Transit Through the US with Firearms

dbask

dbask

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Hey guys, tried the search feature in a could different forums but couldn't find anything. I live in SW Ontario and an returning to school in AB in october. I will be driving back out and hoping to do some hunting while i'm out there.

My question is, what steps/paperwork if any do I have to complete to avoid hassles at the border entering the US as well as coming back into canada in within 1-3 days with a firearm in my truck. I will be transporting one non-restricted firearm (hopefully some ammo as well but if thats a problem i'll just buy out there). Firearm will be trigger locked and out of sight.

Any tips/advice would be appreciated

Thanks
 
You are only permitted to enter the U.S with a firearm for the purpose of competition or hunting. An ATF Form 6 may get you in but it may not either. I personally know people that have been turned back at the border doing the exact thing you are trying to do. There is no provision for it in U.S. law.
 
dbask said:
Hey guys, tried the search feature in a could different forums but couldn't find anything. I live in SW Ontario and an returning to school in AB in october. I will be driving back out and hoping to do some hunting while i'm out there.

My question is, what steps/paperwork if any do I have to complete to avoid hassles at the border entering the US as well as coming back into canada in within 1-3 days with a firearm in my truck. I will be transporting one non-restricted firearm (hopefully some ammo as well but if thats a problem i'll just buy out there). Firearm will be trigger locked and out of sight.

Any tips/advice would be appreciated

Thanks
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Just ship it by canada post, along with your registration card to one of your buddies that has a PAL. It will probably get to Ab. faster then you. Cost $30 with way less hassel
 
Hm..Didn't realize it was that big a deal, but thats the border for ya I guess. Shipping sounds like a good idea to me.

Thanks guys.
 
A hunting license for any state, and a form 6, will get your toy in and out of the US with a minimum of difficulty. Try the BATFE, US CBP, or State Department website for details.
 
shootemup said:
A hunting license for any state, and a form 6, will get your toy in and out of the US with a minimum of difficulty. Try the BATFE, US CBP, or State Department website for details.
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Not necessarily. Read the law carefully. He is neither going hunting nor to competition, the only valid reasons to get a Form 6. The Form 6 is far from a free pass into the U.S. with guns. The border angent can still turn you back if he's not convinced you are going for one of those reasons. It happens.
 
Gun through the U.S.

A hunting license for any state, and a form 6, will get your toy in and out of the US with a minimum of difficulty. Try the BATFE, US CBP, or State Department website for details.
__________________This fellow is bang on.Go to the Bureau of Tobacco and Firearms....fill out the #6 form and have a hunting license for the state you are entering for leaving Canada.It can be a simple Wild Game Preserve License to get you going.You do however need to have the license first to satisfy the BATF folks.
 
I travel from SW Ontario, up through Michigan and back into Canada at SSM to go up moose hunting, then return. A US hunting licence is all that is required.
In fact we were stopped for about 30 seconds last time because we had North Dakota hunting licences. The young lady at US Customs picked up the phone and asked her supervisor if a North Dakota licence was OK as we were entering Michigan. After she hung up the phone she said "have a good day".

The other option is to get a Form 6 NIA but in order to do that it takes either an invitaion to a match or a valid hunting licence to be attached when requesting a Form 6NIA. The Form 6 NIA is available to download off the AFT website. The cost is zero, fill it in and fax it and you will have it back in a few weeks.
You can but a North Dakota non-game hunting licence online for $17.
 
Some really bad advice being offered here. Many people have been turned back at the border even though their Form 6 was in order because they weren't going hunting or to competition. Sure any hunting licence will get you the form 6 but if the agent asks where you are going hunting and you aren't (not a good idea to lie to a border agent either) you can be refused entry. I say again, a Form 6 is not a free pass to get your gun in, it only gets it in for the intended use of hunting or competition. Try it if you like but don't be surprised if you face a long drive home.

I'd follow Guido's advice.
 
You do not need any form of import license to transit through the US.

You just need a hunting license:

Q: I’m Canadian and am going to be driving through the United States as a short cut to get from one part of Canada to another part of Canada. I’m going to have a rifle with me. What documentation will I need at the U.S. borders?

You do not need an ATF Form 6 NIA (5330.3D)> import permit from ATF because you are not temporarily bringing your gun in for hunting or other lawful sporting purposes. You also do not need a DSP–61 import license from the State Department because there is an exception to their license requirement that applies in this situation. However, you do need to have a valid hunting license from a State within the United States to make your possession of firearm legal while you are in the United States.
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http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/nonimmigrant-aliens.html#us-pass-through

I suggest you bring this info from the ATF website, and links. The CBP agent will likely want to see the info with his own eyes, as they may be more familiar with the hunting/comp exemptions.

I wish people would actually read the details before telling people the wrong info.
 
Duno if it makes a difference but I can provide written proof that I'll be leaving the states immediately, not staying to hunt etc. This is strictly for transit purposes. Just trying to avoid drivin around the lake.
 
dbask said:
Duno if it makes a difference but I can provide written proof that I'll be leaving the states immediately, not staying to hunt etc. This is strictly for transit purposes. Just trying to avoid drivin around the lake.
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Never hurts to have it handy if the agent agent asks for it.
 
I went turkey hunting in Kansas in April and I had applied for my form 6 and I had bought my Kansas license on-line. It became obvious I was not going to get the form 6 in time so I phoned a US border crossing and asked what would happen if I showed up with just a hunting license and no form 6. I was told in no uncertain terms I would lose the gun.
 
I think I'll give the US border a call if I can get through tomorrow morning. The other part of the question though...will I have any hassles crossing back into Canada assuming I am able to cross into the states without much hassle?
 
bedrock said:
I went turkey hunting in Kansas in April and I had applied for my form 6 and I had bought my Kansas license on-line. It became obvious I was not going to get the form 6 in time so I phoned a US border crossing and asked what would happen if I showed up with just a hunting license and no form 6. I was told in no uncertain terms I would lose the gun.
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Different situation that the OP.
 
dbask said:
I think I'll give the US border a call if I can get through tomorrow morning. The other part of the question though...will I have any hassles crossing back into Canada assuming I am able to cross into the states without much hassle?
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All you will need is the reg cert. very simple coming back in.
 
dbask said:
I think I'll give the US border a call if I can get through tomorrow morning. The other part of the question though...will I have any hassles crossing back into Canada assuming I am able to cross into the states without much hassle?
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The hassel is going into the U.S. A PAL/POL and registration certificate is all you need to get back into Canada.

I'd give the ATF a call...they are the ones responsible for issuing the Form 6 and the regulations surrounding it. The U.S. border guys may not have a clue.
 
I guess the next question is if I get a hold of the ATF and find an answer, how do i make sure the border guys without a clue let me through. Oh how I love red tape. Maybe Canada Post is still the best bet!...well the safest anyway.
 
dbask said:
I guess the next question is if I get a hold of the ATF and find an answer, how do i make sure the border guys without a clue let me through. Oh how I love red tape. Maybe Canada Post is still the best bet!...well the safest anyway.
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Get it in writing with the person's name and contact info. Pretty sure I know what they'll tell you though. Lots of people get through on a Form 6 but I do know people that have been turned away. Good luck!
 
avoid all the potential problems and ship it to a buddy. All you need is a problem, despite all your preplanning and your screwed in your plans. Ship the guns, travel in the US and relax. Heck if you send it via mail, you might get there before the firearms do...
 
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