The Accurate Reloading Forums
Form 4457
19 June 2010, 23:14
Jeff AlexanderForm 4457
Is there any site where you can fill out a Form 4457 by typing in the blanks on your computer?
I know you can get a pdf form from the customs website, but I'd like to fill in the blanks and then print it.
Thanks.
19 June 2010, 23:43
OldHandgunHunterActually, you can type on the pdf form on the customs website and print it out.
When you get bored with life, start hunting dangerous game with a handgun.
19 June 2010, 23:52
Jeff AlexanderBut you can't change the font to put a long address in it
19 June 2010, 23:56
Wade DerbyJeff, with you being in San Diego it might be easier to get them at the local office since they need to inspect and sign anyway. Just a thought.
20 June 2010, 03:23
L. David KeithJeff, as mentioned, yes, you can type in the blanks. I keep the Gov't link in my favorites and pull it up for clients when I need to. However, depending upon the individual agent, they may or may NOT accept typed in forms. Some insist on hand printing the information themself. There are reasons for this but some offices will accept pre-typed, pre-written or must do it themselves. Call your local Customs and ask.
Good hunting,
David
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20 June 2010, 17:12
Bryan ChickThe Dallas, actually Irving, Tx have always required me to fill out the form then all them to verify the serial numbers.
20 June 2010, 17:13
Bryan ChickThe Dallas, actually Irving, Tx office has always required me to fill out the form, then they would verify the serial numbers
20 June 2010, 17:59
David CulpepperI believe the only place to get the 4457 pdf form is the customs website as it is an offical form. At Atlanta office they will accept either the typed form or the handwritten form and them actually verifying the serial numbers has been about 25% at best. They usually just asked if you have the firearms in your vehicle but then do not check them.
Good Hunting,
20 June 2010, 20:19
sharpsguyI have 4457 forms on 5 different rifles. I made a total of 3 trips to the customs office over a two year period getting them. I was required to furnish photo ID, either a driver's license or a passport, and once I was asked for proof of ownership on a seven year old rifle. Fortunately I had brought a factory letter listing me as the original purchaser. In each instance, customs required me to produce the rifle in their office so they could verify the serial number. This is in the customs office at Shreveport, La., as it is nearest my home. Your mileage may vary.
20 June 2010, 20:54
Hunter's Wife-To-BeWe just got our 4457's completed for a trip to Zim next month. The Greenville, SC office requested driver's licenses and checked every item to verify serial numbers. I had handwritten the forms already so I don't know whether printed ones would have been okay or not.
I type in the info from the gov. website and print the form. I have taken many of them to Baton Rouge, LA already filled out. They have required that I bring the firearms to their office to verify the serial number. After that, I make a color copy of the original and keep if with my luggage and I also have the original laminated and I put it in my locked guncase.
BUTCH
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21 June 2010, 01:57
JERSEY BOBAnyone got a URL for the form? I'm feeling computer challenged today. (Father's Day + Fosters)
quote:
Originally posted by JERSEY BOB:
Anyone got a URL for the form? I'm feeling computer challenged today. (Father's Day + Fosters)
http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4457.pdf
Frank
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21 June 2010, 18:18
K EvansAs Bryan Chcik says, the Irving,Tx office does require the form to be filled out at their office (I took a pre-filled out form last month and they asked me to fill out a fresh one) and they also require photo ID (so they can check for warrants or see if you are a convicted felon). I asked one of the officers about the ID requirement and he told me that I would be surprised how many people with warrants or convicted felons bring rifles into their office.
Karl Evans
22 June 2010, 23:04
Rob HaughtMy nearest office is about 2hrs drive at Pittsburgh. I have made three trips there over the years and this last time took a carload of rifles and handguns that I may ever want to take to Africa. They were very patient with my filling out multiple combinations of the forms so that I didnt have to take several forms with rifles listed that I wouldnt have in my possesion. I think it would be better to have only the form for the rifles for that partiular trip. Dont want to confuse them too much at the SAPS office. Also learned that camera equipment isnt looked at anymore upon reentry so they didnt ask for any serial numbers on that. They werent interested in my binos or rangefinder either.
22 June 2010, 23:43
Michael Robinsonquote:
Originally posted by Jeff Alexander:
But you can't change the font to put a long address in it
That is true.
The form works fine as long as you live in a five letter town, on a four letter street, with a two digit house number!
Kind of defeats the purpose.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
22 June 2010, 23:57
WhatTheWhy not just print it out and fill it in with a pen?
What I want to know is: when are they goings to makes saps 520 available for fill in?
23 June 2010, 02:10
gotogirl3I saved the form on my computer and then used Acrobat (full version) to make it into a form. I changed the font size for the fill-in and it works perfectly. I then save the completed forms on my computer until I replace them with signed originals from Customs.
Good Luck!
26 June 2010, 02:21
Tapper2I have found that having copies of the 4457 form is a good idea. Once in Tanzania the officer who was checking us out of the country wanted to keep our forms, hoping, we believed, we would bribe him to get them back. You should have seen his face when we told him to keep them. I found out on my last trip that the copies are not water proof. Rained on three times in the Kalihari, probably globial warming............Tom
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26 June 2010, 03:53
David Culpepperquote:
Originally posted by Tapper2:
I have found that having copies of the 4457 form is a good idea. Once in Tanzania the officer who was checking us out of the country wanted to keep our forms, hoping, we believed, we would bribe him to get them back. You should have seen his face when we told him to keep them. I found out on my last trip that the copies are not water proof. Rained on three times in the Kalihari, probably globial warming............Tom
I also carry a couple of notorized copies of the forms just in case. I have heard the stories of the authorities in Africa wanting to keep them.
Good Hunting,
26 June 2010, 05:36
Jeff Alexanderquote:
Originally posted by David Culpepper:
quote:
Originally posted by Tapper2:
I have found that having copies of the 4457 form is a good idea. Once in Tanzania the officer who was checking us out of the country wanted to keep our forms, hoping, we believed, we would bribe him to get them back. You should have seen his face when we told him to keep them. I found out on my last trip that the copies are not water proof. Rained on three times in the Kalihari, probably globial warming............Tom
I also carry a couple of notorized copies of the forms just in case. I have heard the stories of the authorities in Africa wanting to keep them.
I've always made several copies and had them all stamped. I've laminated them and no one has ever questioned it. I tape a copy to the inside lid of my tuffpak too. That way there is always one there.
Jeff