Pleasant 4457 experience

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have had nothing but good experiences with the office I use. Small port office on coast in Freeport Tx. I just show up about 30min after they open. Go in tell them I need my 4457s for some rifles and have my pre done forms in hand. They stamp and sign them then walk out to my truck and verify serials. Takes all of 15 min. They usually ask where I am going and what I am hunting. Great people in that office.

 

[Cucuy]

Question: Does it have to be a Port of Entry or will any CBP office be able to do the form?

 

[crackerman]

I did mine at MHT in NH and it was very easy. I called on New Years Eve to make and appointment and the office stated "Well we are open tomorrow". So Jan 1 I loaded my rifles into the case as I intend to travel with them and drove to the building USCBP and the FBO were located in. Left them in my truck and went to find the office. Not great signage but I called the number and the gentleman wandered out.

I had blank pages of the 4457 and my completed ones. He checked them over, we wandered out to my truck, he did say make sure to open the bolts before I grab the gun to check serial and seemed pleasantly surprised that I had pulled them already. He verified the numbers on the guns and scopes and we wandered back into the lobby to finish paperwork.

All told he seemed a bit bored and was happy to have someone to talk to on a slow day. We spent more time talking about my trip then the paperwork. The longest part of the official stuff was him having to check his app as he said he does not do a lot of the forms.

10/10 .gov employee interaction

 

[JimP]

Question: Does it have to be a Port of Entry or will any CBP office be able to do the form?

I'll answer this with, it depends.

I have a friend in the boarder patrol and he had no idea of what I was talking about and his office is in San Diego.

It is always to call first, but you also have to remember that most of the offices are short handed and there is no one there to answer the phone, you just need to keep trying. Some of the offices are inside a secure ares such as my local office and you'll never get into it without contacting them first. Then there is one that is near the Denver airport, it is in a office building but you need to be rang into their office

 

[Cucuy]

Thanks! I’m in Deep South TX and we have something like 6 ports and multiple other offices - too many choices!

 

[Hrsx671]

The office near the Shreveport, Louisiana airport is efficient does a good job. I went over yesterday morning, rang the bell at the door and told the officer i needed a 4457 form signed and stamped for my rifle. She invited me in and 10 min later i was on my way out with the completed form. The address is:
5645 Perimeter Rd, Shreveport, LA 71109

 

[Doug3006]

Both myself and @Jeff505 got ours at the St. Louis port of entry a week or so ago. Barely a hiccup. After waiting for the stamped forms for 20 minutes, the agent asked me if the order of protection against me was rescinded! I responded that I have no such thing. I gave him my SSN and he called the issuing police department and that cleared it up. Apparently there’s a scarier version of me living in Chicago! The agents were professional and friendly throughout the process.

 

[Philip Glass]

Must a 4457 be completed annually?? I didn’t think so. I took a rifle with a 3 year old 4457 on safari last year with no issues. In fact, when I asked the agent approving my second rifle he intimated it was valid indefinitely for each rifle.

Of course I’ve read on this forum many comments contradicting my experience. Does anyone have an excerpt of the actual policy/law??

Only for RSA

 

[Philip Glass]

We used to have a great guy at Midland MAF airport but now he is retired and we have a jerk that hates his job and knows he can not find a better one.

 

[PARA45]

I have to drive up to Atlanta to the CBP office. When I did this in 2022, the individual behind the plexiglass received my form, signed and stamped it, and then proceeded to check my rifle. I had to drive up, open the case so he can inspect the rifle while the case/rifle was still in my vehicle. Rifles were not allowed in the waiting room. I guess it all depends on who is behind the plexiglass. I wonder with all these budget cuts and Fed Employees cuts if they will be any better.