There are several things you can do as an accredited veterinarian to reduce returns and decrease the time it takes for the USDA to endorse your client's certificate.
- Submit documents as early as possible and allow at minimum three days for processing.
- Reduce the chance for errors by reviewing the IHC and Rabies Certificates for accuracy regarding pet information and associated vaccinations, tests, or treatments to avoid any delays
- Provide an overnight shipping label with Saturday delivery configured for countries that do not allow for electronic endorsement when applicable (you can find that information on the APHIS website here)
- Use the 'Comments' box within the VEHCS certificate to relay any important information to the USDA that should be considered or may alter the deadline, such as if the client's flight is leaving early morning or additional treatments must be completed and documented on the certified copy before departure
We understand that awaiting final certificates can be stressful. We encourage you to keep in mind the number of requests submitted to the USDA for review. To prioritize their workload, the endorsement offices commonly use the day before departure as the endorsement deadline.
The status of endorsement can be checked directly in VEHCS, and VEHCS will send email updates to the list of email addresses included to receive automated replies.