A blocked payment isn't seized or gone — it sits in a segregated, interest-bearing account at the blocking institution, reported to OFAC and waiting on process. Which process depends entirely on why it was blocked.
The unblocking petition is an evidence brief: full transaction chain, KYC-grade party documentation, and a theory tying release to the program's own rules. Banks file the reports but do not advocate — that's your side's job, and the difference shows in outcomes. Where petitions sit unanswered past reason, the delay toolkit applies to OFAC as to any agency.
Regulations require blocked funds be held at interest — cold comfort, but the corpus is preserved while the process runs.
Common — institutions fear tipping and over-comply. OFAC's own records and the reconsideration process become the channel, which is why petitions lead with reconstruction.
Unpredictably — months are normal, longer happens. Documented completeness on day one is the only lever you own outright.