I know many ipsc shooters compete in the U.S.,and was wondering about crossing the border to compete.I need an invitation to a competition,fill out form 6 for the ATF.Get permission from the ATF and is that it?What are the border guards like regarding this?I will be driving and my long term att is proper to border crossings.This will be my first competition in the U.S. so I am not 100% sure about everything and would like to hear from people who know first hand,and anything that will make things go smoothly.
shooting in U.S.
- Thread starter john simmons
- Start date
Where are you going to compete? Form 6 asks for either hunting licence or an invitation, really. You can get Alaska small game licence for US$20 online and that's enough to get ATF6NIA approved. You sure can get an anvitation too. After you get your Form 6 approved, have it with you, ATT and guns' certificates when crossing the border. Tell US customs officer you have firearms to declare and show your paperwork. There is nothing to be affraid of, you are all legal. Just make sure you have the guns and ammo you have on your Form 6 with you.
pm me if you have any more questions.
pm me if you have any more questions.
While the Alaska hunting license is popular and will be sufficient to get BATF Form 6 NIA approved there have been people reporting that the border guards have denied them entry if they only have the Alaska license. Something about you are heading south into the US and Alaska is in the other direction. I have not verified this, but it is simple to just start with the North Dakota license.
Driving across into the US at Montana always involves a visit or stay in secondary inspection. Expect about an hour of waiting, even if you are the only one in the waiting area. The actual "inspection" takes about 5 minutes and with the paperwork in your possession there is never a problem with getting through, just the wait.
Maybe more important than getting across the US border is the return dealing with the Cdn border guards. About the first thing you should say to the Cdn guards is that your are returning from a shooting competition and that your are bringing back the same firearms that you left with. At that point the Cdn guards become totally focused on the firearms and once the firearms paperwork is cleared then you are cleared and on your way. If you do not mention the firearms until later in the border interview then you get to see much more of the Cdn border inspection rooms.
Hope this helps.
Driving across into the US at Montana always involves a visit or stay in secondary inspection. Expect about an hour of waiting, even if you are the only one in the waiting area. The actual "inspection" takes about 5 minutes and with the paperwork in your possession there is never a problem with getting through, just the wait.
Maybe more important than getting across the US border is the return dealing with the Cdn border guards. About the first thing you should say to the Cdn guards is that your are returning from a shooting competition and that your are bringing back the same firearms that you left with. At that point the Cdn guards become totally focused on the firearms and once the firearms paperwork is cleared then you are cleared and on your way. If you do not mention the firearms until later in the border interview then you get to see much more of the Cdn border inspection rooms.
Hope this helps.
I have been invited to shoot the Alaska steel challenge championships for June 2010,my att is good for the Yukon,B.C.,and border crossings.Also I wouldnt mind shooting some uspsa matches in Fairbanks.By whats being said it doesnt sound to bad or a hassle,so thanks.
AK Frequently Asked Questions About Licenses and Permits
http://www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license/faqlic.html#17
AK Buy Now
Licenses / Permits / Stamps / Tags
http://www.admin.adfg.state.ak.us/license/
AK Public Safety > Division of Statewide Services > Records & Identification > Permits & Licensing > Concealed Handguns
http://www.dps.alaska.gov/Statewide/PermitsLicensing/concealedhandguns.aspx
ATF Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/index.htm
ATF NONIMMIGRANT ALIENS
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#r
ATF Form 6NIA
http://www.atf.gov/forms/pdfs/f53303d.pdf
When i flew out of Calgary last February, i had a book put together. in it i had our (Cathy and me) form 6, our match invitation, our ATT, our registration certificates, hotel confirmation and rental car confirmation. the American Border agent flipped through it all, commented on what a nice package it was, made his job easy then proceed to tell me about his experience shooting PPC :}
Last few times i dove across even when i was on the black list, it rarely took more then 10 minutes even with secondary inspection. however i haven't driven across for a couple of years now.
Last few times i dove across even when i was on the black list, it rarely took more then 10 minutes even with secondary inspection. however i haven't driven across for a couple of years now.
thing aboutthe Alaska permit,is that it runs until Dec. 31st of the year it is purchased. So I plan on getting the North Dakota instead; I think that runs fromseason to season.
I need one for sure in feb/march,...and hopefully in the summer.
I need one for sure in feb/march,...and hopefully in the summer.
because if you just get a match invitation they will only issue you a form 6 for the match. if you get a hunting permit, you get it for a year. however when i am travelling i take a copy of the match invitation with me as back up.
Thanks to everyone for the information on this subject.All in all it doesnt sound to bad.I know what I need and will send out my form 6 early in the new year so it gets done well ahead of the match date.I do like the idea of a little book with all the needed info in it.John.
'Cause that's one reason for the BATF to approve the permit. The easiest reason... When I applied for my first permit I called the batfe and was told the best thing to do was get a hunting lic. from any state. The PPC match invites I had weren't good enough
Having the hunting lic means you... as per the BATFE "fall within an exception to the general prohibition on nonimmigrant aliens possessing firearms and ammunition in the United States"
That's all they care about.
Can I/should I be hunting with a snub nose .38...? Probably not, but they approve it on the Form6
Good luck with that...
Many "matches" do not qualify as far as getting a Form6NIA approved... Section 20 of the Form6NIA actually advised that "If it (your match/event) does not qualify you may instead support your application with a hunting license or permit from a State within the United States"
That said... When I go to "matches" yes I ask for and usually am able to get the MD to send me an invite... 'Just one more thing to show the PBO "if" he/she asks, but really... It's usually just a printed off email or scan.
True, but believe it or not they... The Americans at least, aren't out to jack up legit sport shooters.
Like I said, if going to a match I'll have an invite to support my stated reason for entering the US, but if I'm heading to Fla. for a couple of weeks and think I "might" do some trap shooting while there so I have my O/U with me, I'd be comfortable with just the Form6NIA...
Y'may think I'm talking outta my ass, but I've made dozens of trips to shoot in the US and have never been held up at the border longer than 5 minutes.
In either direction.
get a membership in
N B R S A national benchrest shooters of america
50 bucks and get a letter for mthe secretary saying you are authorized to attend all shoots in the usa,
look for a match near the time of travel and bingo you are in
I always get pulled over going to montana form lethbridge,
sometimes in BC near vancouver, ie sumas
hardly ever in idaho from bc
always declare your firearms and have a reason to attend , then you are in just a short delay
doing this for 10 years
Jefferson
N B R S A national benchrest shooters of america
50 bucks and get a letter for mthe secretary saying you are authorized to attend all shoots in the usa,
look for a match near the time of travel and bingo you are in
I always get pulled over going to montana form lethbridge,
sometimes in BC near vancouver, ie sumas
hardly ever in idaho from bc
always declare your firearms and have a reason to attend , then you are in just a short delay
doing this for 10 years
Jefferson
1-304-616-4551
I think 1-304-616-4554 also works.
In terms of crossing the border, though I haven't had any troubles, most people tell me when the do, its coming back into Canada. All depends on who you get I guess
