ATF Form 4 thread. Process and approvals!

42!

42!

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Since we have a thread for eForm1 I thought there ought to be one for Form4 processing. So what has been your experience, how long did it take, what kind of problems did you encounter?

Just 3 weeks ago I filed my first form 4 for a suppressor through the Silencer Shop kiosk. First mistake I made was filing my certification of trust not my declaration of trust, fortunately that was a quick fix as it was caught by Silencer Shop, and then 2.5 weeks just for the ATF to clear payment. Now I wait.....and wait....and wait....
I'm curious how long it is taking for others.
 
I filed another form 4 about a month after the first, thi is soooooooooooo exciting, I might actually be able to use them next year. [frown]
 
There is a website somewhere with crowd sourced form 4 wait time data. I'm too lazy to search for it but maybe somebody here will
 
Here is the crowd sourced site:

NFA Transfer Time Tracking NFA Reviews Form 1 Form 4 Tracking

Tracking and reporting NFA Form 1 and Form 4 transfer times reported by users. Dedicated to the NFA community and 2nd amendment supporters. Provide data to build and unify the NFA community.
www.nfatracker.com www.nfatracker.com


And here is the ATF special :

Current Processing Times | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

As of Dec. 1, 2024 Statistical information on average processing times of applications that are filled out correctly and completely.
www.atf.gov www.atf.gov
 
massive difference in eform and paper times, so why no eform 4? the process isn't very different from an eform 1
 
So I asked the ATF a question and got a response in just ONE day.

From: xxxx, Heather [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2021 8:11 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Process question
Good Morning,
We are working diligently to bring the Form 4 online as soon as possible. We do not have a date to provide at this time, but it will make an appearance in the near future.
Have a Great Day,

Heather Huff | Firearms and Explosives Services Specialist
U.S. DOJ - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
National Firearms Act Division - Government Support Branch
Office: (304) 616-4500 Fax: (304) 616-4501

From: xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2021 10:39 AM
To: Eforms Admin <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Process question
Why is there no eForm 4? The information, process and requirements are nearly identical to an eForm 1. It should be a simple matter to bring on-line an eForm 4, then the ATF could reallocate the money and labor resources currently wasted on an outdated paper process to a better use and more meaningful activities.

Please provide a response.

xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.net
 
42! said:
So I asked the ATF a question and got a response in just ONE day.

From: xxxx, Heather [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2021 8:11 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Process question
Good Morning,
We are working diligently to bring the Form 4 online as soon as possible. We do not have a date to provide at this time, but it will make an appearance in the near future.
Have a Great Day,

Heather Huff | Firearms and Explosives Services Specialist
U.S. DOJ - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
National Firearms Act Division - Government Support Branch
Office: (304) 616-4500 Fax: (304) 616-4501

From: xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2021 10:39 AM
To: Eforms Admin <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Process question
Why is there no eForm 4? The information, process and requirements are nearly identical to an eForm 1. It should be a simple matter to bring on-line an eForm 4, then the ATF could reallocate the money and labor resources currently wasted on an outdated paper process to a better use and more meaningful activities.

Please provide a response.

xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.net
Click to expand...
Everybody is saying eForm 4 is coming in December, worth noting ATF didn't give a year! I'm cautiously optimistic.
 
Turboffr said:
ATF cashed my check on 3/29/21....still waiting.....I called to check and they said normal processing time is around 8 months
Click to expand...
Mine latest one was cashed on 3/16/2021.
67ray said:
Here is the crowd sourced site:

NFA Transfer Time Tracking NFA Reviews Form 1 Form 4 Tracking

Tracking and reporting NFA Form 1 and Form 4 transfer times reported by users. Dedicated to the NFA community and 2nd amendment supporters. Provide data to build and unify the NFA community.
www.nfatracker.com www.nfatracker.com


And here is the ATF special :

Current Processing Times | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

As of Dec. 1, 2024 Statistical information on average processing times of applications that are filled out correctly and completely.
www.atf.gov www.atf.gov
Click to expand...
Silencer Shop is here: ATF Wait Times Based on this, I should get approved any day now.
 
Welp, it’s officially, eForm 4 is coming in line between the 15th and 28th of December. It’s a bad time to have a bunch of new silencers pending but I’m still pretty f***ing excited.
 
JRT said:
Welp, it’s officially, eForm 4 is coming in line between the 15th and 28th of December. It’s a bad time to have a bunch of new silencers pending but I’m still pretty f***ing excited.
Click to expand...

Silencers, really? Suppressors please.
 
