New USA requirements in addition to the form 4457

"Form 4457 may no longer be used for firearms, and electronic declarations will be the norm.”

Will Customs still issue you one if it may no longer be used for firearms?

I think perhaps SAPS will still want it for proof of ownership. This may throw a huge monkey wrench in the whole system. Probably the intent of it. I would imagine CBP will still issue the form.

It can still be downloaded at CBP.

TJH said:

"Form 4457 may no longer be used for firearms, and electronic declarations will be the norm.”

Will Customs still issue you one if it may no longer be used for firearms?

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Since 4457's are used for other items such as, binos, cameras, laptops, SAT phones, etc... My guess is that CBP will continue to issue them for whatever items you bring them. So 4457's will still be useful for other items regardless and there still required on the SA side for permits.

Please keep and bring your 4457 it is proof of ownership.
SA will ask for it.......
I rather be over gunned than under gunned.........

I just came from my local CBP office, I wanted to get a 4457 for a new rifle I picked up. While I was there I had a nice chat with the supervisor about all of the goings on of late. She advised me to take my 4457's along with me to the airport and check my bags and guns through to my final destination, like I always did and everything should be fine. Wow, talk about a screwed up mess.

Are you leaving to hunt overseas soon? If so I would advise you to get the EIN. Wh she said is. Contradicting what I have heard

Jduckhunter..

Did you get it in writing..........

So it's he said she said......

No she didn't write it down for me. But she did say something about a stop gap measure that they are implementing. Something about first time offenders just getting a warning and being told about the new measures.

jduckhunter said:

I just came from my local CBP office, I wanted to get a 4457 for a new rifle I picked up. While I was there I had a nice chat with the supervisor about all of the goings on of late. She advised me to take my 4457's along with me to the airport and check my bags and guns through to my final destination, like I always did and everything should be fine. Wow, talk about a screwed up mess.

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I met with my local CBP agent yesterday on this subject as well. He advised me to do the exact same thing your guy advised you to do. He told me he'd be shocked if anything was seriously implemented before May 2015.

This thing is so screwed up I don't know what to think. Hey I'm not advising anyone to try it but that's what I was told to do.

So here's my thinking after this week and what I've done:

1. The local CBP supervisor had told me over the phone about a workaround for this messed up system. You come in and get your 4457's as normal and then they put that information into the system. When anyone at TSA on departure or customs then wants to check, they can see the info. So I've done this and met the supervisor myself to ensure everything was done. Nice gent and I do believe he was trying to be as helpful as possible. He said this system was per a memo generated at "headquarters."

2. I still plan to use SSI to get the AESDirect part of this done. This should add another level of compliance.

3. I spoke again today with the local office for Rep Matt Salmon, and specifically to the gent I spoke to last week. He confirmed for me that a letter has been sent to TSA regarding this matter and they are required to respond. They're waiting on this response at this time. We discussed more generally the whole matter some, he's definitely on our side with this. He also told me that if for some reason there is any trouble with my trip, to please give them a call.

So I've got a bit of a three pronged plan of attack here, hopefully it all goes well.

Robert, I'm reading elsewhere that even if you do the AESDirect part of this to get an ITN number for us, we still need to provide you with an EIN? Please confirm if this is accurate, sorry if I missed it in earlier posts.

A big thanks to Trap123, I got my ITN through AESDirect! I didn't want to take a chance given that I am leaving in two weeks. I had some time this afternoon and so I thought I would give it a try to see if I could actually do this. The whole process from IRS to get the EIN, taking the quiz on AES, and submitting the shipment took me about an hour and half. I was told by the local customs I don't need to do any of this, just as jduckhunter was told, but I have what I need anyway, just in case.

I really feel bad for Robert and his employees that have to use this website on a regular basis. The website is one of the worst pieces of software I have encountered (I am software engineer so I know what I am talking about here!) My suggestion is definitely become a SSI client and let them do this for you. Unfortunately, I don't know if I am shipping any trophies back because of budget constraints so I'm not a client and I don't think they are setup to do one offs yet.

