Importing jewelry from India to the United States requires paperwork to be filed and fees to be paid to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is important to follow all rules and regulations to prevent delays and additional fees on shipped items. Once in the United States, jewelry from India can be sold online, in stores or between individuals. Importers may turn more of a profit than if purchasing jewelry from manufacturers in the United States.

Establish your vendors in India and ask for samples of the jewelry items in order to ensure quality. Ask for referrals from others in the United States who sell jewelry from India, and check these references before making any commitments to particular vendors.

Determine who will be paying for the costs incurred on items leaving India, the costs of shipping these items to the United States, the costs of shipping the items from the arrival point to your business, and any insurance costs. Do not assume that the vendor will pay any of these fees. Request that the vendor document everything for shipping purposes.

Obtain a shipper and a customs broker. Look for global firms that are accustomed to working with India and the United States. Request that they help you make the shipping and customs clearance arrangements. One such company is DB Schenker. A global shipping firm will assist you with all aspects of U.S. Customs and can answer any questions you may have.

Determine the value of the jewelry items that you are importing from India. You will be required to pay an import duty, which is typically between 3 and 20 percent of the value declared. The value is the estimation of the U.S. market value of the jewelry item(s). One way to determine the value is to declare the amount at which you plan to sell the item. Note as well that you must verify in writing that all items are in compliance with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Visit cpsc.gov for more information.

File all paperwork with U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to shipping. This usually involves a commercial invoice that lists the values of the products being shipped, an airway bill, a packing list, arrival notice and Customs Forms 3461 and 7501. Your customs broker should be able to supply you with all necessary forms. You may also visit the American Importers Association website listed in the Resources section for a full list of U.S. Customs rules and requirements.