Shipment held because the commercial invoice is incomplete

Fields that commonly stall a shipment

• Vague description — “samples” or “goods” is not enough. Name the product, quantity, and what it is made of when you know.
• No consignee — the receiver’s full name and address must match the label.
• No country of origin or destination.
• No Incoterm — FOB, CIF, and similar terms say who pays freight and where risk passes.
• Value missing or written as zero without a reason gifts and samples still need a value many carriers can file.
• HS code left blank when the carrier or destination asked for one.

Do not reuse a client invoice unchanged

A bill that only says “design services — $800” does not describe a carton of parts. If you are shipping goods, use a commercial invoice with exporter, consignee, packages, weight, and line values. If you are only billing for work, use a normal invoice and do not attach it as a customs document.

Make the PDF match the box

Names, piece count, and value should match the waybill. A mismatch is a common reason a broker asks for a corrected PDF, which adds days.

FAQ

Is a commercial invoice the same as a GST invoice?

No. A GST or sales-tax invoice is for tax and payment. A commercial invoice is for international shipping and customs.

Who do I send it to?

Usually the carrier, the customs broker, and the consignee. Follow the instructions on the shipment. Billvale only creates the PDF.