Immediate Delivery — filed on CBP Form 3461 (the "Entry/Immediate Delivery" form) — is the cargo release application that authorizes CBP to release merchandise from custody before the formal entry summary is filed. It is functionally separated into two steps:
- 3461 (cargo release) — released at or before arrival, allowing the importer to take possession of the goods
- 7501 (entry summary) — filed within 10 working days of release, declaring the entry's full details and paying duties
How it works. The customs broker (or self-filing importer) transmits the 3461 through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) into ACE. CBP screens the entry against its ATS targeting system, agency requirements (FDA, USDA, etc.), and trade enforcement queries. If no holds are placed, CBP releases the cargo and the importer takes delivery.
Immediate Delivery is used in two scenarios:
- Pre-arrival processing — for ocean and air cargo, the 3461 may be filed up to 5 days before arrival, enabling release at the port
- Special permit / quota merchandise — goods subject to quota or special documentation can be released under the ID procedure when paperwork is pending
The 3461 is not the formal entry — it's the cargo release. The legal entry "date" for liquidation and statute-of-limitations purposes is the date of the 7501 filing (or the date of release for live entry, depending on entry type).
Most U.S. imports today use the combined 3461/7501 filing ("entry with cargo release"), where both are transmitted at the same time through ABI.