I returned from a safari in Namibia last Thursday afternoon. When I went to retrieve my rifle, I was asked to produce the Form 4457. No mention of the EIN or whatever the number is. I was asked if I had any ammo. I replied that I did not, as I shot it all up. The reply was "good deal". Don't know what complications would come up if I had ammo.

Thanks to a lot of work by SCI, NRA and people writing their representatives. As stated elsewhere "appropriation committee" are key words that got the regulatory assess attention

http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=715



Clarification on “Scrapped” Export Regulations

(posted April 28, 2015)

In an Email Extra Bulletin sent out on April 24, The Hunting Report informed subscribers that, apparently, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was backing off from enforcement of new regulations for travelers taking guns abroad. There has been a good deal of confusion, however, about whether everything is back to normal. Fortunately, it appears that we finally have most (if not all) of the answers.

On April 23, CBP issued a Media Release on their website, "http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/2015-04-23-000000/temporary-exportation-firearms." The release seemed to indicates that hunters will face no new requirements, and that future changes (when they arrive) will be less onerous for hunters.

For clarification, we spoke to Carlos Lazo, a press officer at CBP, who told us that, "Right now, hunters traveling with guns need only to contact a Customs and Border Patrol Office and declare guns with Form 4457 prior to travel." In other words, everything will continue as it has in previous years.

That said, the language of CBP's release makes it seems like an inspection will still be required at the point of departure, one of the most worrisome aspects of the new regulations. It reads: "CBP recommends that travelers allow a few hours for the declaration of the firearms to CBP." According to Lazo, however, this confusing passage refers only to the usual inspection required to obtain a Form 4457 for a firearm, which can be completed well in advance of travel.

According to Lazo, "There is no requirement for inspection on the day of travel [our emphasis]. Because it was causing so much confusion, CBP is not going ahead with this requirement."

We can all take a deep breath, because hunters will not have to fit a visual inspection by CBP into their travel plans, something that would have been nearly impossible for hunters checking their guns from regional airports without CBP.

Now, it should be noted that at some point, hunters will be required to file information with AES, the Automated Export System administered by the U.S. Census bureau, which is currently used by commercial exporters from guns and other goods. This change will take place once the system has been updated. There is no word on when that will happen.

"That is currently up in the air," says Lazo. "CBP cannot speculate on when AES will be updated for use by private individuals."

A major source of confusion was a paragraph at the end of the CBP's press release, which made it seem that AES filing would still be required:

"Current export regulations issued by the Department of State require the traveler to file electronic export information (EEI) for temporary export of personally owned firearms via the Automated Export System (AES) prior to departure from the United States. AES has a free web-based internet application known as AESDirect that permits the traveling public to electronically report the Electronic Export Information (EEI) for temporary export of their firearm(s)."

According to Carlos Lazo at CBP, this was merely a statement of export regulations as issued by the Department of State, and does not contradict the information earlier in the release that use of Form 4457 would remain in place. Lazo has promised us a clarification in writing and we will share this as soon as we receive it.

The Hunting Report will be on the lookout for information about the updated AES system and when that system will go into place, and has already contacted the Census Bureau to request information. We can only speculate on the future requirements. AES filing may replace Form 4457 altogether, or may be used in tandem with the form. We can only hope that CBP and the Census Bureau will be more clear in the future.

Unfortunately, the original information about the new "temporary export of firearms" regulations is still in place on both CBP's website and that of US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. This has led various parties in the hunting industry to advise hunters that they should still make an effort to conform to the regulations. While this couldn't hurt, at this point it seems increasingly clear that there is simply no reason to go through the headaches involved, and our advice is to not worry about AES until such time as we know for sure what is happening and when. Stay tuned

In the meantime, if you've crossed the border with guns recently, please file a report at http://www.huntingreport.com/hunt_report.cfm and tell us how it went. - Justin Jones, Assistant Editor

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I just returned from South Africa thru Dulles and they didn't even check my 4457's. As I went through Customs on the way back to recheck my bags I told them I had firearms and I had my 4457's. The agent said he didn't have any way to verify them and I was good to go. Verify them? I have made several trips over and they have never done anything other than look at them.

As I did progress forward they did have me open my Tuffpak at the X-ray to smear the inside of my case. No problems at all other than waiting there for 10 minutes for them to analyze the swipes, locked it back and made it home no problems.

Has something changed? I took my rifles to the customs office today to complete my 4457 and was told in no uncertain terms that I needed to register my firearms with AES or they would be confiscated upon my return. I explained that my understanding was that the requirement was rescinded back in April. The customs officer politely informed me that I was mistaken.

Another government employee behind the times.
I did go ahead and get an exporter to get me an ITN for my rifles just in case but he said it wasn't necessary.

I think we need to shut down Feds for couple of week and tell them if they don't behave, they are done
I really wish, we could do it
I know several Forest circus employees and they all have such a chip on their shoulder its pitiful
Anyway, they gonna mess with our guns sooner or later, bastards and dogooders will never go away

"My cold, dead hands. . . . ." How about the rest of you?

UEG
Hopefully it won't be from OUR cold dead hands. I'm a better shot than that.

Got a 4457 today. No muss, no fuss!

Is there any update on the situation?

I am leaving in 4 weeks and need to get everything in oreder.

I have traveled out of the country 4 or 5 times since the resolution. It is a non-issue.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have traveled out of the country 4 or 5 times since the resolution. It is a non-issue.

I still have the coveted yellow sticky...

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have traveled out of the country 4 or 5 times since the resolution. It is a non-issue.

Serious question Larry.... do you need a full-time personal valet?

Any word on the new Exec Orders bringing this back up top again?

So what is the process by which a pair of single-shot muzzleloading rifles can be taken to - South Africa, for example - and returned to USA?

As I understand it, South Africa only permits one rifle per caliber. But, muzzle loaders may be in a different category, and you should ask your PH or email one of the South African firms that, for a fee, will help with the SAPS temporary firearms import, someone like Rifle Permits.

Regards