Which movement branch applies?
Confirm the exact destination, first-entry country, transit, species, pet count, ownership and owner-travel timing before choosing a certificate. A non-commercial form may not apply when those facts change.
Which certificate version is current?
Open the destination-government and USDA APHIS pages for the planned endorsement date. Certificate forms can transition, so the saved form name and version must be treated as dated evidence.
Is the identification and vaccination sequence valid?
Ask the accredited veterinarian to scan the microchip and compare identification, implantation or reading date, rabies product, vaccination dates, and any route-specific test or treatment sequence.
What is the last safe appointment path?
Work backward from arrival using current issuance, treatment, laboratory, endorsement, shipping, and original-document requirements. Record both the earliest practical start and last safe action date.
How will corrections be handled?
Compare owner and pet names, microchip number, dates, product details, signatures, stamps, certificate number, and destination fields across the draft, final certificate, pet record, and carrier record before handoff.
Who controls the final decision?
The veterinarian prepares or reviews medical and certificate work, but government endorsement, destination entry, operating-carrier acceptance, transit, and arrival-facility handling remain distinct controls.