CBP Form 3461 is the Entry/Immediate Delivery form U.S. Customs and Border Protection uses to release imported cargo from a port or bonded facility. It is the release document, not the payment document: the 3461 gets your containers moving, and CBP Form 7501 (the Entry Summary) follows with the classification, value and duty. Almost every Miami importer files the 3461 data set electronically through ABI/ACE rather than on paper, but the data elements are the same either way.
What CBP Form 3461 actually does
An import cannot leave PortMiami, Port Everglades or a Miami air cargo facility until CBP authorizes release. The 3461 is how a licensed customs broker or self-filing importer requests that authorization. Once CBP returns a release status in ACE, the terminal or container freight station can hand the freight to your drayage carrier.
The filing has to be backed by a continuous or single-entry bond. If you are not sure which one your business should carry, our guide to single-entry vs. continuous customs bonds in Florida walks through the math.
Key data on the filing
- Importer of record number and the ultimate consignee
- Entry type code (01 consumption, 11 informal, 03 AD/CVD, 06 FTZ, and others)
- Port of entry and port of unlading
- Bill of lading or air waybill number, plus the carrier and vessel or flight
- Manufacturer/shipper identification code (MID) and country of origin
- HTS numbers, described merchandise and declared value
- Bond type and surety code
Errors in the HTS or MID are the two most common reasons a Miami entry sits. Those same fields flow into the 7501, so a mistake here becomes a duty problem later.
3461 vs. 7501: the difference that matters
Think of them as two halves of one entry. The 3461 asks CBP to release the cargo. The 7501 tells CBP what the cargo is worth and what you owe. Our companion piece on how to read your CBP Form 7501 covers the second half line by line.
Timing is the part importers miss. Entry must be filed within 15 calendar days of the cargo arriving at the port of entry. If entry is not filed in that window, CBP can send the shipment to a general order warehouse. Once CBP releases the goods, the Entry Summary and estimated duties are due within 10 working days.
What “Immediate Delivery” means
The form has two jobs, which is why the title reads Entry/Immediate Delivery. Immediate Delivery (ID) is a special procedure that lets CBP release certain merchandise before the entry summary is filed. It is limited to defined categories such as perishables, quota-class merchandise in some situations, shipments for a U.S. government agency, and goods arriving from Canada or Mexico. Perishable importers moving flowers and produce through MIA are the classic South Florida use case.
ID is not a way to skip paperwork. It shifts the sequence, and the 7501 plus duties are still due within 10 working days of release.
Where Miami entries slow down
Release does not guarantee movement. Three things regularly stall a released Miami container:
- Exams. A VACIS or intensive exam overrides your release timeline. See our breakdown of CBP container exams at PortMiami.
- Free time running out. Even a clean release does not stop the demurrage clock. Read demurrage and detention at PortMiami before you plan a pickup.
- Partner government agencies. FDA, USDA and EPA holds attach to the same entry and have to clear separately.
If your cargo needs to move the moment release posts, a Miami container drayage partner with pre-staged chassis and after-hours dispatch is worth more than a cheaper per-move rate.
Practical filing tips
Send your broker the commercial invoice, packing list and arrival notice before the vessel berths, not after. Confirm the power of attorney on file is current. Keep your MID and HTS library reviewed annually. And if you import through a bonded facility, decide early whether duty deferral makes sense, which we compare in our FTZ vs. bonded warehouse guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is CBP Form 3461 the same as CBP Form 7501?
No. CBP Form 3461 is the entry/immediate delivery filing that requests release of the cargo. CBP Form 7501 is the entry summary that reports classification, value and duties. Both are part of the same entry, but they are filed at different points.
How long do I have to file entry after my cargo arrives in Miami?
Entry must be filed within 15 calendar days of arrival at the port of entry. After CBP releases the goods, the entry summary and estimated duties are due within 10 working days.
Do importers still file a paper CBP Form 3461?
Rarely. Nearly all entries are transmitted electronically through ABI into ACE. The paper form still exists as a backup and as the reference layout for the required data elements.
Move released cargo the same day
Go Freight is an asset-based 3PL at 3300 NW 110 St, Miami, FL 33167, minutes from PortMiami, Port Everglades and MIA. We stage chassis, pull on release and store in bond when your entry needs more time. Request a freight quote or call (786) 445-0150.