A method implemented by a BFR in a BIER-TE domain. The method includes receiving a packet with a BIER-TE header, where the BIER-TE header includes an indicator indicating a number of the bitstrings in the BIER-TE header, and a set identifier for each of the bitstrings; checking whether a bitstring identified by the set identifier in the BIER-TE header and a bitstring identified by the set identifier in a top level BIFT each contain an adjacency bit position of the BFR with a same value; and processing the packet using a second level BIFT that a pointer for the set identifier in the top level BIFT points to when the two bitstrings each contain the adjacency bit position of the BFR with the same value.