Just got back from the customs office. What a piece of cake. Took 4 rifles and read the SN to the agent with a description and caliber. I still have another rifle being built and will need to get it to the customs office. Still haven't decided which two rifles to take. Does it matter how many 4457s one has or how many rifles are listed on each? Thanks, Bob

No, and once you get them on the 4475 you never have to do it again. You should also put your scopes & camera stuff on just in case you get an over zelous customs agent.

The one thing I would avoid is having a 4457 with a rifle that you're not taking along. Upon return to the US, it would give the impression that you left a rifle there. It's good practice to have on the form only what you're taking on that trip.

Good point. I pretty much have one rifle per form. It would take a bit of explaining to the sometimes not so brite govt. employee that you only took one rifle.

DesertRam,

I haven't noted any problem with US Customs people reading items on the 4457 and asking where they are. Most of the time when they see you have the form they don't even check closer, of course this varies from agent to agent.

I would not feel anxious showing a multi-gun form.

jim dodd

I'll have to disagree with Desert Ram. I have 3 4457 forms that all are completely full of various guns, scopes, and other serial numbered items. I have been using these same 3 forms for quite some time, and always there are more than the gun in tow on the form I'm using at any given time. I have NEVER had any adverse reaction whatsoever from any agent over this, including as recent as 4 days ago returning from Africa. I keep the original forms with my passport, always, and have numerous copies of the forms (all 3 on one copy sheet) that I keep in all sorts of places, such as one in each luggage piece, one in my gun case, 2 or 3 in my carry-on, some at home. If my cook is traveling with me, as she often does, she also has copies.

Arts and Jim, I agree with you and was only passing along a concern that was brought to my attention by a contact in Namibia who recommended I get a 4457 for each rifle. I didn't even show Customs my guns when coming through JFK last week, but there is always that chance. I'd rather not try to explain the absence of a rifle that is listed on your form. If they want to get technical, you just exported a firearm illegally. How can you "really" prove that you didn't take that gun with you since it's listed on your form? It's your word against theirs. In the world of government bureaucracy it's not a bad idea to play it safe.

I recently obtained a 4457 on two rifles at the Albq NM Customs office and was assured by the agent, there was no need to have separate 4457s on each after I requested same.
I have no intention of taking both on one hunt so I hope he is right and he probably is, but Murphy is always alive and well, and Im on a first name basis with him.

Right.

Let's remember the purpose of the form...

It only serves to prove that you own certain items.

It is not intended to show that you actually took all those items with you on a trip.

That's why in some instances, a dated purchase receipt will suffice.

Rick.

I have all of my rifles, scopes, cameras, lenses, binoculars, spotting scopes, etc. on a total of 3 4457s. The last time I came in through JFK I pulled out all 3 forms and handed them to the customs agent. He took a quick look at the forms, muttered something about J....H. Christ, and just shook his head, handed me back the forms, and waived me through.

That's funny Mike!

Guys there is one factor nobody has yet to take into account. The human factor. The "Mr. I-am-a-government-official-and-I-am-going-to-over-do-my-job-today"

Here is what I have been told by customs officials. These are actual quotes.
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"When you leave the US and go through Customs you will need your form, you will also need it when you come back in."
This guy works for the US Customs Office and he didn't know that you do not go through Customs when you leave the US!

"You need to re-register your firearm every time you leave the country"

"You do not need to ever re-register your firearm, it is good for the life of your gun."

"You need a separate form for each rifle"

"You do not need a separate form for each rifle"

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Ok, what is my point. You are just as apt to run into an uneducated US Customs officer as you are an educated one.

My advice, this is not required, it is just my advise based on my experience with Customs officers.

When you register your guns, register each one on a separate form.< !--color-->

This reduces the risk of an agent detaining you and questioning you regarding additional guns on your form. I will admit, it is not likely, but I see no need to risk it.

Remember, it is up to the Customs agent to interpret the law, do yourself a favor and make it very easy for them to let you through!

This is what I do and I am happy to share my experiences with the rest of you.

Sarge,

Yeah, I guess the office here is a bit more generous with the forms. Actually, they are fairly relaxed with the inspections, too.

