Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 20:47:26 GMT Server: WebSitePro/1.1g (S/N WPO-2024) Accept-ranges: bytes Content-type: text/html Last-modified: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 22:27:50 GMT Content-length: 3717 Press Release - December 30, 1996
December/ January, 1997
CUSTOMS HAS RELEASED THE ANSWERS TO THE OCTOBER '96 CUSTOMS BROKERS EXAMINATION


Appeared in WWS/World Wide Shipping
Serko & Simon wishes to inform all applicants for Customs Broker licenses who took the Customs Broker examination in October of 1996 that the U.S. Customs Service has recently released the answer key for that examination.

U.S. Customs will be informing all applicants by mail of their test scores. All applicants should note that Customs Headquarters in Washington will not provide answer keys nor advise applicants of their test scores directly. Therefore, Customs advises applicants not to call.

For those applicants who did not pass this examination, an appeal process is available. Customs has, in the past, reconsidered the answers to questions based upon facts presented on appeal by applicants after the examination scores have been posted. In addition, Customs will discard any questions it has found to be faulty provided they have been discovered to be faulty before the examination scores have been posted. Passing scores will be based upon an applicant having correctly answered 75 percent of the questions deemed valid.

Applicants who wish to appeal their test scores may submit written arguments for alternative answers to Customs Headquarters within 60 days of the date of written Customs notification of the examination results. A decision will be rendered by Customs based on each individual argument as to why an alternative answer is the "best answer" for a particular question.

After the examination scores have been posted, Customs will give credit to an applicant for a faulty question if, the applicant has filed a timely appeal (i.e., within 60 days of the date of the written Customs notification of the examination results); and the applicant explains to the satisfaction of Customs why the question is faulty and why his or her examination answer is correct and why that answer should be credited. Applicants should be aware that merely stating to Customs that the answer deemed correct is faulty is insufficient. The protest must successfully argue that a different answer is correct and must have chosen that answer on the examination in order to obtain credit.

Serko & Simon recommends that any applicant who has taken and failed the most recent Customs broker examination consider appealing their test scores. We would be happy to answer any questions applicants may have concerning this appeal process.

Serko & Simon is also available to answer any questions applicants or other interested parties may have concerning any other issues regarding Customs and International Trade law. Important Free Information. Publications analyzing important changes in International Trade Law have been prepared by Serko & Simon as a service to the import and export community. You are invited to send for this complimentary material, which we believe is of value to all companies and individuals engaged in international trade.


(The foregoing is not, nor is it intended to be construed as, legal advice, which can only be provided to clients of the firm on a case by case basis.)