通常来讲，外贸订单最终获得的标志是收到定金(T/T结算方式)或信用证。
一、催开信用证
如果买卖双方约定采用信用证方式，买方应严格按照合同规定按时开立信用证，这是卖方履约的前提。但在实际业务中，有时买方在市场发生变化或资金发生短缺的情况下，往往会拖延开证。因而，跟单员有必要催促对方迅速办理开证手续。特别是大宗商品交易或应买方要求而特制的商品交易，更应结合备货情况及时进行催证。如遇以下情况，应注意向买方发出函电提醒或催促对方开立信用证。
(1)在合同规定的期限内，买方未及时开证这一事实已构成违约。如卖方不希望中断交易，可在保留索赔权的前提下，催促对方开证。
(2)签约日期和履约日期相隔较远，应在合同规定开证日之前，去信表示对该笔交易的重视，并提醒对方及时开证。
(3)卖方货已备妥，并打算提前装运，可去信征求对方是否同意提前开证。
(4)买方资信欠佳，提前去信提示，将有利于督促对方履行合同义务。
小提示
撰写这类书信时，注意用词要得体，千万不要使用责怪和厌烦的口吻。应该有礼貌地说明所订货物已经备妥，但有关的信用证却没有收到。如果第一封信函没有回音，可以发第二封信函。这次，仍应克制情绪，但可以适当表示失望的心情。
写催开信用证可使用以下常用语句。
(1) As the goods against your order No.111 have been ready for shipment for quite some time,it is imperative that you take immediate action to have the covering credit established as soon as possible.
由于贵方订单第111号的货已备待运有相当长时间了，贵方必须立即行动尽快开出信用证。
(2) We repeatedly requested you by faxes to expedite the opening of the relative leter of credit so that we might effect shipment for the above mentioned order, but after the lapse of 3 months, we have not yet received the covering L/C.
我们已经多次传真要求贵方从速开来有关信用证，以使我们装运上述订单的货。但是三个月过去了，仍未收到有关信用证。
(3)We hope that you will take commercial reputation into account in all seriousness and open L/C at once, otherwise you will be responsible for all the losses arising therefrom.
希望贵方认真考虑商业信誉，立即开证，否则，由此产生的一切损失均由供方负责。
(4) The shipment time for your order is approaching, but we have not yet received the covering L/C. PIs do your utmost to expedite the same to reach here before the end of his month so that shipment may be effected without delay.
贵方订单的装船期已经临近，但我们尚未收到有关信用证，请尽最大努力从速将信用证在本月底开到，以便及时装运。
以下提供两个仙开信用证的函件供纷考。Dear Mr. Smith,
We are so glad that we made a conclusion with you and signed the contract No.NEO2001/026. Please note that the delivery date is approaching and opening the relative L/C immediately is necessary.
To avoid the subsequent amendment, please make sure that the stipulations in the L/C must.be strictly conformed with those of the contract
Yours faithfully，
亲爱的史密斯先生：
我们非常高兴和贵公司的合作终于有了结果，我们签订的合同号是“NEO2001/026"。
请注意装运期越来这近，您有必要尽快开立信用证了。
为了避免将来改证，请确保信用证中的条款和合同中的条款一致。
Dear Sirs:
Your Order No.AB 153
With regard to your order No.AB 153 for 3,000 metric tons of cotton we regret up to this date we have received neither the required credit nor any further information from you.
Please note that, as agreed, the terms of payment for the above order are sight Letter of Credit estabished within 2 weeks upon the arrival of our Sales Confirmation.
We hereby request you to open by cable an irrevocable sight Letter of Credit for the amount of…in our favor, with which we can execute the above order according to the original schedule.
Yours tnuly,
敬启者:
合同第AB 153号
有关贵方3000吨棉花的订单AB 153号，我们对至今尚未收到信用证，也未听到贵方任何消息感到遗憾。
请注意，上述订单的货款经双方同意是以即期信用证方式支付，而信用证必须在收到我们的销货确认后两个星期内开出。
我方在北此恳请贵方电开金额为……以我方为受益人的不可撤销即期信用证，使我方得以按原定计划执行上述订单。
