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!