IMPORTANT: Immediate Changes to South African Firearm Registration Guidelines for American Hunters

[George2014]

Might try areaonereal idea and print the 2019 form from the CBP website and go in and see if they will give me a stamp. maybe i'll bring donuts with me.

 

[Areaonereal]

Could be considered a bribe, but would try it anyway....These government agencies work for the taxpayer..but you could never believe it by the way some act.

 

[George2014]

The donuts are for me... helps curb my tongue

 

[Areaonereal]

Misunderstood your post, but try sharing with your friends at customs

 

[edward]

south africa will except any and all 4457s or they can never see any of my money ever,why the usa is kissing their ass is stupid,except what they always have or go broke.

 

[Divernhunter]

^^^ That is a pretty high and mighty arrogant attitude. You really think they care about you? It is their country so if you want to go and bring your firearms you will follow their rules. Just because you want to bring your full-auto 50BMG they should do as you want also because you are so special? I do not think so. Just like you have to follow the rules in the USA and follow our rules if you are bringing in firearms from another country. You also must follow the Fish & Game Dept rules of the country you are hunting in if they apply.

It is their game and their rules..............no matter what country you are talking about. If you want to play you have to follow their rules or just stay away. You can puff your chest out and beat it all you want. It will do you no good. Even if the rules are stupid to you/us. They are the rules so learn to comply or do not bring your firearms.

 

[johnnyblues]

^^^ That is a pretty high and mighty arrogant attitude. You really think they care about you? It is their country so if you want to go and bring your firearms you will follow their rules. Just because you want to bring your full-auto 50BMG they should do as you want also because you are so special? I do not think so. Just like you have to follow the rules in the USA and follow our rules if you are bringing in firearms from another country. You also must follow the Fish & Game Dept rules of the country you are hunting in if they apply.

It is their game and their rules..............no matter what country you are talking about. If you want to play you have to follow their rules or just stay away. You can puff your chest out and beat it all you want. It will do you no good. Even if the rules are stupid to you/us. They are the rules so learn to comply or do not bring your firearms.

I have to agree. There is little to no choice here. I went several weeks ago and redid my 4457.

 

[edward]

different strokes for different folks,to each his or her own.pucker up,im through jumping through their hoops.i remember when they changed to the 520,all complaints got nothing from saps but a quick response of,if they dont like it then dont come here,took me 5 trips but im going to take their advise,as far as im concerned,case closed,period.

 

[johnnyblues]

Heard from Henry of Rifle permits. Look like we have no choice as of now. Must have current 4457 form or SAPS will not issue a permit.

 

[Philip Glass]

Good Grief! It's fifteen minutes for me. Where would it be eight hours? You don't have to get the forms stamped in your home state. They can do them anywhere there is a CBP office and there are literally hundreds of them all over the U.S. Hell, Montana has 16 of them.

I'm 2.5 hours from the nearest customs office so it's a major pain to go do it again! I'm sure many other are further than I am.
Philip

 

[Areaonereal]

What about getting one issued at your point of departure from the US. Customs at you departing international airport should be able to issue the form, should not be a problem unless you are getting a SAPS thru pre approval

 

[rookhawk]

Here is a solution I'm about ready to try as I'm tired of RSA and Zim aggravation:

Hunt Botswana ranches or any area of Namibia. Civil. Safe. Beautiful. Good game numbers. No tyrants, major murders, genocides, etc.

I don't mean that sarcastically, I'm serious though. We put up with way too much to hunt these days.

If it's as hard as Moz, Malawi, Cameroon, CAR or Benin it better have the payout!

 

[Divernhunter]

Well I left my house at 10:40AM and just got back at 5:15PM to get my new 4457 forms done. Used a tank of gas. Too bad I could not have used the ones I used in 2013 but it is just part of the whole process now. I am one step closer to getting everything done for my May 10th leave date.
Just hope they or our country do not come up with another hurtle to jump before I go.

 

[Waterguy631]

From where I fly from it adds way too many hours and hassle to connect. Going thru Chicago with a rifle...lucky if it does not end up on the south side for Saturday nite entertainment, not worth to me to deal with Ohare and layover in Doha. I will just deal with SAPS

I fly though Ohare all the time never had a problem in fact most of the gate agents have been extremely helpful with firearms

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Latest Update on Using Form 4457s for Traveling With Firearms

Apr 17, 2017
SCI has contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for assistance in dealing with South Africa’s decision to accept only 1) Form 4457s with expiration dates that follow the date of travel or 2) Form 4457s without expiration dates that show proof of being issued in 2017. Please see this previous article for more background information.

CBP acknowledges that some local port of entry offices around the country have been issuing forms with expiration dates that have already passed or with no expiration dates at all. CBP’s Washington, D.C. office is communicating with branch offices to try to remedy this problem. Although all CBP offices should be using the newest version of Form 4457, some local offices may not yet be aware that the form has been updated.

The current Form 4457 is now available from the agency’s website, located here: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2016-Aug/CBP Form 4457.pdf. The expiration date on that form is 08/31/2019.

According to CBP, individuals who are planning to travel with their firearms outside of the United States, including to South Africa, should obtain and travel with the newest version of the form. To best ensure that the CBP office signs and verifies the correct version of the Form 4457, CBP encourages hunters to download their own blank form/forms from the CBP website and take the blank forms with them to the CBP port of entry office for processing.

CBP personnel at local offices should sign and verify the new forms, even if the traveler already has a Form 4457 for the firearm(s) with which they intend to travel. If hunters encounter CBP personnel who have questions about obtaining and/or signing and verifying the latest version of Form 4457s, hunters are directed to inform those personnel to contact Carrie Ehrgott, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Washington, D.C., (202) 863-6508.



Source: Safari Club International (SCI)

 

[Brian Williams]

Just to add a new wrinkle to the fun. 4 of us from the Cleveland area heading to SA in August. Went to local Customs office where the agent refused to allow us to use the downloaded updated form. Said he would only sign their forms which are of course expired. Now the dance begins. Have to find a way to go over is head without upsetting any egos!

Ugh.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Just to add a new wrinkle to the fun. 4 of us from the Cleveland area heading to SA in August. Went to local Customs office where the agent refused to allow us to use the downloaded updated form. Said he would only sign their forms which are of course expired. Now the dance begins. Have to find a way to go over is head without upsetting any egos!

Ugh.

Thank you for this information.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I printed the previousSCI information post and am taking it with me to Customs. Suggest all others do the same. That way if there is an issue, they can call the number provided by the SCI communication. C'mon guys, showing up at CBP without Plan B shouldn't be in your playbook.

 

[sierraone]

I printed the one Jerome linked to, completed and had it approved in Little Rock last week. (I live in Pensacola). Had it notarized yesterday and sent to Rifle Permits (for the second time). Henry received it and approved it. Easier for me than some of you though. Here at home I am 20 minutes from the customs office. While visiting my son in Little Rock, I was 30 minutes from their office.

 

[Brian Williams]

Hello again,
After some thought I emailed the SCI help line that was posted in this thread. I was hoping to get some advice on how to proceed. Within 30 minutes I received this email:

Mr. Williams:

I have just forwarded your email to my contact at the Customs and Border Protection Office in Mr. Williams:

I have just forwarded your email to my contact at the Customs and Border Protection Office in Washington, D.C. and have asked for her assistance. I will contact you when I hear back from her.

Thank you.

Anna

Anna M. Seidman
Director of Litigation
Safari Club International
501 2nd Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
202-543-8733 (tel)
202-543-1205 (fax)
aseidman@safariclub.org


I'm hoping this will help, maybe a clarification for branch offices.

Brian