IMPORTANT: Firearms Export Alert – Use of Form 4457 for Temporary Firearms Export

[One Day...]

And yet just above your red arrow, it says: With less than three firearms or 1,000 rounds of ammunition there is a license exemption available. Have to love the government.

Phil, the electronic export information in AESDirect is NOT the Export License. These are two different things. So the Export License is exempted indeed but filing the electronic export information in AESDirect is still mandated....
Just FYI...

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Phil, the electronic export information in AESDirect is NOT the Export License. These are two different things. So the Export License is exempted indeed but filing the electronic export information in AESDirect is still mandated....
Just FYI...

Understood, I was just pointing out how confusing it is.....perfect U.S. gov't work as usual.

 

[One Day...]

Understood, I was just pointing out how confusing it is.....perfect U.S. gov't work as usual.

Your tax dollars at work

 

[Custom]

I have been following this issue on another forum and what @One Day... indicates seems to be true. Outside of Dallas, it seems that folks are currently clearing customs with just the 4457 but it seems that the AES system is going to be required. The bad thing is that it DOES require you to obtain an EIN from the IRS in order to use the AES. It was clearly not designed for this purpose.

 

[Scott CWO]

Yes Fred. In both 2018 and in 2019 I flew Phoenix to New York (JFK) to Johannesburg to East London, and the processes in the US were:

1. Check the firearms with Jet Blue/South African Airways in Phoenix at their counter, then walk to TSA in Phoenix for them to check them again. The walk from the Jet Blue counter to the TSA room was escorted by a Jet Blue agent but no police officer.
2. In 2018 Jet Blue checked the rifles in Phoenix all the way to Johannesburg. I did not handle them in JFK on my way to Africa.
3. In 2019 Jet Blue refused to check the rifles in Phoenix all the way to Johannesburg. They only checked them to New York. I retrieved the rifles in JFK and had to check them with South African Airways for the Johannesburg flight. The walk from the luggage carousel to the South African Airways counter was not escorted by anyone. The walk from the Jet Blue counter to the TSA room was escorted by several police officers, one of whom noted by hand in his personal scrapbook the serial numbers.
4. In both 2018 and 2019, on the return flights, CBP released the rifles to me from the Johannesburg flight at their office in the JFK luggage hall, and apparently registered them. No escort by anyone to walk from CBP to the Jet Blue counter to check the rifles on the Phoenix flight. The walk from the Jet Blue counter to the TSA room was escorted by police officers, one of whom noted by hand in a personal scrapbook the serial numbers.

I do not know if the handwritten note of the serial numbers the police officers make in their personal scrapbook is actually entered later in a computerized database. If memory serves (?) they note each time the passport number as well as the serial numbers, so it is technically possible they do it, but it seems (?) that the officers' personal scrapbook would not be the appropriate form if there was an intent to later input that form in a computer. I just do not know...

From a security perspective, their is an obvious glaring hole in the Port Authority police system in JFK. There are 3 cops with you between airline counter and TSA room; but there is no police escort from the curb to the airline counter; or from CBP to the airline counter; or from the luggage carousel to the airline counter or the curb. Go figure...

This is not a CBP federal issue. It’s a New York issue.

 

[JimP]

Actually it is a Jet Blue problem.

When I was looking at flights I was told to stay as far away as possible from Jet Blue, they are not a firearm friendly airline.

 

[Scott CWO]

Actually it is a Jet Blue problem.

When I was looking at flights I was told to stay as far away as possible from Jet Blue, they are not a firearm friendly airline.

NY gun control laws require the police. I have flown several airlines into JFK and have always had to meet the NY police.

 

[markm]

Thats why you dont do anything in new york

Yes Fred. In both 2018 and in 2019 I flew Phoenix to New York (JFK) to Johannesburg to East London, and the processes in the US were:

1. Check the firearms with Jet Blue/South African Airways in Phoenix at their counter, then walk to TSA in Phoenix for them to check them again. The walk from the Jet Blue counter to the TSA room was escorted by a Jet Blue agent but no police officer.
2. In 2018 Jet Blue checked the rifles in Phoenix all the way to Johannesburg. I did not handle them in JFK on my way to Africa.
3. In 2019 Jet Blue refused to check the rifles in Phoenix all the way to Johannesburg. They only checked them to New York. I retrieved the rifles in JFK and had to check them with South African Airways for the Johannesburg flight. The walk from the luggage carousel to the South African Airways counter was not escorted by anyone. The walk from the Jet Blue counter to the TSA room was escorted by several police officers, one of whom noted by hand in his personal scrapbook the serial numbers.
4. In both 2018 and 2019, on the return flights, CBP released the rifles to me from the Johannesburg flight at their office in the JFK luggage hall, and apparently registered them. No escort by anyone to walk from CBP to the Jet Blue counter to check the rifles on the Phoenix flight. The walk from the Jet Blue counter to the TSA room was escorted by police officers, one of whom noted by hand in a personal scrapbook the serial numbers.

