processing Center will also submit the recommendation for action on the application.

(c) Additional inquiry. The appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, may require further inquiry if additional facts are deemed necessary to evaluate the application. The appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, may also require the applicant (or in the case of a partnership, association, or corporation, one or more of its members or officers) to appear in person or by another approved method before the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, or his or her representatives, for the purpose of undergoing further written or oral inquiry.

If the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, finds that the applicant is qualified and has paid all applicable fees prescribed in § 111.96(a), the Executive Assistant Commissioner will issue a license. A license for an individual who is a member of a partnership, or an officer of an association or corporation will be issued in the name of the individual licensee and not in his or her capacity as a member or officer of the organization with which he or she is connected. The license will be forwarded to the processing Center, which will deliver it to the licensee.

(a) Notice of denial. If the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, determines that the application for a license should be denied for any reason, notice of denial will be given by him or her to the applicant and to the processing Center. The notice of denial will state the reasons why the license was not issued.

(b) Grounds for denial. The grounds sufficient to justify denial of an application for a license include, but need not be limited to:

(1) Any cause which would justify suspension or revocation of the license of a broker under the provisions of § 111.53;

(2) The failure to meet any requirement set forth in § 111.11;

(3) A failure to establish the business integrity and financial responsibility of the applicant;

(4) A failure to establish the good character and reputation of the applicant;

(5) Any willful misstatement or omission of pertinent facts in the application or interview for the license;

(6) Any conduct which would be deemed unfair or detrimental in commercial transactions by accepted standards;

(7) A reputation imputing to the applicant criminal, dishonest, or unethical conduct, or a record of that conduct; or

(8) Any other relevant information uncovered over the course of the background investigation.

(a) By the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade. Upon the denial of an application for a license, the applicant may file with the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, in writing, additional information or arguments in support of the application and may request to appear in person, by telephone, or by other acceptable means of communication. This filing and request must be received by the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade within sixty (60) calendar days of the denial.

(b) By the Executive Assistant Commissioner. Upon the decision of the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, affirming the denial of an application for a license, the applicant may file with the Executive Assistant Commissioner, in writing, a request for any additional review that the Executive Assistant Commissioner, deems appropriate. This request must be received by the Executive Assistant Commissioner within sixty (60) calendar days of the affirmation by the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, of the denial of the application for a license.

(c) By the Court of International Trade. Upon a decision of the Executive Assistant Commissioner affirming the denial of an application for a license, the applicant may appeal the decision to the Court of International Trade, provided that the appeal action is commenced within sixty (60) calendar days after the decision date by the Executive Assistant Commissioner.

An applicant who has been denied a license may reapply at any time by complying with the provisions of § 111.12 and addressing how deficiencies have been remedied.

(a) General. A national permit is required for the purpose of transacting customs business throughout the customs territory of the United States as defined in § 101.1 of this chapter.

(b) Application for a national permit. An applicant who obtains a passing grade on the examination for an individual broker's license may apply for a national permit. The applicant will exercise responsible supervision and control (as described in § 111.28) over the activities conducted under that national permit. The national permit application may be submitted concurrently with or after the submission of an application for a broker's license. An applicant applying for a national permit on behalf of a partnership, association, or corporation must be a licensed broker employed by the partnership, association, or corporation. An application for a national permit under this paragraph must be submitted in the form of a letter to the processing Center or to a CBP-authorized electronic data interchange (EDI) system. The application must set forth or attach the following:

(1) The applicant's broker license number and date of issuance if available;

(2) If the applicant is applying for a national permit on behalf of a partnership, association, or corporation: the name of the partnership, association, or corporation and the title held by the applicant within the partnership, association, or corporation;

(3) If the applicant is applying for a national permit on behalf of a partnership, association, or corporation: a copy of the documentation issued by a State, or local government that establishes the legal status and reserves the business name of the partnership, association, or corporation;

(4) The address, telephone number, and email address of the office designated by the applicant as the office of record as defined in § 111.1. The office will be noted in the national permit when issued;

(5) The name, telephone number, and email address of the point of contact described in § 111.3(b) to be available to CBP to respond to issues related to the transaction of customs business;

(6) If the applicant is applying for a national permit on behalf of a partnership, association, or corporation: the name, broker license number, office address, telephone number, and email address of each individual broker employed by the partnership, association, or corporation;

(7) A list of all employees together with the specific employee information prescribed in § 111.28 for each employee;

(8) A supervision plan describing how responsible supervision and control will be exercised over the customs business conducted under the national permit, including compliance with § 111.28;

(9) The location where records will be retained (see § 111.23);

(10) The name, telephone number, and email address of the knowledgeable employee responsible for broker-wide records maintenance and financial recordkeeping requirements (see § 111.21(d)); and

(11) A receipt or other evidence showing that the fees specified in § 111.96(b) and (c) have been paid in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

(c) Fees. A national permit issued under paragraph (a) of this section is subject to the permit application fee specified in § 111.96(b) and to the customs permit user fee specified in § 111.96(c). The fees must be paid at the processing Center (see § 111.1) or through a CBP-authorized EDI system at the time the permit application is submitted.

(d) Action on application; list of permitted brokers. The processing Center that receives the application will review the application to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. If the processing Center is of the opinion that the national permit should not be issued, the processing Center will submit written reasons for that opinion to the appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, CBP Headquarters, for appropriate instructions on whether to grant or deny the national permit. The appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, CBP Headquarters, will notify the applicant if his or her application is denied. CBP will issue a national permit to an applicant who meets the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. CBP will maintain and make available to the public an alphabetical list of permitted brokers.

(e) Review of the denial of a national permit—(1) By the Executive Assistant Commissioner. Upon the denial of an application for a national permit under this section, the applicant may file with the Executive Assistant Commissioner, in writing, additional information or arguments in support of the application and may request to appear in person, by telephone, or by other acceptable means of communication. This filing and request must be received by the Executive Assistant Commissioner within sixty (60) calendar days of the denial.

(2) By the Court of International Trade. Upon a decision of the Executive Assistant Commissioner affirming the denial of an application for a national permit under this section, the applicant may appeal the decision to the Court of International Trade, provided that the appeal action is commenced within sixty (60) calendar days after the decision date by the Executive Assistant Commissioner.

(f) Responsible supervision and control. The individual broker who qualifies for the national permit will exercise responsible supervision and control (as described in § 111.28) over the activities conducted under that national permit.