Your customs broker says the shipment is on hold. The carrier says the container has not been released. Someone mentions a CBP exam, but you still do not know what is physically happening to the cargo or what your team is supposed to do next.
When U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) selects an imported shipment for examination, the cargo cannot complete the normal release process until the required review or inspection is finished. Depending on the situation, CBP may review supporting information, use non-intrusive inspection technology, or require the cargo to be made physically available for examination. If cargo must be moved to an examination site, the importer can also face transportation, handling, examination-facility, and storage costs.
A CBP exam does not automatically mean your company violated customs law. It means CBP requires additional review before the shipment can proceed. The most useful first step is to identify the exact hold or exam status rather than treating every customs delay as the same problem.
| Commercial freight currently held? Get Customs Brokerage Support |
What Is a CBP Exam?
A CBP exam is an examination or inspection of imported cargo that CBP requires before it completes the release process. CBP has authority to examine merchandise imported into the United States, and a shipment designated for examination may have to be moved under bond to an examination site before release.
CBP also advises importers that they are responsible for expenses involved in making merchandise available for examination. CBP importer guidance explains that cargo selected for physical examination is often moved to a privately operated Centralized Examination Station (CES), where the merchandise can be presented to CBP officers.
The important distinction is that examination is not the same thing as seizure. An exam means additional inspection is required. What happens after the exam depends on what CBP finds, whether the entry information is sufficient, and whether any other government agency requirements apply.
Why Was My Shipment Selected for Customs Inspection?
Importers naturally want to know why a particular shipment was selected. In many cases, however, the importer will not have a complete explanation of CBP’s targeting decision. CBP reviews cargo and manifest information as part of its risk-assessment and enforcement responsibilities, and its Manifest Examination Team can place a shipment on hold when additional review or supporting information is required.
A customs inspection can relate to factors such as:
- Manifest or entry information that requires additional review
- Commodity type or regulatory requirements
- Documentation, classification, valuation, origin, or admissibility questions
- Partner Government Agency requirements
- CBP risk assessment and enforcement considerations
- Other shipment-specific information available to CBP
Do not assume that an exam proves your paperwork was wrong. A shipment can be selected even when the importer believes the entry is complete. The immediate operational question is not “Why did CBP target us?” but “What exact status has been issued, and what has to happen next?”
A Customs Hold Is Not Always the Same as a Physical Exam
Import teams often hear terms such as “customs hold,” “manifest hold,” “x-ray,” “intensive exam,” or “agency hold” used interchangeably. They do not necessarily describe the same stage of the process. Clarifying the exact status prevents your team from solving the wrong problem.
| Status / term | What it generally means | Immediate question |
|---|---|---|
| Manifest / document hold | CBP is reviewing manifested information or needs supporting information. | What document or data is being requested? |
| Non-intrusive inspection | Cargo or conveyance may be scanned without a full physical unloading. | Did CBP refer the shipment for further examination? |
| Physical / intensive exam | CBP requires physical access to some or all of the cargo. | Where will the exam occur and how will cargo be positioned? |
| PGA hold / review | Another government agency has a requirement affecting release. | Which agency controls the next action? |
| Released | The relevant customs release requirement has been satisfied. | Is the cargo also operationally available for pickup? |
What Is a Manifest Hold?
A manifest hold does not necessarily mean officers are physically opening the freight. CBP describes a manifest as the collection of cargo documents and information used to identify and describe arriving cargo. The Manifest Examination Team reviews that information, assesses risk, and can place a shipment on hold while requesting additional supporting documentation.
If you are told there is a manifest or documentation hold, confirm:
- The exact hold message or status
- What supporting information CBP is requesting
- Whether the request is with the broker, carrier, or another party
- Whether the commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing information, or cargo description contains a discrepancy
- Who is responsible for submitting the response
If the issue involves missing or inconsistent shipment information, review Hawthorne’s customs clearance documents checklist and compare the invoice, packing list, transportation records, product details, and importer information before sending a response.
What Is a Non-Intrusive Customs Inspection?
CBP uses non-intrusive inspection (NII) technology as part of its cargo enforcement and inspection capabilities. In practical terms, this can allow officers to examine a shipment or conveyance using imaging technology without first unloading every item.
A non-intrusive scan does not automatically mean the cargo will proceed to a full physical exam. If CBP identifies an anomaly or another issue requiring closer review, however, the shipment may be referred for additional examination.
