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First find out whether the payment is still pending, was rejected and returned, or is formally blocked or frozen. Ask your sending bank to trace it, name the institution currently handling it, and explain whether sanctions screening is the stated reason. The next step depends on that status and on which jurisdiction’s sanctions rules apply; a late transfer alone does not prove that funds are frozen.
Find out what happened to the payment
Contact the sending bank using a phone number or secure-message channel you already know is official. Request a payment trace and ask:
- Is the transfer pending, rejected and returned, or blocked or frozen?
- Which institution currently has the payment or is processing it?
- Is sanctions screening the stated reason?
- What is the bank’s case or reference number?
- Has the money been returned, frozen, or held while the bank requests more documents?
If sanctions are mentioned, ask to speak with the bank’s sanctions compliance or financial-crime team. Request the applicable jurisdiction or sanctions regime and the reason the payment cannot proceed, to the extent the bank can disclose those details. Banks may not be able to share every detail.
Know the difference between a rejected payment and blocked funds
These terms describe different outcomes, so do not infer one from a delay. Under US sanctions administered by OFAC, a transaction may be rejected when it is prohibited but no blocked person has an interest in the property. OFAC says such a transaction is not processed and is returned to the originator. A block, by contrast, applies when property is subject to a blocked person’s interest and must be frozen under the relevant sanctions program. See OFAC FAQ 36.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor wire transfers, the payment instruction itself can create the relevant property interest; merely asking a bank whether a proposed payment is allowed does not, by itself, create a blockable wire-transfer interest. This distinction is explained in OFAC FAQ 53. Treat the status assigned by the bank or regulator as authoritative rather than guessing from the fact that money has not arrived.
Keep the records needed to trace or review the transfer
Save copies of the original transfer confirmation and payment instruction, along with relevant supporting material. A clear record helps the bank investigate and may be needed for a license or release request.
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- Transaction reference, date, amount, and currency
- Sender and beneficiary names and addresses
- Intermediary or correspondent bank details, including BIC information if available
- Invoice, contract, or other evidence of the payment’s purpose
- Bank messages, letters, and any response identifying the institution handling the funds
- Dates of calls or messages, names or teams contacted, and case numbers
OFAC’s application guidance for release of blocked funds lists original instructions and correspondence with the blocking institution among supporting documents. Keep the original records intact and log any new communications.
If a US OFAC block is confirmed
Ask the financial institution which institution filed the blocking report. OFAC advises confirming the block with the financial institution first and generally does not process a release request without the corresponding report. OFAC also states: “OFAC itself does not seize or hold blocked funds.” The funds are held by the relevant financial institution, not by OFAC. Read OFAC FAQ 51.
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If the issue involves UK sanctions
UK financial sanctions and licensing are governed by the relevant UK sanctions regulations. Check the current Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) licensing guidance for the applicable regime and legal ground. OFSI can issue a licence only where legal grounds exist, and the available grounds and requirements vary by regime. Do not assume that a US OFAC process or a generic licence applies to a UK case.
For reporting and other duties, consult the relevant sections of OFSI’s general financial sanctions guidance. Complex or high-value matters may warrant advice from a qualified professional familiar with the relevant jurisdiction and sanctions regime.
Do not try to route around a restriction
Do not conceal who is involved, alter payment details to evade screening, or resend the money through another bank or route before you understand the restriction and have appropriate advice or authorization. Depending on the applicable rules and facts, a financial institution may be required to block or reject a transaction. Ask the bank what is permitted before taking further steps.
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Watch for fake release and licensing offers
Be suspicious of unsolicited messages claiming that a fee or cryptocurrency payment will release frozen funds or secure a licence. OFSI’s guidance, published 24 July 2026, says: “OFSI will never ask you to make a payment, transfer cryptocurrency, pay a fee to obtain a licence, or pay to release frozen funds.” Verify any claimed OFSI contact using the contact information on GOV.UK’s guidance on checking communications claiming to be from OFSI, not links or phone numbers in the message.
Why there is no single international release process
An international payment can pass through sending, beneficiary, intermediary, correspondent, and clearing institutions in different countries. Which rules apply can depend on those connections, the parties and their ownership or control, the purpose of the payment, and the sanctions measures in force. The US and UK procedures above explain those jurisdictions only. The official sources do not establish a universal deadline, global appeal route, or guaranteed release outcome.
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