For those of you nearing your departure date for safaris, if you are going to or transiting SA, I've been told that your Form 4457 must must have an expiration date (none of mine do) or you won't be allowed to import your firearm. I've looked at the SA Police and PHASA websites but didn't see this in black and white. Hopefully this will be published today, if true.
I'm trying to verify.

Apparently, they will be looking for an expiration date on the top right corner of your 4457, example
"OMB Control Number: 1651-0010
Expiration Date: 02/29/2016"
to have a date in the future. None of mine do, just one more BS thing to take care of.

I went and looked at the new 4457 form and it does have a 8/31/2019 expiration date in the top right hand corner.

This is news and that will keep a person obtaining a new one every few years.

It is easy to fill out to take with you for the inspection.

I'm still using the original ones received in 2008. I have to drive a 200 mile round trip to the nearest Custom's office.

I had the opposite problem in 2015. My 4457, gun license according to SAPS, had expired. What a hassle! I had to leave my rifle, come back the next morning. I had to endure a scolding from the SAPS Captain regarding how bad the USA took care of their gun licensing. Surprisingly no money changed hands.

I just got a new one. The customs inspector told me that my old one was still good.

Dave

http://forums.accuratereloadin...301058812#2301058812


AR link from February 2016 on this issue.

nopride2 and reddy375,
You know and I know 4457 is to show proof of ownership. The 4457 does not expire. The dopes at the SAPS office think it's a gun permit/license, hence they look at the expiration date. Sometimes they hassle you, sometimes they don't.

Today from SCI:

The South African Police Services’ Central Firearms Desk has announced its decision to no longer accept United States Department of Homeland Security Certificates of Registration, commonly known as CBP Form 4457, if the date in the top right had corner of the form has expired.

“We encourage all Safari Club members to complete a new CBF Form 4457 before embarking on any international travel with firearms,” said Larry Higgins, President of SCI. “While South Africa is currently the only country to make this decision, others will likely follow suit. Members should ensure their 4457 Form is valid before leaving the U.S.”

This new form can be found online here. SCI members with questions should contact the Customs and Border Protection Information Center directly. The CBP INFO Center is open Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time. You can ask your question via email or by calling (877) 227-5511. If you are outside the U.S. you must call 1 (202) 325-8000.

Those needing additional assistance may contact SCI’s Office of Hunter Advocacy at (202) 543-8733 or may email hunteradvocacy@safariclub.org.

SCI also encourages members to defer to the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (PHASA) and their travel protocols when hunting in South Africa. PHASA recommends hunting clients pre-apply, through a reputable, registered meet-and-greet agency, for temporary import/export of firearms and/or transit permits.

The ONLY reason anything expires is to get more money from you.

The problem with getting a "new" form is Customs is still using the same old form with an form expiration date of 2012, at least they were last Thursday.

The reasons to follow your deep passion to hunt Africa are many. Sadly, the reasons not to do so keep piling up. I'm fortunate to live very near a CBP port city, so I can get this done soon enough before my departure next Wednesday for Zim (via RSA). I feel for hunters who may have an imminent departure but are not so similarly situated.

Why South Africa?

When I have to go have my 4457's renewed it's a 350 mile round trip to Albuquerque. A real pain in the ass, but you have to pay to play.

I just got the notice from SCI. It says if your going to South Africa get the new 4457.

Dave

What will happen now is that CBP officers will want to see the expiration date on return regardless of where you are returning from. inch by inch

I just got the form from customs this past week, no expiration date on it. They stamped it and I shipped my rifle off to get work done on it. If the form does not have the expiration date on it - are they saying they won't take that one either vs one that is expired?

quote:

Originally posted by eny:
What will happen now is that CBP officers will want to see the expiration date on return regardless of where you are returning from. inch by inch

This isn't CBP wanting to see a "current" 4457. For all their faults they understand the OMB form expiration. Most do anyway. SAPS on the other hand has always been clueless as to what a 4457 is and what the date means. And since many of these forms, including the 4457, have a use until supply is exhausted clause then getting a newer version might not be as easy as you think without downloading your own.

Don

Has anyone every just made up a fake 'firearms license' to give to SAPS?

A few official stamps and your done!

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
Has anyone every just made up a fake 'firearms license' to give to SAPS?

A few official stamps and your done!

My wife and I joke about this all the time. Best to put it on a $20

http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=813



South Africa Refuses 4457 Forms with

(posted March 22, 2017)

US hunters going to South Africa with firearms must ensure their Customs Form 4457 does not show an "expiration" date that has passed. The date is found in the top right-hand corner of the form. The South African Police Services' (SAPS) central firearms desk has advised the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa (PHASA) that they will no longer accept any US Department of Homeland Security Certificate of Registration (CBP Form 4457) if the date in the top-right hand corner has expired, even if a US border official has stamped it with a later date.

A 4457 Form is the document accepted by customs authorities around the world in lieu of a firearms ownership license for US hunters temporarily importing a firearm for a hunting trip. The Hunting Report first warned you about this issue with the "expiration" date on the US Customs Form 4457 last October (see Article 3892), when a subscriber reported a SAPS official did not want to accept his form for this very reason.

US Customs has not addressed this problem, despite several reports from hunters hassled over the "expiration" date. According to US Customs officials, the expiration date in the top right-hand corner is strictly for internal use and not meant as an expiration on the use of the form. Despite this, customs authorities and other agents abroad who check required firearm import documents have interpreted the date as an expiration on the use of the document.

Before you leave the US for South Africa, make sure you have a NEW CBP Form 4457, which is available from Homeland Security's official website. That means you will have to get your new form signed and stamped by a US Customs officer before departing the US.