I do not know if the handwritten note of the serial numbers the police officers make in their personal scrapbook is actually entered later in a computerized database. If memory serves (?) they note each time the passport number as well as the serial numbers, so it is technically possible they do it, but it seems (?) that the officers' personal scrapbook would not be the appropriate form if there was an intent to later input that form in a computer. I just do not know...

From a security perspective, their is an obvious glaring hole in the Port Authority police system in JFK. There are 3 cops with you between airline counter and TSA room; but there is no police escort from the curb to the airline counter; or from CBP to the airline counter; or from the luggage carousel to the airline counter or the curb. Go figure...

 

[JimP]

NY gun control laws require the police. I have flown several airlines into JFK and have always had to meet the NY police.

My flight was with Delta and they transferred my rifle to SAA without me even seeing it

 

[Newboomer]

I've flown Jet Blue with guns several times and never had a problem. Checked in, they tagged my case and sent it to the back room for inspection. I think they just xrayed it because they didn't call me back. I flew in and out of JFK for the last 3 years. I had to reclaim my case and go through customs, the police inspection and TSA but there was no real hassle. Showed them my paperwork and that was it. The only time I was questioned was coming back from RSA once and the TSA dummy in JFK couldn't get it through his head why there was GSR in my rifle from my safari even after I explained it to him. He called his boss and it got straightened out.

 

[Philip Glass]

Everyone needs to contact their Senators on this issue. Departing from DFW in August I had a CBP officer meet me at the gate and ask to see my 4457 and said he was putting it into the AES System. After reviewing, again, the AES website I can guarantee you there are NO Government workers who know anything about this much less truly understand how it works!

 

[Philip Glass]

4457’s worked fine ATL-JoBurg and return in August. It sounds like the new system is designed to keep us from leaving rifles over there.

That is one point. It just must be a better system or it just won’t work.

 

[Areaonereal]

Any more updates on this....another false alarm on requiring AES or will 4457 be accepted by TSA and or Customs.

 

[sestoppelman]

I find this frustrating and mind boggling to the extreme! Can someone point me to how to file for the EEI for an AES? I know we have an exemption for less than 3 rifles and 1K of ammo. What I don't get is physically WHERE to start! I have looked here and all over the CBP site etc. I keep seeing references to software, and other nonsense. Its too bloody confusing.

I don't want to take a chance on losing my stuff or being arrested at the airport upon return from SA later this year.

HELP!

 

[edward]

Any more updates on this....another false alarm on requiring AES or will 4457 be accepted by TSA and or Customs.

and what version of the 4457 is sap demanding this year???

 

[sestoppelman]

The latest,,, 2022.

And its not a false alarm unfortunately. Its being adjudicated by whim depending on where one is by the sounds of it, but non compliance could be problematic.

Hoping someone can help make it less confusing.

 

[Edster]

I find this frustrating and mind boggling to the extreme! Can someone point me to how to file for the EEI for an AES? I know we have an exemption for less than 3 rifles and 1K of ammo. What I don't get is physically WHERE to start! I have looked here and all over the CBP site etc. I keep seeing references to software, and other nonsense. Its too bloody confusing.

I don't want to take a chance on losing my stuff or being arrested at the airport upon return from SA later this year.

HELP!

It’s somewhat complicated and overwhelming what you first started to look at it.
First thing ya need to do is go to the Dept of Treasury/IRS and file for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Once you have that you need to set up an account with the AES system.
Then the fun really begins.

When I did it the entire process took me aprox 6 hours to do. This is because of the limited info on how to do it. Google was my friend and I was able to dig up some decent resources.

I’m not in front of my notes right now. I will take the time this week to put together a complete walk thru of the steps in the process along with navigating the AES system and what info you need to put where.

Once you know what is going on it is probably a 20-30 minute process.

 

[sestoppelman]

I doubt I would survive 6 hours of this BS. I would be ready for a rubber room after that! Appreciate your help. Thanks!

 

[Edster]

I doubt I would survive 6 hours of this BS. I would be ready for a rubber room after that! Appreciate your help. Thanks!

Believe me I was. Plus I just about threw the laptop out the window several times.
Once I got mine done did my hunting partners as well. Much easier once I knew what to do.

 

[Fred Gunner]

First thing ya need to do is go to the Dept of Treasury/IRS and file for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

But I'm not an employer So do I lie to the IRS??