Transit Through the US with Firearms

[dan belisle]

Drive through Canada. There is a road now. - dan

 

[Wendell]

It's on the ATF website

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

Question 35.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/nonimmigrant-aliens.html

ATF Home/ Firearms/ Frequently Asked Questions/ Nonimmigrant Aliens

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.


http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/nonimmigrant-aliens.html#us-pass-through

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/nonimmigrant-aliens.html

 

[maynard]

I agree with what CanAm it telling you and he has even given you the link.

Having shot competitions in the US several times a Form 6 NIA is required if you plan to use your firearms in the US. I also recently travelled through the US border and flew from Detroit to the UK and back with a Form 6 NIA. No BS with US Customs either way.
Having said that I have also travelled through the US and back into Canada with just a US hunting licence, again with no BS at the border.

 

[upnorth]

2 people have posted the question and response right off the ATF website, one a respected dealer, the other a respected member of this site. I have gone from winnipeg to the sault myself the american way with my rifles, no problem at all. An american hunting licence and that's all I needed.

 

[sjemac]

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...

Other than the time I took my whole collection from PEI to Alberta, I've mailed all my guns cross country. Allow 10 days. I've never had a problem. Next summer I will be shipping guns and driving through the States to get to home (knocks about a day off of the trip).

Sadly I will be forced to travel through northern Ontario on the way back. The full mounted wolf I'm bringing back causes other problems with the Americans.

 

[jigger08]

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.

You have -in-fact been given sound advice.Accompleted for 6-A-1 and a basic hunting license for your initial border crossing is all that is required...as per my earlier post.Hunting license of the most basic variety and this....on a form 6A-1 (batf) and you are good to go.