When I last went to have two rifles recorded, I first went in to tell them I was bringing two cased guns in so they wouldn't have a hissy fit. I then went out to the truck to retrieve them and laid them on the counter. The customs dude handed me a blank 4457 form. I told him I already had mine filled out and handed them to him. As I started to unzip the case so he could check the SNs, he said, "Don't bother. I don't need to check them." He merely signed and stamped the forms, so I was in and out in about 3 minutes. -TONY

In 1996, my hunting partner and I registered our guns while on the way to a hunt in Canada. We stopped in Maine at the customs office at the border. We walked in and asked them what the procedure was, they handed us some 4457 forms and told us to fill them out and bring them back.

We went out to the truck, filled in the forms, grabbed the cased guns and went back. On my way into the building, my hunting partner was high stepping it out the door. He said the customs guy screamed at him, "get those effen guns out of this office now!".

Obviously they didn't look at the guns at all (and in total we were checking in seven rifles and shotguns), just signed and stamped the forms.

We then went across the border and Canadian customs asked for our 4457 forms and immediately photo copied them. I wonder how long it took them to send them to the ATF.

Ah, Arizona! Folks are so much more reasonable there.

odie,

Getting in and out of Canada has changed quite a bit over the last few years.

My son and I went bear hunting in BC last spring (2003). So knowing about the new paperwork -- and cost -- for carting guns into Canada, I DLed the Canadian forms off the Net and had them all filled out when we got to the border.

When I declared the guns at the kiosk at Canadian customs, the officer directed us to the parking garage and told us to bring ONLY the paperwork into the office. The process was painless, and the gent who handled it -- a BIG guy with a shaved head -- was one of the most pleasant types I've encountered at ANY border/customs station in 40 years of crossing them. He joked with us, talked about hunting and even seemed a bit apologetic about the process. So after we were done I made a point of telling him that it was indeed a pleasant experience because of him. And...he was delighted to hear me say so and thanked me.

Then on our return trip, the U.S. custom's officer asked the usual questions at the drive-thru window and asked each of us for proper ID to show citizenship. Of course, when I said we had two bears and firearms, he immediately told us to park the truck and bring the wildlife paperwork (provided by the outfitter) into the office so we could fill out the USF&WS forms. Plus, he told us to cart the guns inside where other officers checked them against the 4457s. Then after we filled out the forms for the bears, one guy came out to check that the hides were frozen, etc.

All that done, we were on our way home. Although relatively easy, it took about 20 minutes, and we were the only ones there. Most of it was spent filling out the USF&WS form. -TONY

When we went to Canada in 1999 on another hunt, when we crossed into Canada we stopped at the booth at the border and declared we were going hunting. I fully expected to be waved over and to proceed into the building for "processessing" the same as three years before but the officer after seeing our passports only said for us to have a nice trip and waved us through. I asked him if he wanted to see our weapons and he said no. Ah the good old days.



In 1993 we flew to Canada on a hunt and nobody cared about the guns at all either way other than the airline paperwork declaring the weapons unloaded.



On the return trips in both '96 and '99 we had to stop at US customs and get the paperwork done for the animals we had taken. In 1996 they did an entire search of the front of the vehicle and our personal effects plus the weapons in the back of the truck but didn't make us unload our gear, meat and hides....thank God! In 1999 they just processed the paperwork for the animals and didn't even ask about the weapons.



Got to love the consistency from budget cuts on both sides of the border.

Odie,

Canada has completely different rules now for bringing firearms into the country. There is special paperwork and a charge of $50 Canadian to take guns into the country. That covers you for a full year for the same guns, though. -TONY

I have stacks of 4457, sometimes I take two with as many as 4 or 5 guns on each form but only have one gun on each that I am taking hunting.....I point to the gun I have with me, thats all thats required going or coming..You will never have any problems with any form 4457 upon reentry to the USA,as long as it has your signature and the Customs seal, they will even accept a copy of the original, and customs doesn't even keep a copy of the 4457 they issue you......

Not only have I been traveling with firearms for years in all countries,I am a retired Gov. employee and 9 or those years as a US Customs Special Agent...

A 4457 is one thing only and that is proof that you were in possession of the rifle on the form prior to leaving the USA, that is ALL it is, it shows that you did not purchase the item with the serial number listed in a foriegn country and therefore you are not required to pay duty on it...

In a foriegn country it can be used as proof of ownership only because they accept it as such....All Afrcan countries accept it as proof of ownership..

When I went into the customs office, the officer asked me if I had a list of the serial numbers. I said no, I thought you had to see the rifles. I just read the numbers to her. Out the door in 20 min.

Possibly the customs office where I live is overcautious or I look suspicious but for several years now they do a computer check of every firearm I bring in for 4457's and have never failed to check serial numbers physically.