Documents Required
The commercial invoice, shipping bill, IEC, and recipient information needed for a US-bound shipment.
US-bound shipments from India need specific documentation to clear both Indian export customs and US import customs (CBP) smoothly. Missing or inconsistent paperwork is the single most common cause of a held shipment on this route.
Documents you need
Commercial invoice. States the goods, quantity, declared value, and parties involved. The declared value must match the shipping bill exactly — a mismatch is the single most common cause of a customs hold. See Commercial Invoice.
Packing list. An itemised breakdown of what's in the parcel, especially important for multi-item commercial shipments.
Shipping bill (CSB-IV or CSB-V). CSB-IV for genuine non-commercial gifts/samples under ₹25,000; CSB-V for commercial exports. See CSB-IV vs CSB-V.
IEC (Import Export Code). Mandatory for any commercial export from India — a 10-digit code issued by DGFT. Not required for genuine personal gifts filed under CSB-IV. See IEC Code.
Accurate goods description. US CBP requires a specific, honest description of contents — generic terms like "gift" or "sample" for a clearly commercial item are a common trigger for manual review.
Product-specific documentation
Some product categories need additional paperwork on the US import side — for example, certain foods, cosmetics, and electronics with batteries can require extra compliance documentation. Check Restricted or Prohibited Items (USA) before shipping anything outside straightforward general merchandise.
Recipient-side information
Provide the recipient's full name, complete address, and a working phone number. US customs and the last-mile carrier may need to contact the recipient directly — for duty payment, additional information, or ID verification — and an unreachable recipient is a common cause of delayed or returned shipments.
A simple pre-shipment checklist
- [ ] Commercial invoice with a value matching the shipping bill
- [ ] Packing list for multi-item shipments
- [ ] Correct shipping bill type (CSB-IV or CSB-V)
- [ ] Valid IEC (for commercial shipments)
- [ ] Specific, honest goods description
- [ ] Complete recipient address and phone number
- [ ] Confirmed the item isn't restricted/prohibited for US import
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common cause of a held shipment to the USA?
A declared value on the commercial invoice that doesn't match the shipping bill is the single most common cause of a customs hold on this route.
Do I need an IEC to ship a gift to the USA?
No, a genuine non-commercial gift or sample under Rs 25,000 can be filed under CSB-IV without an IEC. Any commercial shipment needs a valid IEC filed under CSB-V.
Why does US customs need the recipient's phone number?
US CBP or the last-mile carrier may need to contact the recipient directly for duty payment, ID verification, or additional information -- an unreachable recipient is a common cause of delayed or returned shipments.
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