For the importer, the critical question is the current status after the scan: Has CBP completed the required inspection, requested more information, or referred the cargo for a more intensive physical examination?
What Is an Intensive Customs Exam?
An intensive customs exam generally refers to a more involved physical examination in which CBP requires access to the cargo rather than relying only on documents or imaging. Depending on the shipment and the examination requirement, the cargo may need to be moved to an examination location, opened, partially unloaded, or otherwise positioned so officers can inspect it.
Do not assume that every intensive exam means an entire container will be completely stripped. CBP determines the scope of the examination. The importer’s operational job is to find out where the cargo must go, who is arranging the movement, and whether CBP or another agency has requested additional information.
What Happens During a CBP Exam? Step by Step
Although no single workflow fits every port, commodity, or examination type, most importers need to work through the same sequence of questions.
Step 1. A Hold or Examination Status Is Issued
The customs broker, carrier, filer, terminal, or another logistics party receives an electronic or operational indication that the shipment cannot proceed through the normal release process.
| First question: What is the exact hold or examination status? |
“Customs has it” is not specific enough to manage the problem. Ask for the actual status or message and identify whether the next action belongs to CBP, a Partner Government Agency, the broker, the carrier, or an examination facility.
Step 2. Your Broker Reviews the Entry and Supporting Information
The customs entry and shipment records should be reviewed for anything that may need clarification or correction. Depending on the issue, that can include:
- Commercial invoice and packing information
- Bill of lading and manifest data
- Importer of record information
- HTS classification
- Declared value and currency
- Country of origin
- Manufacturer or supplier information
- Partner Government Agency data, permits, or certificates
- Any direct CBP request for additional information
CBP currently requires brokers and importers to provide a precise cargo description that is clear and detailed enough to identify the commodity. CBP cargo-description guidance is especially relevant when vague or inconsistent product descriptions appear across shipment records.
Step 3. Determine Whether the Cargo Must Move to an Exam Site
If the examination requires physical presentation of the merchandise, CBP guidance states that the shipment may need to be moved under bond to an examination site before release. For many physical cargo exams, that can mean movement to a Centralized Examination Station or another authorized facility.
Before arranging transportation, confirm who is coordinating:
- Authorization or release for the cargo to move to the exam site
- Carrier and terminal communication
- Transportation to the examination facility
- Exam-facility receiving or scheduling requirements
- Return movement or final delivery after the exam, if applicable
Step 4. The Cargo Is Made Available for CBP Examination
Once positioned, the cargo must be made accessible in the manner required for the inspection. Depending on the examination, that can involve scanning, opening packages, partial unloading, more extensive unloading, or presentation of particular products or supporting records.
At a CES, the privately operated facility may handle the physical work needed to make the merchandise available to CBP officers and to reload the cargo after the examination. That is one reason exam-related costs can appear even though CBP itself does not normally charge the importer simply for the officer performing the examination.
Step 5. CBP or Another Agency Reviews What It Finds
The scope of review depends on the cargo and the reason additional examination was required. Potential issues can include merchandise identity, quantity, tariff classification, declared value, country of origin, marking, admissibility, or commodity-specific requirements.
If the product falls under another federal agency, that agency may also affect release. FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT, and other Partner Government Agencies can have their own admissibility, permit, or documentation requirements.
Step 6. Additional Information May Be Requested
The importer or broker may need to provide clarifying information, product literature, technical specifications, corrected data, certificates, permits, or other records. The goal is not to answer as fast as possible with incomplete material. It is to give a complete, accurate response that does not introduce new contradictions.
Step 7. CBP Determines the Next Action
After the required review or examination, the shipment may receive release, remain pending additional information, continue under another agency’s review, or require further customs action. An examination does not guarantee immediate release, but it also does not mean a violation will necessarily be found.
What Should You Do Immediately After Learning Your Shipment Is on a CBP Exam?
When a commercial shipment is held, time matters – but uncontrolled activity creates more confusion. Use this response checklist before different departments start contacting different parties with conflicting information.
- Confirm the exact status. Ask the broker or carrier for the actual hold or examination message. Determine whether the shipment is under document review, NII, physical examination, PGA review, or another status.
- Determine who controls the next action. Identify whether CBP, another agency, the broker, the carrier, the terminal, or the examination facility is waiting on something.
- Send complete documentation to the broker. Make sure the broker has the final invoice, packing information, bill of lading, product details, classification support, origin information, and any required permits or certificates.
