Heads up on your form 4457

[GA Hunter]

I recently sent my 4457 to the outfitter I'll be hunting with this year and they replied saying that it was expired. Sure enough when I looked at it there is an expiration date listed in the top right corner. I thought this was odd because I was told by the agent in Atlanta in 2016 that they never expire. By the way the expiration date was 2012.

I went back to the same office today and they handed me another form to fill out and it had the same date on it. When I asked for a newer one the agent replied he didn't have a newer form and suggested that I look on line.

Note that I have one that was created in 2014 and it does not have an expiration date.

Check your forms folks. I would hate to see someone get to Africa and have to leave their firearms at the airport.

BD

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Is this the one, expiration Aug 31, 2019?

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2016-Aug/CBP Form 4457.pdf

 

[ActionBob]

Also be careful if you print them out yourself, they are a smaller size and your computer may print full size, then you get to Africa and they think it is not real because it is too big

 

[GA Hunter]

Is this the one, expiratation Aug 31, 2019?

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2016-Aug/CBP Form 4457.pdf

Yep

 

[BRICKBURN]

Also be careful if you print them out yourself, they are a smaller size and your computer may print full size, then you get to Africa and they think it is not real because it is too big

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Also be careful if you print them out yourself, they are a smaller size and your computer may print full size, then you get to Africa and they think it is not real because it is too big

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Dang it, you beat me to it. Great minds think alike I guess!

 

[Buckdog]

I was told by customs they never expire then i heard that some customs border people were being special and saying no that form has expired so I just printed out the form online correct size, as the office by me didnt have new form took my guns over and had them issue me new forms 4457, emailed new ones to riflepermit service and all seems good.

 

[Royal27]

I was told by customs they never expire then i heard that some customs border people were being special and saying no that form has expired so I just printed out the form online correct size, as the office by me didnt have new form took my guns over and had them issue me new forms 4457, emailed new ones to riflepermit service and all seems good.

That's right. The form doesn't expire. The government's ability to collect the information does and must be renewed. . This often gets confided as the form itself expiring.

https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...ection-activities-certificate-of-registration

 

[sierraone]

That's right. The form doesn't expire. The government's ability to collect the information does and must be renewed. . This often gets confided as the form itself expiring.

https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...ection-activities-certificate-of-registration

That is the correct answer! Although I don't know about explaining to a S.A. Customs Officer???

 

[Royal27]

That is the correct answer! Although I don't know about explaining to a S.A. Customs Officer???

That's always the worry!

Made it last trip with no problem and in fact never had to show my 4457, just had the SAPS paperwork filled out in advance and had everything done before my riflesh showed up, verified serial numbers when rifles arrived, and off I went.

In three trips I actually don't think I've ever had to show 4457 in SA, although I did in Zimbabwe, and always back at home.

 

[sierraone]

That's always the worry!

Made it last trip with no problem and in fact never had to show my 4457, just had the SAPS paperwork filled out in advance and had everything done before my riflesh showed up, verified serial numbers when rifles arrived, and off I went.

In three trips I actually don't think I've ever had to show 4457 in SA, although I did in Zimbabwe, and always back at home.

I understand that can always potentially be a problem, but good luck trying to get the FEDS update something which they say has no bearing on us, since the form doesn't expire!

 

[GA Hunter]

I've also made it in and out with these same "expired" forms multiple times. But I, like many others here have been given an awful lot of grief in SA for some ridiculous i not being dotted or t not being crossed with varying degrees of suffrage. If you don't already know this, expect everything to go wrong even though you and your docs are perfect. And roll with it when it does.

 

[CAustin]

Thanks for the reminder!

 

[rookhawk]

Scan it. Cut the expiration date off the edge. Use it.

CBP knows they are expired but OMB never authorizes a new form promptly. No expiration noted, no problem. Using it as-is, other countries balk.

 

[Shootist43]

Another thing to remember is that SAPS now requires that the 4457 be completed and signed by U.S. Customs not more than 6 months prior to the date of arrival. At least that is what I read several months back.

 

[Catahoula]

The original poster said that his outfitter said it was expired. Has anyone actually had problems with this at the SA airport? I went in November of 2016. My form showed an expiration of 2012 and I had no problems. I used @riflepermits.com and will do so again this August. Everything was pre approved and I was not asked to show my original 4457. I'm inclined to leave things as they are and let Henry's team take care of it on their end. I've already sent him my paperwork for this trip and he replied that everything was in order. Maybe he can chime in on this thread.

 

[GA Hunter]

The original poster said that his outfitter said it was expired. Has anyone actually had problems with this at the SA airport? I went in November of 2016. My form showed an expiration of 2012 and I had no problems. I used @riflepermits.com and will do so again this August. Everything was pre approved and I was not asked to show my original 4457. I'm inclined to leave things as they are and let Henry's team take care of it on their end. I've already sent him my paperwork for this trip and he replied that everything was in order. Maybe he can chime in on this thread.

I will be going to Botswana this year which means I will be dealing with twice the number of officials. I also do not want to question the outfitters experience or judgement. That being said, my philosophy when traveling anywhere in Africa is to to remove all possible reasons for potential issues and hope for the best. You never know when someone might be having a bad day and decide that you are the target of their frustration.

Good luck on your trip.

 

[Catahoula]

I will be going to Botswana this year which means I will be dealing with twice the number of officials. I also do not want to question the outfitters experience or judgement. That being said, my philosophy when traveling anywhere in Africa is to to remove all possible reasons for potential issues and hope for the best. You never know when someone might be having a bad day and decide that you are the target of their frustration.

Good luck on your trip.

That makes sense. I'm just trying to weigh the risk/reward. I don't live close enough to a customs office to do paperwork over without burning a vacation day. Riflepermits notifies a week prior to departure that the permit was pre-approved. As long as I get that notice, I think I'll take the chance. If they tell me there is a problem, I still have time to get new paperwork. Enjoy your trip!

 

[RogerHeintzman]

There is an earlier thread when this all came to light the first time.
The dating/signing 6 months prior the safari is correct. And as mentioned, just cut off the part of the form with the expiration date. Out of sight, out of mind.
To my knowledge, the only form that had a expiration date was the form printed off the website. That may have changed now.