More 4457 Drama

[Red Leg]

Was just in communication with Gracy Travel. I am using them for my trip in October to Moz. They have requested that I get my 4457 notarized after obtaining it. Anyone else heard of this nonsense? I am trying to imagine one of the characters behind the desk in Johannesburg having the remotest clue what a notary stamp means.

 

[Catahoula]

Was just in communication with Gracy Travel. I am using them for my trip in October to Moz. They have requested that I get my 4457 notarized after obtaining it. Anyone else heard of this nonsense? I am trying to imagine one of the characters behind the desk in Johannesburg having the remotest clue what a notary stamp means.

I'm using @riflepermits.com. I used them last year as well. They also requested notarized copies. We have a notary in our corporate office. They took care of it for me.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Date this and scribble underneath it. I'll bet you get the same result.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Perhaps all these preauthorized permits are "training" the SAPS to believe the notary stamp is the "correct" version of the 4457.

They do like their stamps.

 

[Red Leg]

Just checked back with them - you are correct - it is for pre-approval.

Brickburn is right - I have an embosser for my library that would probably get me a pass to meet Zuma.

 

[ScottG]

They seem to be sharing govermetal bureaucracy with the US. How thoughtful!

 

[Pheroze]

I am trying to imagine one of the characters behind the desk in Johannesburg having the remotest clue what a notary stamp means.

Ahhh, the power of a legal document. Strikes fear into the hearts of mere mortals..

 

[sierraone]

I had to send Rifle Permits a notarized copy for my pre-approval many months ago for the trip I just returned from.

 

[Royal27]

the last time I used riflepermits I was asked for the notarized document and to send hardcopy over to SA. Instead of that mess I just filled out the paperwork in advance, but didn't get the preapproval, with no issues or delays. The paperwork was still done before the rifles go there.

@Red Leg ,

I'm using Gracy this time too, but have decided not to do the pre-approval. With the concierge service they will stil help to get the paperwork done, it's just less money.

 

[Mekaniks]

I had to send a noticed copy of mine with my permit for pre-approval last year. So while I was at it I also had copy's of my passport and other back up docs notarized as "true copies" as well.

 

[JimP]

All a notarized copy of a document means is that the copy is a true copy of the original. Nothing more nothing less.

 

[Therack]

I just received a pre approved permit done by Afton Safari Lodge and my 4457 didn't have a notarized stamp. The 4457 was the new one that wasn't "expired".

 

[mdwest]

Im also among the notarized for pre-approval crowd..

I had to take a copy of my 4457 and a couple of other documents to the bank and get them notarized before sending them over to @riflepermits.com back in April before our trip in June of this year..

It wasnt too much of a pain.. I already had to go to the bank anyway.. so while there I just asked one of the loan officers to hook me up, and was in and out of there in less than 10 minutes..

Was definitely a step I thought was kind of silly though since the 4457 already had a seal and a signature on it from the CBP officer that filled it out..

 

[ActionBob]

I had to do the same thing some time back... Became a real PITA as I went to Wells Fargo as I have some accounts there and it was the most convenient.. The guy who was supposed to "help" got all paranoid about not knowing what it was, bla, bla, bla... One of those #@%^ "can't do" type people... had to go to another branch office where the older lady did it with no problem

 

[sierraone]

I had to do the same thing some time back... Became a real PITA as I went to Wells Fargo as I have some accounts there and it was the most convenient.. The guy who was supposed to "help" got all paranoid about not knowing what it was, bla, bla, bla... One of those #@%^ "can't do" type people... had to go to another branch office where the older lady did it with no problem

Those #@%^ are everywhere!

 

[CAustin]

the last time I used riflepermits I was asked for the notarized document and to send hardcopy over to SA. Instead of that mess I just filled out the paperwork in advance, but didn't get the preapproval, with no issues or delays. The paperwork was still done before the rifles go there.

@Red Leg ,

I'm using Gracy this time too, but have decided not to do the pre-approval. With the concierge service they will stil help to get the paperwork done, it's just less money.

Same here Royal. It's not difficult and doesn't really take that long.

 

[JimP]

Technically I don't think that they can notarize a copy of the 4457 unless they the notary makes a copy of your original. I know that when I first had mine taken care of the notary's question was if they could even notarize it in the first place. But when I told her that I just needed her to certify that the copy was the same as the original that she had made the copy from everything was good.

I actually think that there is some grey area here that would be best explained by a notary about what they can and can not do.

 

[Therack]

I scanned my 4457 and SAPS 520 into the computer and sent it as a PDF file to Afton Safari Lodge for the pre approved permit, without anyone asking for a notarized copy. Does riflepermits.com want a notarized, paper copy sent by snail mail to them? I have done the scan and PDF for both trips, I didn't think anyone was actually sending paper in the mail to South Africa.

 

[JimP]

If you want the definition of snail mail you need to send paperwork through the US Mail to SA. Once it hits SA it might take 3-4 months to get delivered due to all of their postal strikes.

Some require for you to send paperwork and some do not

If you do need to send paperwork to anyone in SA use FedEx or UPS, it might actually get there in time.

 

[Ridgewalker]

UPS charged me $127.00 to send paperwork to SA! If costs keep adding up like this, I'll have to not go back so soon. The beaurocracy just keeps self perpetuating!