PHASA also warns no one should try bribing South African police to allow the importation of their firearms or to speed up the process. "Paying bribes is not acceptable under any circumstances," reads a notice from PHASA to The Hunting Report. "Hunters are encouraged to expose anyone who tries to extort money or who offers money to an official in order to circumvent due legal procedures. Also, please treat South African police officers courteously." There have been several instances of safari operators or their clients creating difficulties with rude behaviour, which is why safari operators can no longer accompany clients into SAPS offices.

PHASA strongly advises hunting clients to pre-apply for temporary South African import/export firearm permits and/or a transit permit by using a reputable, registered meet-and-greet agency. Although there is a small fee, PHASA contends that the peace of mind and time saved from standing in line at the firearm permit office at OR Tambo airport is well worth it. For assistance from PHASA click here.

Get important news bulletins like this sent directly to your email 24 hours before anyone else sees them, plus unlimited access to our database of hunt reports and past articles, a special expanded electronic version of our newsletter and more! Upgrade your Hunting Report subscription to Email Extra today. Click here for more information.

Just heard from Gracy, they are saying if you have the older form with no date, you are fine.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Why South Africa?

Eaxtly!

There is nothing wrong with hunting South Africa.

We have hunted there twice, and had a great time.

But, if the government keeps trying all these totally pointless stupid rules, and the hunting industry is not able to change it, they can bloody well stuff it.

I will go and hunt in countries where I am made welcome, with as little red tape as possible.

quote:

Originally posted by 10generation:
Just heard from Gracy, they are saying if you have the older form with no date, you are fine.

I am sure that SAPS will say that Gracy is the final authority that no date will work.

The date on the form is most likely not a date that means your form is expired.
It means in government speak it probably means that particular version of the form is obsolete, and there most likely a newer version available.

You just gotta wonder how Africans can screw up anything they get near.


Dulcinea

Just 1 more reason to use a camp rifle.....

Just another reason to avoid South Africa.

It would also seem to me that someone real sharp with MSPaint or Photoshop could put whatever date they wanted on their current 4457. Of course that would be all illegal and shit...

Enough BS already to go through. I will stay away from SA altogether.

When you make a photocopy to bring with you (always leave the original at home), just make certain that the OMB form information is cropped off.

Voila!

George

What was that mean? All mine say 6/30/94 in the upper right hand corner. 6/30/2094?

The latest ones online say 8/31/2019.

TIA

quote:

Originally posted by clayman216:
Enough BS already to go through. I will stay away from SA altogether.

This, Targeted violence against whitesthat has been reported here, and selling out their nation states to Chinese is making Austria and Australia even more welcoming. The Africans are determined to destroy everything. It is ultimately not us that are being destroyed, but their own nation states. Their wild places. The base line support for their rural masses that they have failed and left worse of than the capitalist, imperalist they blame(d). My God be with them. I do not thin the game and wild places can survive a second match needed blood letting.

8 hours each way to Great Falls to get new 4457s for me.

Emirates to avoid RSA seems to be looking better and better.

I really think the SAPS people are to stupid to realize that they are going to run away all the prepaid meet and greet bribe's and any other cash they bully people into forking over. I think I will avoid that place for sure from now on, I got to spend a couple hours in the basement with the SA police on my first trip. Enough for me

My decision to use a "camp" rifle this summer
is looking better and better.

I have a 21 - day safari in 3 weeks, this comes with great timing!!!!!!

They all know, we are gonna start armed revolution to take over their countries
What a scary world...

Just had another client who scrapped RSA and booked Emirates. It is quite alarming how the airport authorities can be so hostile and my wife and I were treated quite badly the last time we came through Joberg.

A complete contrast to Zambia where the authorities will stretch the rules to suit the visiting tourist and the gun import procedures are a breeze.

Good for Emirates I might add.

http://www.phasa.co.za/legisla...its/dyi-permits.html



Anybody know about the not older than six months 4457? Thank you in advance for any information.



DIY Permits
DYI PERMITS (NOT making use of PHASA's pre-issued permit service)
All hunters temporarily exporting firearms for hunting purposes to South Africa and applying for a temporary import permit at the airport after arrival in South Africa (not a pre-issued permit), will need to have Proof of Export from the their country of origin.
Without this proof, the police will not issue the temporary import permit and will confiscate your firearm(s).
UK Citizens:
PHASA has contacted the UK Border Force and obtained the following instructions for hunters not having a pre-issued permit for the RSA:
- Email the UKBF Armoury Control on ukba.firearmslhr@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk at least 2 weeks prior to your departure for the RSA:
Advise them that you will be travelling to South Africa for a game hunting safari.
Request them to issue you with a letter/document that you may lawfully temporarily export your firearms and ammunition to South Africa.
Scan and email copies of the following with the request:
- Passport
- Firearms licence – indicate exactly which rifles/shotguns you will take and the amount of ammunition you will be taking
- Return flights and dates
• Contact details: +44 (0) 20 8910 3721

US Citizens:
Current customs form 4457 is sufficient: Not older than 6 months

Other Countries not issuing temporary export permits: Official affidavit or declaration from their police or customs authorizing them to temporarily exporting the specific firearms for hunting purposes to South Africa.

Please contact Ms Tersia du Plooy for any further questions: phasa@phasa.co.za

Had a message from A PH in South Africa saying his clients were held up for several hours because of this!!??

If someone had a lot of money and wanted to invest it...Think about this.

Setting up a large game farm on a Caribbean Island and stocking it with sable, eland, and cape buffalo.

Think how much easier that would be for hunters in the Western Hemisphere. I believe it could be a potential gold mind.

If you could import a few experienced PHs and their trackers (and families of course).

You could also have a luxury resort side for the wives and non-hunters in the group and of course throw in big game fishing, beaches, snorkeling, scuba, etc.

That would be my idea of paradise.

Just an idea.

BH63