My Shipment Is Stuck At Customs — Recovery Checklist
A hold is not a rejection. Most stuck shipments are released within days once the right document reaches CBP. This checklist tells you exactly what to pull, who to call, and how to stop the clock.
Step 0 — Find out WHY it's stuck (do this first)
You cannot fix a hold you cannot name. Ask your broker for the hold type and cited reason from ACE. Common ones: EXAM (intensive exam), MAP (marking/appraisement), FDA/USDA/PGA (agency), and missing bond. If your broker is slow, pull the entry status yourself or use the CBP Hold Decoder. Naming the hold cuts your resolution time in half.
Step 1 — Pull the 5 documents that clear most holds
- Commercial invoice — full description, value, incoterms, origin per line.
- Packing list — weights and quantities that match the invoice exactly.
- HTS code + rationale — the classification you used and why (see our HTS worksheet).
- Certificate of origin — required for preference claims and many agency holds.
- Bond proof — continuous or single-entry; a missing bond freezes the whole entry.
The one most people forget: the bond. A container with no valid bond will not move until one is filed — even if every other document is perfect.
Step 2 — Send it the same day
CBP clocks run whether you're watching or not. Route the documents to your broker immediately and request a written confirmation of receipt. For agency holds (FDA, USDA, PGA), the broker files the corresponding form; for value/origin disputes, send a response letter citing the ruling.
Step 3 — If it's been more than 2 weeks
A hold past ~15 days usually means a document is missing, the broker is waiting on you, or an agency review is stalled. Escalate: request the entry summary (CBP Form 7501) to spot mismatches, and if the broker is silent, consider a new broker or a written status demand. Storage (demurrage) accrues daily — every day stuck is real money.
Step 4 — Prevent the next one
Most holds trace back to data errors made before the broker sees the shipment: vague descriptions, undeclared AD/CVD, wrong origin. Build a pre-file packet using the worksheets below so the next entry clears the first time.
Get the worksheets that prevent stuck shipments
HTS classification, commercial invoice, bond estimator, and CBP hold response templates — the exact packets brokers ask for.
Get the ClearanceIQ Import Kit — $19.99 →