Phil, I got my EIN yesterday thru Robert after a very simple process ( thank you Bob) SSI will still process before departure with AESDIRECT to get the ITN number for us. Rosella advised me to wait at least 3 weeks prior to departure to make sure no flight info has changed. One of my previous posts notes I spoke with another Ah member this morning, he spoke to a supervisor at JFK who told him that customs at least at JFK is going to be warning hunters for now about the new compliance and entering into the system they were informed. So the next time you fly you will need all your ducks in a row. I am with you though I want everything I can possibly have before I leave. Interestingly I went 3 weeks ago to customs at JFK with a new rifle to get the 4457 I did not see them enter anything at that time into the system so I assume they will now upon arrival back here from Africa. I am kinda glad I m not leaving until September we should know a lot more by then. I am sorry for the guys leaving now....Trailblazers!

Phil,
You are correct.....
We are sending a very easy step by step guide on how to obtain the EIN number online. Once you have your EIN number, you send it to us along with copy of 4457, trip itinerary and the form (attached to the guide) and we do the filing with AES. Once the filing is complete, we send the certificate to staple to your 4457 and you are good to go.
We have walked several (AH) clients through this process and it really is easy to get the EIN number....the rest is up to us.

brushmore said:

A big thanks to Trap123, I got my ITN through AESDirect! I didn't want to take a chance given that I am leaving in two weeks. I had some time this afternoon and so I thought I would give it a try to see if I could actually do this. The whole process from IRS to get the EIN, taking the quiz on AES, and submitting the shipment took me about an hour and half. I was told by the local customs I don't need to do any of this, just as jduckhunter was told, but I have what I need anyway, just in case.

I really feel bad for Robert and his employees that have to use this website on a regular basis. The website is one of the worst pieces of software I have encountered (I am software engineer so I know what I am talking about here!) My suggestion is definitely become a SSI client and let them do this for you. Unfortunately, I don't know if I am shipping any trophies back because of budget constraints so I'm not a client and I don't think they are setup to do one offs yet.

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I agree with you brushmore...Bob told me it's been a rough couple of days. I m glad I am a client and to be honest if I planned to use someone else I would have switched. SSI's help at least for me is invaluable. They told me they would process my paper work with AED direct several weeks before departure...I don't want to spend that kind of time on my own trying to figure it all out.

Thank you Brushmore.
That compliment is a bronze star a computer tech........

robertq said:

Phil,
You are correct.....
We are sending a very easy step by step guide on how to obtain the EIN number online. Once you have your EIN number, you send it to us along with copy of 4457, trip itinerary and the form (attached to the guide) and we do the filing with AES. Once the filing is complete, we send the certificate to staple to your 4457 and you are good to go.
We have walked several (AH) clients through this process and it really is easy to get the EIN number....the rest is up to us.

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Well please send this guide to me, email address is in my signature. Thanks, Robert!

I think what most folks are missing is the most important point. Its easy to get an EIN (I have one), sign up with AES systems, and get the ITN. Its that everything is recorded in the system and there is no guarantee that your "huntin' rifles" will not be cataloged in a Gov't database forever, Backdoor registration.

And I will repeat, its not ICE or CBP that decides who get prosecuted and who doesn't, its the US Attorney's office.

robertq said:

Phil,
You are correct.....
We are sending a very easy step by step guide on how to obtain the EIN number online. Once you have your EIN number, you send it to us along with copy of 4457, trip itinerary and the form (attached to the guide) and we do the filing with AES. Once the filing is complete, we send the certificate to staple to your 4457 and you are good to go.
We have walked several (AH) clients through this process and it really is easy to get the EIN number....the rest is up to us.

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The directions were so good that even I didn't have an issue!

Perfect screen by screen instruction, with notes where needed. Just sent the completed forms to Tara at SSI a few minutes ago.

wesheltonj said:

Its that everything is recorded in the system and there is no guarantee that your "huntin' rifles" will not be cataloged in a Gov't database forever, Backdoor registration.

And I will repeat, its not ICE or CBP that decides who get prosecuted and who doesn't, its the US Attorney's office.

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No argument from me....