diff --git a/src/routes/settings.import.tsx b/src/routes/settings.import.tsx
index acea8bb..e2661c2 100644
--- a/src/routes/settings.import.tsx
+++ b/src/routes/settings.import.tsx
@@ -573,8 +573,8 @@ const IMPORTERS: ImporterConfig[] = [
     transform: (r, ctx) => {
       r.client_id = (r._clientext && ctx.clientByExt.get(String(r._clientext))) || (r._clientname && ctx.clientByName.get(String(r._clientname).toLowerCase())) || null;
       r.case_id = (r._caseext && ctx.caseByExt.get(String(r._caseext))) || (r._casenum && ctx.caseByNumber.get(String(r._casenum))) || null;
-      delete r._clientext; delete r._clientname; delete r._caseext; delete r._casenum;
-      if (!r.client_id) return null;
+      // Keep hints — async pre-insert step will auto-create an archived client
+      // (and archived case) when no match is found.
       const s = String(r.status ?? "").toLowerCase();
       r.status = ["draft", "sent", "paid", "overdue", "void"].includes(s) ? s : "draft";
       return r;