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How to Appeal Your Customs Broker License Exam Result

CBLE Score Notification Letters and Appeal Due Dates 

The bi-annual Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE) is administered on the fourth Wednesday of April and October.  Exam Results Letters are emailed to examinees within two to three weeks from the date of the exam. First Appeals are due no later than 60 days from the date the Exam Results Letters were sent. Second Appeals are due no later than 60 days from the date the First Appeal Results Letters were sent

Appeal Instructions

Who can appeal?

Anyone who takes a Customs Broker License Examination and does not achieve a passing score may appeal questions on that examination.

When must an Appeal be submitted?

Any appeal must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the date of the letter notifying the applicant of his or her score.

What is the basis for an Appeal?

The applicant must submit a compelling argument why his or her answer is correct or why the appealed question has no possible correct answer.

What must be in the Appeal package?

After receiving your score notification letter, CBP will send you a separate email within 24 hours from brokermanagement@cbp.dhs.gov with a CBLE Appeal Template and instructions.

Your appeal package must be structured as follows:

  • CBLE Appeal Template with all fields completed.
  • A copy of the letter from CBP providing the applicant's score.
  • A copy of the applicant's answer sheet. 

What is the required format for the Appeal arguments?

  • For the question you are disputing, where it states “My Answer”, provide your answer choice of A, B, C, or D.
  • For the question you are disputing, where it states “Justification”, provide your argument that supports your appeal for the corresponding question. 

Appeal questions will not be considered if:

  • The argument is not compelling.
  • Argues for an answer that the examinee did not select.

Where should the Appeal be sent?

CBP strongly encourages electronic appeal submissions. Please submit your appeal electronically to the below email.  Electronic appeal submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the 60th calendar day from the date of your score notification letter.

Email: brokermanagement@cbp.dhs.gov

Subject Line: “CBLE First Appeal”

Alternatively, appeals may be submitted via mail to the following address and must be postmarked no later than 60 calendar days from the date of your score notification letter.

Mail:  

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Office of Trade Policy and Programs

1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20229-1142

ATTN: Broker Management Branch

When can an Appeal be automatically rejected?

An appeal package can be automatically rejected for procedural reasons, such as if it is incomplete, is untimely, or is in the incorrect format.

If CBP denies my second Appeal, do I have any further recourse?

An applicant may appeal an adverse decision of the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, by filing an action in the Court of International Trade pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1641(e)(1) and 19 C.F.R § 111.17.

Last Modified: Nov 26, 2024