- Do not dispatch transportation prematurely. A customs status message does not automatically mean a container is available for normal pickup. Confirm both customs release and operational availability.
- Identify potential exam-related costs. Determine whether movement, exam-facility handling, devanning, reloading, storage, terminal charges, or additional drayage may apply.
- Assign one internal owner. One person should coordinate broker communication, supplier questions, product records, carrier updates, and internal expectations so the response stays consistent.
For Houston ocean imports, use the Port of Houston clearance checklist to separate customs status from terminal/container availability before sending a truck to the port.
How Long Does a Customs Exam Take?
| There is no universal CBP cargo-exam timeline that applies to every shipment. |
The total customs clearance delay depends on the specific stage of the examination and the work that must happen before CBP can complete it. “Selected for exam” and “cargo positioned and actively being examined” are not the same operational status.
Timing can be affected by:
- The type and scope of examination
- Whether the cargo has to move to an examination facility
- How quickly the carrier and facility can position the cargo
- Document completeness and accuracy
- Requests for additional information
- Partner Government Agency involvement
- Commodity complexity
- Facility or operational congestion
- Weekends, holidays, and transportation availability
- Whether further examination is required after an initial review
CBP’s published formal-entry guidance confirms that merchandise designated for examination may need to be transported to an exam site before release, but it does not establish one universal completion time for commercial cargo exams.
A separate CBP support article regarding a “pending intensive exam” tells users in a specific Newark/New York problem-resolution scenario to allow 24 hours for the return of a stamped Form 3461. That should not be interpreted as a promise that all intensive exams take 24 hours. See the specific CBP intensive-exam article.
If you need a realistic operational update, ask your broker where the shipment is in the process right now: waiting for movement, positioned at the facility, pending officer review, awaiting documents, or waiting on another agency.
Who Pays for a CBP Examination?
CBP states that the importer bears expenses involved in preparing merchandise for examination and making the cargo available. In normal operations, CBP does not charge the importer simply because an officer performs a cargo examination. However, a physical examination can still create significant third-party costs.
Potential exam-related expenses can include:
- Transportation to or from the examination site
- Centralized Examination Station or facility charges
- Devanning or unloading
- Reloading and handling
- Storage
- Terminal or carrier charges
- Additional drayage or equipment needs
- Other operational costs required to present the cargo
These costs are different from the broker’s professional service charge and from government duties or user fees. For a broader breakdown, see Hawthorne’s guide to customs broker fees.
Can a Customs Broker Prevent a CBP Exam?
No customs broker can guarantee that CBP will not examine a shipment. CBP controls the examination decision and has authority to inspect imported merchandise.
A broker can help reduce avoidable compliance problems by supporting accurate entry preparation, documentation review, HTS classification, ISF, bond requirements, Partner Government Agency coordination, and responses to information requests. That can make the importer better prepared when CBP has questions, but complete paperwork is not immunity from examination.
What Can a Customs Broker Do When Your Shipment Is Already Held?
When freight is already under a hold or examination, the most valuable work is often identifying what is actually controlling the shipment and coordinating the response. Depending on the issue and engagement, a licensed customs broker can help:
- Identify the customs hold or status message
- Review the customs entry and shipment documentation
- Check for discrepancies in classification, value, origin, importer data, or product descriptions
- Respond to information requests through appropriate channels
- Coordinate with the importer, carrier, and other parties
- Support Partner Government Agency requirements
- Help explain whether the next problem is customs, terminal, examination-facility, or transportation related
- Coordinate corrections or additional supporting documentation where appropriate
Hawthorne Global specifically supports commercial importers with freight currently held at the port. Its customs team handles commercial entries, HTS classification, ISF, bonds, regulated cargo, and multi-agency clearance requirements.
| Commercial freight currently held? Get Customs Brokerage Support |
When Should You Bring in a Customs Broker?
A customs broker becomes particularly useful when your team does not understand the hold message, CBP is requesting additional information, the cargo requires a physical examination, a Partner Government Agency is involved, documentation needs correction, or operational costs are accumulating while the shipment remains unresolved.
If you need the broader decision framework, read Hawthorne’s guide on when to use a licensed customs broker. It explains the situations in which self-filing may stop being the most practical choice for a commercial importer.
How to Reduce Avoidable Customs Clearance Delays on Future Shipments
No importer can guarantee that a future shipment will never be selected for examination. What you can control is whether your organization is prepared to respond and whether preventable documentation or compliance problems are resolved before cargo reaches the port.
