Let it known that when you arrive at Dulles Customs with your firearms, be prepared for a "long wait".

We just went thru there returning from South Africa, and they have again changed procedures. Eventually they get your serial numbers checked, (as they only had one officer on duty,

and then...you have to bring your firearms up to your departing airline counter at the main terminal.

You can't just give it to TSA as before and be on your way.

For years we could plan on about just over an hour from arrival to clearing everything and be at our departing gate.

NOT this year, it took us over 2 1/2 hours to get thru and caused us to miss our flight.

SAA and United did all they could, as they
came to the Customs office and helped get us rebooked.

Next time I'll plan on a later flight.

Can you explain this a little more? Were you getting a new 4457? I fly internationally quite often with firearms and I've never seen customs before departure. In fact, we don't even have customs at my airport. Generally I connect through Atlanta and I've never had dealings with them there until the return.

Thanks,

Don

I was coming BACK from a trip to South Africa, and US Customs needs to see our guns upon arrival to check with the 4457.

The departure I'm talking about is our flight out of Dulles to Chicago.

I see the returning part now. Thank you and I'll plead jetlag as I'm in Europe for my mistake.

Don

Looks like another attempt on someone's part to discourage hunters. I'd have been in their face after about 15min. They'd have been glad to get me out of there.

It seems to be random at Dulles...

Last year they waived me right thru - did not even look at the guns or 4457s on return. Granted, I have Global Entry and was not catching a connecting flight, just wheeled straight through and out the door..

Flying out of Dulles June 1st to Serbia for a Roe Deer hunt, I will let everyone know how it goes on return..

Two years before I had to stand in line for an hour to have them open my rifle case and check the serial numbers...

I will say that other than sometimes having to stand in a line, I have never been given a hard time or had the slightest issue departing or arriving Dulles with firearms. It is the only airport I use when going international with guns..

US Custom is at the mercy of Washington and all the new regs and laws put into effect to get politicians and anti gun folks vote..Self serving, When I see 5 young muslems walk thu a line unquestions and granny whos 90 years old from Montana taken into a room and searched it really pisses me off..Washington is broken,has been for 15 or so years at least...common since does not prevail..Oh yeah and they hire those gate folks off the street where they live..Its a bitch. The street level custom Inspectors and Customs Agents (Investigators) are damn hard working men who serve this country as best they can, many have died in that endeavor.