I’m looking forward to this. Currently have two cans in jail. A little over 6 months on a Sandman S and 3 months on a Obsidian 9.
 

Upcoming ATF eForms Technology Upgrade​

DECEMBER 17-21
​
​
This is an advance notice to current eForms users about the upcoming launch of a new version of ATF eForms.
The goal of this “modernized eForms” is to provide ATF with an infusion of technology to provide better services to our industry members and the public. This much needed modernization will reduce the effort and time required to review and process ATF applications by incorporating online validations and other enhancements.
No action is needed at this time. However, there are some required steps you'll need to complete after the upgrade is finished (details below).

Outage period​

In order to facilitate this upgrade, eForms will be offline during the following time frame:
Upgrade Start: Friday, December 17 at 9 p.m.
Tentative Finish: Tuesday, December 21 at 6 a.m.
You can continue to use the existing eForms until the upgrade starts at 9 p.m. next Friday. During the upgrade time frame, however, eForms will be unavailable.

What you need to know​

The web address of eForms is not changing. If you have bookmarked eForms in your browser, it will automatically access the new eForms.
Your eForms User ID is not changing. All your previous submissions will transfer to the new system.

Required steps after upgrade​

We're updating the eForms login process to provide enhanced security and establish a trusted relationship between the user and ATF. Here's what you'll need to do after Dec. 21:
  1. After the upgrade, you'll need to manually reset your password before you can log in for the first time.
  2. Once you log in with your new password, the system will ask you to update your user profile information and create a security PIN.
Please review our step-by-step guide with screenshots, but do not complete these steps until the upgrade is complete on Dec. 21:
📄 Existing Users - First Time Login Steps (docx, 1.75 MB)
📄 New Users - First Time Login Steps (docx, 1.33 MB)

What to expect​

Once the upgrade is finished, you may notice a few changes in the eForms interface. Here's what to expect:
  • ATF eForm 4 is coming back. After the upgrade, you will be able to submit the ATF Form 4 electronically through eForms.
  • Electronic submission of ATF Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6A, 9, 10 and 5300.11 with the required electronic documents.
  • Electronic submission of fingerprint cards for ATF Form 4. You will be able to attach your “digital fingerprint cards” to your submission.
  • Support for larger file attachments. The updated eForms will accept electronic documents up to 30 MB in size.
  • Enhanced validations to ensure that the upfront validations of your data occur prior to submission.
  • User PIN for validating the submission of all forms as part of the submission process.
  • Self-service support for forgotten passwords and PINs.
  • Rules of behavior that must be accepted to proceed with the use of eForms.
  • “Ask the Expert” to send your questions to our subject matter experts.
  • Use of smarter technology to improve customer service and build a foundation for future enhancements such as an Application Programming Interface (API) and Captcha.

Contact us​

In our efforts to provide you continuous support through this transition, we have created five temporary email mailboxes to help us assist you:
It is our goal to have ATF personnel monitor these mailboxes to assist you with a response within 3 business days.
 
The last email I received from the ATF said it would be back up on 12/23.

But let’s be honest, we all know how fast .gov works.
6A79784E-2535-4D94-8BCA-BEF296DB777B.png
 
PatMcD said:
Is there any estimate on how long the process will take once the new system is up and running?
Click to expand...
I think it’s only speculation at this point but the rumors I’ve seen online from some of the larger dealers are hoping for 3-4 months at the most and possible shorter.
 
I efiled a form 4 for a customer on 1/25/22, hopefully it will be shorter than the paper forms. I guess we will see in the next few months if the ATF can get to there goal of 90 day turn around time for eform 4's. I'm not holding my breath though. I have been seeing from groups that I belong to that people are starting to get back paper form 4's from March of 2021.
 
I have 4 paper form 4’s in the cue. Oldest is now at 320+ days. While I’m glad to hear the eForm4 is up and running, I’ll buy the whole “90 day approval” line when it actually happens. given atf’s history I’d expect the e form system to go down in flames and resume paper form 4. history repeats itself And hopefully im wrong here.
 
Form: 4 Paper (Batch 4)
Entity: Trust
Pending: 08/20/21
Approved: 04/03/22
Standardized wait: 223
STATE: Standardized NH

Currently had 6 pending. Batch approved the ones I submitted in August. Consecutive FICH #s. Hoping the 2 I submitted in December will follow as well. Examiner on all 4 - PLBARTLES (Trish Bartles)
 
FFL mailed my (2) paper individual form 4's on 10/1/21 - has (2) approved 4/14/22 stamps in hand 4/22/22. If its always that easy I will spend way to much money on this...
 
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