Submit Complete, Consistent Documentation
Make sure importer names, product descriptions, quantities, values, origin information, and transportation records agree across the shipment paperwork. Resolve discrepancies before the entry is prepared whenever possible.
For a working pre-arrival document checklist, review Customs Clearance Documents: What Commercial Importers Should Send Before Cargo Arrives.
Use Precise Commodity Descriptions
Descriptions such as “parts,” “accessories,” or “samples” may be too vague to identify what is actually moving. Product descriptions should be detailed enough to support the customs entry and help distinguish one commodity from another.
Verify HTS Classification and Regulatory Requirements
Do not leave basic classification, origin, admissibility, or Partner Government Agency questions unresolved until the shipment arrives. If the product is regulated, identify the relevant agency requirements while the cargo is still being planned or is in transit.
Handle Ocean Requirements Before Vessel Arrival
Ocean imports can involve requirements that occur well before discharge, including ISF and pre-arrival documentation. A shipment selected for examination is easier to manage when the normal import process was already organized before the vessel reached Houston.
Use Hawthorne’s Port of Houston Customs Clearance Checklist to coordinate broker setup, documents, ISF, entry preparation, vessel status, terminal availability, and drayage planning before arrival.
Build an Escalation Process Before You Need It
Know who owns customs compliance internally, who can answer technical product questions, who communicates with the broker, who coordinates transportation, and who updates internal stakeholders. One coordinated response is far more effective than multiple departments sending partial information to different parties.
You cannot eliminate CBP’s authority to examine cargo, but you can make sure your company knows exactly how to respond when a shipment leaves the normal release workflow.
Is Your Shipment Currently Held by Customs?
A customs exam can interrupt the expected release and delivery timeline, but the first priority is understanding the exact status and what action is required next. Avoid assuming that every hold means the same thing or that a customs release message automatically makes cargo available for normal pickup.
Hawthorne Global works with commercial importers on customs entries, documentation, HTS classification, ISF, customs bonds, regulated cargo, and Partner Government Agency requirements. If your freight is currently held, provide the customs team with the shipment details so the issue can be reviewed and the next customs step can be identified.
| Contact Hawthorne Global Customs Brokerage |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CBP select my shipment for an exam?
CBP examines imported merchandise as part of its enforcement and admissibility responsibilities. Selection can relate to risk assessment, manifest or entry information, the commodity, regulatory requirements, documentation questions, or other targeting factors. A shipment being selected does not by itself prove that the importer did something wrong.
How long does a customs exam take?
There is no universal CBP cargo-exam timeline. The total delay depends on the examination type, whether cargo must move to an exam facility, how quickly it is positioned, document completeness, Partner Government Agency involvement, and whether additional review is required. Ask your broker which stage the shipment is currently in rather than relying on a generic day estimate.
What is an intensive customs exam?
An intensive customs exam is a more involved physical examination in which CBP requires direct access to the cargo. Depending on the shipment, the merchandise may need to move to an examination site and be opened or unloaded enough for officers to inspect what is required. CBP determines the scope of the examination.
Who pays for a customs exam?
CBP states that the importer bears expenses involved in preparing merchandise and making it available for examination. CBP does not normally charge the importer simply for the officer’s inspection, but third-party costs may arise for cargo movement, exam-facility services, unloading and reloading, handling, storage, and other logistics required to present the shipment.
Does a CBP exam mean I did something wrong?
Not necessarily. A CBP exam means additional inspection or review is required before the shipment completes the release process. What happens afterward depends on the examination results and whether the goods and entry information satisfy applicable requirements.
Can my customs broker get an exam removed?
A customs broker cannot guarantee that CBP will cancel an examination. The broker can help determine the exact status, review the entry, provide requested information, coordinate with the importer and carrier, and support the customs process while CBP retains control of the examination decision.
Can I pick up my container while it is under a customs exam?
Cargo that requires CBP examination generally cannot complete the normal final release and pickup process until the examination requirement is satisfied. Depending on the type of exam, the shipment may instead need to move under bond to an authorized examination site before CBP releases it.
Why is my shipment held by customs?
“Held by customs” can describe several different situations, including manifest or document review, a non-intrusive inspection, a physical examination, a Partner Government Agency requirement, or another admissibility issue. Ask your broker or carrier for the exact status so you know who controls the next action and what information or cargo movement is required.
