Time frames for various types of applications are indicated below, including categories for which the FTZ staff's goal is to process many applications in significantly less time than the ordinary 10- to 12-month regulatory time frames for Board action.

Note: The time frames cited here are from the date when the FTZ Board officially dockets the application in question. Any time spent requesting from the applicant (or awaiting) additional information needed for the application to meet the docketing standard inherently does not fall within the time frames discussed here.

The specific time frames applicable to various application types are as follows:

The FTZ Board’s regulations delineate an ordinary time frame of 12 months to process a manufacturing-related application. To assist U.S.-based manufacturing, the FTZ staff has established a goal of expedited processing for manufacturing applications whenever possible. We seek to process many manufacturing cases within 6 to 8 months from docketing, which is significantly faster than the ordinary regulatory time frame. However, the specific processing time for a given application will depend on a range of factors, including the degree to which the industry has already or recently been analyzed for previous FTZ applications (economic analyses of new industries inherently require more time to complete), whether an industry survey is conducted pursuant to 15 CFR 400.27(d)(3)(vi), and whether any industry or policy issues arise during the processing of the case. It is important for all parties to note that it is not possible for the FTZ staff to process a manufacturing-related application for Board action in less than 6 months because doing so would require shifting resources in a manner that would unfairly delay the processing of applications from other companies or communities.

The FTZ Board’s regulations delineate an ordinary time frame of 10 months to process a non-manufacturing application. We will make every effort to act upon public- interest based requests for expedited processing relative to the 10-month regulatory time frame. It is important for all parties to note that it is not possible for the FTZ staff to process a GPZ expansion/reorganization (TSF) or non-manufacturing subzone application for Board action in less than 6 months because doing so would require shifting resources in a manner that would unfairly delay the processing of applications from other companies or communities.

The FTZ Board’s regulations delineate an ordinary time frame of 10 months to process a non-manufacturing application. Based on the simplicity of the analysis generally required for a pure ASF reorganization application (that is, not involving additions or modifications of Magnet sites), we have established a goal of processing such applications within 6 to 8 months. This time frame would not apply to an application if any other issue arises, such as regarding the grantee’s proposed Service Area.

T/IM applications are generally processed within 75 days of docketing. In order for a T/IM application to docketed, the completed application along with a letter of concurrence from the CBP Port Director must be submitted.

Processing of a minor boundary modification (MBM) request does not begin until we have received a complete request. In order to be considered complete, the incoming request must include all required elements: the grantee's letter, responsive answers to all of the questions in the standard request format, all needed attachments (including proper map(s) and legal descriptions) and a letter of concurrence from the CBP Port Director. The FTZ Board’s regulations delineate an ordinary 30-day processing time for complete MBM requests.