India → USA freight forwarding
Freight forwarder from India to the USA
Atmavaan moves cargo from India to the USA from pickup to delivery. Our Chennai team books the freight and looks after the export side in India; our California team handles the ISF, arranges US customs clearance and gets the cargo to your door. FCL, LCL or air.
- India team
- Chennai
- US team
- Westlake Village, CA
- Modes
- FCL · LCL · Air
- Indian ports
- 10 gateways
What we do
One forwarder for both ends of the lane
Atmavaan has its own companies in India and the USA, so the same shipment is looked after by people at origin and at destination, not handed from one agent to another.
In India: Atmavaan Logistics Pvt Ltd, Chennai
- Booking
- Space on a sailing or flight from the Indian port or airport that suits your factory. Ocean freight →
- Pickup to the port
- Cargo moved from the factory or warehouse to the port or container depot.
- Export paperwork
- Export customs clearance arranged, and the documents checked against what the US side will need.
- Before it sails
- ISF details collected from the supplier so the filing is made before loading.
In the USA: Atmavaan, Inc., Westlake Village
- ISF filing
- The Importer Security Filing for ocean cargo, made at least 24 hours before loading. ISF filing →
- US customs clearance
- Entry arranged through a licensed customs broker, with duties and fees paid before release. Customs clearance →
- Delivery
- Drayage from the port and trucking to your door. Trucking →
- Insurance
- All-risk cargo insurance arranged when you book. Cargo insurance →
Step by step
How an India–USA shipment works
Most shipments follow the same six steps. The ones that go wrong usually go wrong before the ship leaves India, which is why we watch the origin side closely.
- Send the detailsProduct, HS code if you have it, weight and volume or container size, pickup city, US delivery city, ready date and the Incoterm agreed with your buyer or supplier.
- Get a written quoteThe rate, the routing, what is included and how long the price holds.
- Book and pick upSpace is booked on a sailing or flight and the cargo is moved to the port or airport before the cut-off.
- Clear Indian export customsThe shipping bill is filed with Indian Customs and the Let Export Order is issued. For ocean cargo, the ISF is filed before loading.
- Sail and trackMost India–USA sailings call at a transshipment port on the way. Follow the container until it reaches the US port.
- Clear US customs and deliverThe entry is filed and duties paid, the cargo is released, and it is trucked from the port or airport to your door.
FCL, LCL or air
Choosing how to ship
Use FCL when you can fill most of a container, LCL for smaller loads, and air when speed matters more than cost.
FCL: full container
You book a whole 20-foot or 40-foot container. It stays sealed from origin to destination and usually costs less per unit once you can fill most of it.
Ocean freight →LCL: shared container
Your cargo shares a container with other shippers and you pay for the volume you use. It suits smaller orders and first shipments, with more handling at both ends.
Ocean freight →Air freight
For urgent, high-value or small shipments. No ISF is needed for air cargo, but US customs entry still is.
Air freight →Indian ports
Indian ports we ship from
We ship from 10 Indian gateways: Chennai, Kattupalli, Ennore, Tuticorin, Kochi, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Pipavav, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam. Pick the port closest to your factory, or the one best connected to it by road or rail.
Paperwork
Documents needed on both sides
The exporter in India and the importer in the US each have their own paperwork. The invoice, packing list, shipping bill and US entry must all describe the same goods, values and parties.
India side: the exporter
- Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)
- Issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Needed for exports unless a specific exemption applies.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Values, descriptions, HS codes, weights and package counts that match the shipping bill and the US entry.
- Shipping bill
- The export declaration filed with Indian Customs. After assessment, Customs issues the Let Export Order that clears the goods for loading.
- Certificate of origin, if asked
- When the buyer, a letter of credit or the goods call for one.
- ISPM 15 wood packaging
- Wooden pallets and crates must be treated and carry the IPPC mark.
US side: the importer
- ISF (10+2)
- Filed with US Customs and Border Protection at least 24 hours before the container is loaded. Air cargo does not need one.
- Customs entry
- Filed by a licensed customs broker under a power of attorney from the importer of record, who stays responsible for the duty.
- Customs bond
- A formal entry needs a bond: single-transaction for one shipment, or continuous for a year of imports.
- Other agencies, where they apply
- Food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices fall under the FDA; imported food needs FDA prior notice before it arrives. Other goods can fall under agencies such as USDA, EPA or CPSC.
Choosing a forwarder
How to choose a freight forwarder for India to USA
Check the forwarder is licensed, that one named person owns your shipment, and that the quote says in writing what is included. Use this list on any forwarder, including us.
- Check the FMC licence or registrationOcean forwarders and NVOCCs that handle US trade must be licensed or registered with the US Federal Maritime Commission. Ask for the number and look it up on the FMC's public list before you share cargo details.
- A named contact at both endsYou want one person who answers for the shipment, and someone at origin who can see the cargo before it sails. Ask who that is in India and who it is in the US.
- A written quote that lists what is includedOrigin charges, freight, destination charges, customs, delivery and insurance should each be in or out, in writing, with how long the price is valid. Compare two quotes line by line, not on the total.
- Who files the ISF, and whenFor ocean cargo the Importer Security Filing must reach US Customs at least 24 hours before the container is loaded in India. A late or wrong ISF can lead to penalties and holds, so agree who files it before you book.
- Cargo insurance offered up frontCarriers limit their liability to a fraction of the cargo value. A good forwarder offers insurance when you book, not after a loss.
- Tracking you can check yourselfYou should be able to see where the container is without sending an email to ask.
Plan the shipment
Tools for India–USA shipments
Before you ask for a quote, you can check sailings, find your HS code and estimate the US duty on your product.
Tariff simulator
Estimate US duty and additional tariffs on goods from India.
Open the tariff simulator →Questions
Frequently asked questions
What does a freight forwarder from India to the USA do?
It arranges the whole move: booking space with a carrier or airline, getting the cargo to the port, the export paperwork in India, the ISF for ocean cargo, US customs clearance and delivery to the consignee. Atmavaan does this with its own teams in Chennai and California.
Does Atmavaan handle both the Indian and the US side?
Yes. Atmavaan Logistics Pvt Ltd in Chennai looks after booking, pickup and export paperwork in India. Atmavaan, Inc. in Westlake Village, California handles the ISF, arranges US customs clearance and delivers the cargo.
Which Indian ports does Atmavaan ship from?
Chennai, Kattupalli, Ennore, Tuticorin, Kochi, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Pipavav, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam. Each port has its own page with its code and the cargo it suits.
Should I ship FCL, LCL or by air?
FCL once you can fill most of a 20-foot container, LCL for smaller loads where you pay only for the space you use, and air for urgent or high-value cargo.
How long does shipping from India to the USA take?
It depends on the ports, the carrier and any transshipment on the way. Check live sailings and transit times for your port pair on Atmavaan's vessel schedules, and allow time for export clearance before the cut-off.
Who files the ISF for a shipment from India?
The importer or its agent must file it with US Customs at least 24 hours before the container is loaded in India. Atmavaan files it for you, using the details the supplier provides.
How do I get a quote?
Send the product, weight and volume or container size, pickup city in India, US delivery city and ready date through the quote form, call +1 805-372-0284 in the US or +91 8925 962 778 in India, or email booking@atmavaan.com.
Get a quote from India to the USA
Send the shipment details and a named Atmavaan specialist replies with a written quote.
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