Origin dossier: proof of India or Vietnam origin

Free tool · Origin readiness checker

How ready is your origin file?

Answer nine questions about one product. You get a readiness score and the list of documents to prepare. Nothing is sent anywhere.

01Where is the finished product made?

India Vietnam

02Share of material inputs from China, by value

40%

A rough figure is fine. Include raw materials, components and packaging.

03Which steps happen in the factory in India or Vietnam?

Forming the material casting, forging, moulding, weaving, spinning Cutting or machining CNC, stamping, cutting fabric or leather Joining welding, sewing, soldering, sub-assembly Surface work heat treatment, plating, painting, dyeing Final assembly Testing and final inspection

04Compared with its inputs, what leaves the factory?

A clearly different article new name, shape or use, e.g. steel bar to wheel hub Partly changed main parts arrive made; we add real work to them Nearly the same parts arrive almost finished; we pack or fit them

05Value added in the factory country Local labour, overhead and local materials as a share of the ex-works price.

Under 20% 20–35% 35–50% Over 50%

06Where did the moulds, dies and fixtures come from?

Made in the same country as the factory Moved from China, with transfer records Moved from China, records not collected yet No dedicated tooling

07Which records can the factory show today?

Bill of materials with the supplier of every input Purchase invoices for the main inputs Routing sheets or job cards Photos or video of each process step Machine list with capacities Headcount and shift records for the line Export shipping documents

08How long has the factory made this product?

Under 6 months 6 to 24 months Over 2 years

09Can the factory host a visit?

Yes, on site Video only Not yet

What you get

One file your broker can work from.

Bill of materials with input originsEvery input with its supplier, country of origin and share of value.
Process routingEach step, where it happens and on which machine, from raw input to packed product.
Photos and videoDated images of every step, the line and the finished goods.
Purchase recordsInvoices and payment records for the main inputs, matched to the BOM.
Substantial-transformation narrativeA factual account of what changes at each step, written for your broker or attorney.
Indexed hand-offEvery statement linked to its evidence, so questions are answered quickly.

How it works

From question to a complete file.

01
Scope
You share the product family, the factory and the HS code your broker uses. We agree the evidence list.
You receiveScope and fixed quote
02
Visit
Our engineer walks the line, photographs each step and collects BOM, routing and purchase records.
You receiveSite record
03
Compile
We trace each input to its origin, write the narrative and index every document.
You receiveOrigin dossier
04
Hand over
We brief your broker or attorney and answer their follow-up questions from the file.
You receiveBroker-ready pack

Starting price

From USD 990per product family

Included

Evidence list agreed per product family
Site visit and line walk
BOM with input origins and values
Process routing and photos
Transformation narrative
Indexed hand-off to your broker or attorney

Billed at cost

Travel beyond Bengaluru and Ningbo
Extra site days for further factories

We confirm the scope and site days in a fixed quote for your product families before we start.

Get my dossier quoted

Who it is for

Built for teams like yours.

01
US importers with a second source
Products now made in India or Vietnam instead of China.
02
Brands asked for origin evidence
By a customer, a broker or a customs request for information.
03
Customs brokers and trade attorneys
Who need factory facts to support their own analysis.
04
Teams planning a China + 1 move
Who want the origin file built as production starts.

Origin dossier questions

Straight answers.

Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot.

anirudh@sourcesquid.co

Is an origin dossier a legal ruling?

No. The dossier is evidence and documentation: what the factory buys, what it does and what leaves the gate, with proof for each point. Your customs broker or trade attorney uses it to give their opinion, and can ask US Customs and Border Protection for a binding ruling on a future import under 19 CFR Part 177. We work alongside them and never act as your broker.

What does “substantial transformation” mean here?

US regulations define the country of origin as the country of manufacture, production or growth, and say that work done in a further country must effect a substantial transformation to make that country the origin (19 CFR 134.1(b)). Our narrative describes, step by step and with photos, what happens to each input in the factory, so your broker or attorney can assess it quickly.

Which factories and countries do you cover?

Products finished in India or Vietnam, with inputs traced back to their suppliers, including suppliers in China through our Ningbo office. Our engineers visit the factory, walk the line and collect the records in person.

What do you need from me to start?

The product family, the factory or factories, the HS code your broker uses and any questions your broker or attorney has already raised. The dossier starts at USD 990 per product family, and we confirm the scope and the number of site days in a fixed quote before we start.

Works well with

Related services.

QualityTooling register and transferRecords for every mould moved out of China.SourcingChina + 1 second sourcingA qualified second source in India or Vietnam.ComplianceFTA duty-saver auditTrade-deal duty cuts for UK and EFTA buyers.

Sources

Where our facts come from

Checked on 28 September 2026. Nothing on this page is legal advice.

01
19 CFR 134.1: Definitions (country of origin) (opens in a new tab) Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, US Definition of country of origin and the substantial-transformation requirement.
02
19 CFR Part 177: Administrative rulings (opens in a new tab) Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, US Rulings may be requested for prospective transactions.

Show where it is made, with factory proof.