If you’ve been told to file a “Form 1037,” the number almost certainly belongs to a different document than the one you need. Several federal agencies attach 1037 to unrelated items, and in the two situations where people most often encounter it, the actual form carries a different number: Customs Form 3485 for a customs lien on imported freight, and Form DS-3072 for emergency medical assistance abroad. Confirm which agency sent you looking before you spend time hunting the wrong paperwork.
Customs Lien on Imported Freight
When a carrier or customs broker is owed money for moving imported goods, federal law lets them file a lien so customs will not release the merchandise until the debt is paid. The authority sits in 19 U.S.C. § 1564, which directs a customs officer to refuse delivery once a written lien notice is on file, until the claim is satisfied or discharged.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 19 USC 1564 – Liens for Freight, Charges, or Contribution in General Average
The implementing regulation, 19 CFR 141.112, specifies Customs Form 3485 for the notice. Not a form numbered 1037. The form must be signed and certified by the authorized agent of the claimant.2eCFR. 19 CFR 141.112 – Liens for Freight, Charges, or Contribution in General Average If a broker or shipper gave you a different number, call the port director’s office and confirm before filing.
What the Lien Can Cover
“Freight” means the charges for transporting the goods from the foreign port of shipment to the final U.S. destination. “Charges” covers costs the lien claimant incurred in connection with shipping and forwarding, but excludes the purchase price of the merchandise. Licensed customs brokers who hold a lien under state statute or court order may also use the process.2eCFR. 19 CFR 141.112 – Liens for Freight, Charges, or Contribution in General Average
Where to File
File Customs Form 3485 with the port director at the port of entry where the goods are held. If the merchandise was entered for immediate transportation to another port, file at the destination port instead.2eCFR. 19 CFR 141.112 – Liens for Freight, Charges, or Contribution in General Average
When the Port Director Will Reject the Lien
The notice will be returned with a reason noted if any of the following has already happened:
- The merchandise has been released to the importer.
- The goods have been forfeited under any provision of law.
- The merchandise has been sold as unclaimed or abandoned under 19 U.S.C. § 1491 or § 1559.
- A notice of abandonment to the government has been received and accepted.
Timing is the whole game. Once the goods clear customs, the opportunity to file is gone.2eCFR. 19 CFR 141.112 – Liens for Freight, Charges, or Contribution in General Average
If the Port Director Questions the Lien
When the port director has reason to doubt a lien’s validity, the director may require the claimant to post a bond on Customs Form 301 to hold the government harmless from any liability caused by delayed release of the merchandise.2eCFR. 19 CFR 141.112 – Liens for Freight, Charges, or Contribution in General Average
Emergency Medical Assistance Abroad
When a U.S. citizen faces a medical emergency overseas and needs government help with evacuation or care, the State Department can arrange and advance funds, but on a reimbursable basis. The authority is 22 U.S.C. § 2670, which allows the department to provide emergency medical attention and other emergency assistance for citizens abroad who cannot obtain those services on their own, with reimbursement required to the extent feasible.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 22 USC 2670
The form is Form DS-3072 (Evacuation Documentation), not DS-1037. Per the Foreign Affairs Manual, the citizen, a family member, or another interested party must sign a promissory note on Form DS-3072 before the department requests the U.S. Air Force or other resources to proceed with an evacuation.4U.S. Department of State. 7 FAM 360 Medical Evacuation Signing creates a binding obligation to reimburse the government.
You will not find this form on a public download portal. If you are in a consular emergency and have been asked to sign paperwork, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate; consular officers handle it in real time.
Federal Prison Intake Financial Disclosure
Federal prison intake includes a financial disclosure used to manage commissary accounts, process court-ordered restitution, and assess financial obligations. A form number sometimes cited as BP-A1037 could not be independently verified in the Bureau of Prisons’ published forms catalog or policy statements. The correct paperwork is provided by the facility’s administrative office as part of the standard orientation packet.
Expect to disclose bank accounts, real estate, and other assets. Recent bank statements or property records will help verify what you report. Inaccurate or incomplete disclosures can delay commissary access and other financial transactions inside the facility.
How to Confirm You Have the Right Form
Because different agencies reuse the same numbers under separate systems, the reliable move is to go to the issuing agency rather than searching by number alone.
- For a customs lien, contact the port director’s office at the relevant port of entry and request Customs Form 3485. The CBP forms library is at cbp.gov.
- For a medical emergency abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The consular officer will provide Form DS-3072 or whatever the situation calls for.
- For federal prison intake, the facility’s administrative staff distributes the forms during orientation.
If someone has pointed you to “Form 1037” without naming the agency, ask which department issued it and what the transaction is before you keep looking.