4457 Issue

pudwillcurt

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Recently was transiting through JNB airport. While at police station I was told my 4457 was outdated (issued 2008) and not acceptable to obtain a permit. Has anyone ran into this issue, He said there is a new permit that has an expiration date on it. My first- time Africa hunting partner had just obtained his 4457 and it had no out-date on it. Do I need to obtain a new 4457 for my next trip??
 
As far as I know there is no expiration date. Sounds like someone just hasseling the hunters.. Bruce
 
When I went through Johannesburg last May they didn't even ask for my 4457 but then I had my SAPs 520 forms pre approved and used Air 2000 for the permits
 
As far as I know there is no expiration date. Sounds like someone just hasseling the hunters.. Bruce

Yep. The purpose of the 4457 form is to prove that the item had been in the U.S. prior to your travels. It is a registration form only, it doesn't establish ownership, just possession prior to leaving. Therefore, as long as the description of the item and serial number match and the form is signed and stamped you can use it as many times as you want. The date shouldn't matter.

I have several 4457 forms identifying firearms that I've traveled out of the country and returned with many times. Some of those forms date back to the early 90's and perhaps I may even have one from earlier than that. I've used them over and over again. Although the form may have changed a little over the years the firearms and serial numbers indicated on my 'signed and stamped' forms sure as hell haven't changed.

I've traveled outside the U.S. with firearms and returned in excess of 25 times and I've only been hassled once. That's not bad when I think back and can only remember being asked to produce a 4457 form upon returning to the U.S. a couple of times.

That one occasion when I was hassled was long ago. A very young and obviously inexperienced customs agent declared that my 4457 form was "expired". I pointed out that the form does not indicate an expiration date and asked him to explain how it could be expired. He then told me that my 4457 was several years "old" and that it was "probably no longer valid". He went on to say I should obtain a new one each time I traveled. I pointed out that the firearm listed on the 4457 had certainly aged since the time the form was issued, but that the manufacturer and the serial number remained the same. Since the firearm and serial number hadn't changed I asked him what the purpose of my obtaining another one would be. Seeming stumped he just went on with what I viewed as an effort to baffle me with bullshit.

After about ten minutes of listening to him dig a deeper hole about my "expired" form rather than simply admitting he'd made a mistake I told him I was tired from my long flight and that I intended to leave. He then said he'd not yet "cleared me" to proceed with my firearm. I told him to go ahead and keep my rifle. I further suggested that after explaining the situation to his superiors and finding out he was wrong he could then have my rifle delivered to me. After handing him a business card I turned to walk away. He then quickly motioned me back and with a look of frustration told me to take my rifle and leave.

I wasn't angry about the situation because I viewed it as a young man trying to exercise his newly issued authority. Besides, I kind of enjoyed watching him dig the hole. As mentioned earlier the purpose of a 4457 form is just to show that the item listed on it was in the U.S. prior to traveling. As long as it is properly signed, stamped by a customs agent and clearly legible it should be valid.
 
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Recently was transiting through JNB airport. While at police station I was told my 4457 was outdated (issued 2008) and not acceptable to obtain a permit. Has anyone ran into this issue, He said there is a new permit that has an expiration date on it. My first- time Africa hunting partner had just obtained his 4457 and it had no out-date on it. Do I need to obtain a new 4457 for my next trip??


Sounds like someone wanted a "cool drink"! :) :S Dollar:
 
I started this thread and just want to update on what I have done to try and prevent another problem in 2016. Contacted local customs agent and got a new 4457 form. The only issue I can foresee with the new 4457 is that it does have an out-date at the top of the form dated January -2016. I suppose they will say this one is out -dated as of that date versus this date referring to the current version of the 4457 form. May go ahead and get another 4457 after January when the new version should be available. I realize this may be over-kill but I handle my own paperwork and think it is way easier to optimize my position when I get there and someone is playing games with me.
 
......... I realize this may be over-kill but I handle my own paperwork and think it is way easier to optimize my position when I get there and someone is playing games with me.

Better to be prepared now than to deal with it when you are exhausted after 16 hours in a plane.
 
I told a gal in RSA once when she was telling me my rifle may not make the connection to Namibia to just go ahead and keep it. I said guns were cheap in the USA and I was not going to miss my flight for a cheap plastic fantastic. The rifle made it to Namibia.
 

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