CBE Appeal Checklist

If you are one of those who missed passing the exam by just a few questions, you may be thinking about appealing your exam score. If you appeal your CBP Exam score, it is important to follow CBP’s appeal instructions. You will find a link to a checklist at the end of this article.

Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the score. CBP will reject the appeal if it:

• is incomplete, is untimely, or is in the wrong format
• includes any arguments written by another person
• does not provide supporting arguments
• argues for an answer the applicant did not select
• contests an incomplete erasure or insufficient marking on the applicant’s answer sheet
  

CBP will provide to the examinee written notice of the decision on the appeal. If the CBP decision on the appeal affirms the result of the examination, the examinee may request review of the decision on the appeal by writing to the Secretary of Homeland Security, or his designee, within 60 calendar days after the date of the notice of that decision. 19 CFR 111.13(f)

The most frequent question we hear is “when will CBP notify me if they accept my appeal?” Unfortunately, there is no magic answer for that question. People who have shared their experiences lead us to believe that you may not receive an answer before the date of the next exam. However, CBP tries to notify those who have had their appeals approved prior to the exam. This could be frustrating because if your appeal is approved, it may not be necessary for you to take the next exam. However, if your appeal is not approved, you may want to take the next test while the information is still fresh.

Save yourself some time and expense by submitting your very best arguments the first time. To help you submit an appeal that complies with CBP requirements, we’ve created the CBE Appeal Checklist. Be sure to review each item and place a check mark next to the individual requirements.