Border Force seized RIF

[BigAl]

In the past I have preempted it and upon receipt of tracking details e mailed BF to say the package is on the way and included a copy of my defence.  I also e mail a cover letter addressed to BF to seller and ask them to print it and include in envelope on package marked FAO BF.  Always worked but took awhile as i didn't have a UKARA Registered Site Membership. I played milsim games on MOD Sites so as such organisers had no site or membership scheme.  SO customs used to write / telephone them to confirm my details.  This however was years ago.

[Johndaniel4863]

Rob I have PMd you

[Anonymoose]

On 13/12/2024 at 18:26, BigAl said:

In the past I have preempted it and upon receipt of tracking details e mailed BF to say the package is on the way and included a copy of my defence.  I also e mail a cover letter addressed to BF to seller and ask them to print it and include in envelope on package marked FAO BF.  Always worked but took awhile as i didn't have a UKARA Registered Site Membership. I played milsim games on MOD Sites so as such organisers had no site or membership scheme.  SO customs used to write / telephone them to confirm my details.  This however was years ago.

 

Do you still have the e-mail for them that you used?

[Francisfung1126]

This post make me so nervous, I had my G17 Rif just arrive at the UK customs from Tai Wan yesterday...I did provided my UKARA to the shop when I order and they did put my UKARA number on the lable, hope everything go smooth. Wish me luck.

 

Does anyone know normally how long it take for the customs clearance? (I know there will have some delay, as its Christmas and new year holiday coming up), Thanks

[Neptune]

It takes several days, so that's completely normal. It might be longer with it being around Christmas. I doubt you'll see any movement until at least the end of next week.

[Anonymoose]

It took them about 3 weeks to send me a letter with notice of seizure and reference number.

[Tommikka]

Clearance takes as long as it takes 

 

I had a belt & mag pouches take two weeks to clear customs - one week to assess charges the first time, but not release it and another week to reassess customs charges

(if I recall correctly the final amount was slightly less than the first price I had been quoted on the phone)

 

[Tommikka]

As it arrived yesterday, don’t worry about the worst case circumstances that you see on here

 

There could be some more delay due to the season with lots coming in and things being slow

 

The first thing is that it will stop and sit for someone to look

‘looking’ will mostly involve getting to that entry on the system and checking declarations 

 

When checking the first question is whether it’s legal to import (ignore that under the VCRA it’s illegal to import RIFs, but defences exist allowing import - so for theses purposes we’ll just say RIFs are legal to import 

They may consider joule limits - that it is a UK legal airsoft RIF

 

 

Next - are there controls on its import - yes there are.  Your UKARA details will pass that - either on the face of it or with checking your details match 

 

Declarations may suffice from the retailer, but you are the importer so you will probably get a declaration form to complete

(Respond with yes it’s a RIF, yes I have a defence - here it is, and if applicable yes it is within joules etc)

 

Once happy with the item being suitable for import it is considered for charges

The retailers customs declaration may be used for values or they may reassess value (my recalculated charges reflected the declared value so I don’t know the reasoning for the change - perhaps error correction, perhaps currency conversion)

 

You get sent a bill

(perhaps the same time as the RIF declaration)

 

These may be by post, email or you may be able to identify them in the tracking and phone (the declaration has to be filled in so try phoning to check if they have details to email it)

 

Payment may be doable on the phone - I was not able to pay mine on the phone, they wanted me to pay via a card sent to me, but in fact I went in person to the regional depot before the card got to me

 

Once any declarations and payments are cleared it is fully released - either for delivery or you can collect if at a convenient depot 

(don’t pay online or by phone if you intend to collect as they will dispatch it)

[Francisfung1126]

22 hours ago, Neptune said:

It takes several days, so that's completely normal. It might be longer with it being around Christmas. I doubt you'll see any movement until at least the end of next week.

 

Yeah, I think so too. 

7 hours ago, Tommikka said:

Clearance takes as long as it takes 

 

I had a belt & mag pouches take two weeks to clear customs - one week to assess charges the first time, but not release it and another week to reassess customs charges

(if I recall correctly the final amount was slightly less than the first price I had been quoted on the phone)

 

wow, even for only belt & mag pouches?  

7 hours ago, Tommikka said:

As it arrived yesterday, don’t worry about the worst case circumstances that you see on here

 

There could be some more delay due to the season with lots coming in and things being slow

 

The first thing is that it will stop and sit for someone to look

‘looking’ will mostly involve getting to that entry on the system and checking declarations 

 

When checking the first question is whether it’s legal to import (ignore that under the VCRA it’s illegal to import RIFs, but defences exist allowing import - so for theses purposes we’ll just say RIFs are legal to import 

They may consider joule limits - that it is a UK legal airsoft RIF

 

 

Next - are there controls on its import - yes there are.  Your UKARA details will pass that - either on the face of it or with checking your details match 

 

Declarations may suffice from the retailer, but you are the importer so you will probably get a declaration form to complete

(Respond with yes it’s a RIF, yes I have a defence - here it is, and if applicable yes it is within joules etc)

 

Once happy with the item being suitable for import it is considered for charges

The retailers customs declaration may be used for values or they may reassess value (my recalculated charges reflected the declared value so I don’t know the reasoning for the change - perhaps error correction, perhaps currency conversion)

 

You get sent a bill

(perhaps the same time as the RIF declaration)

 

These may be by post, email or you may be able to identify them in the tracking and phone (the declaration has to be filled in so try phoning to check if they have details to email it)

 

Payment may be doable on the phone - I was not able to pay mine on the phone, they wanted me to pay via a card sent to me, but in fact I went in person to the regional depot before the card got to me

 

Once any declarations and payments are cleared it is fully released - either for delivery or you can collect if at a convenient depot 

(don’t pay online or by phone if you intend to collect as they will dispatch it)

Thank you for the detailed respond, I hope i dont have to do the RIF declaration, this will makes things easier. 

 

and I think I will just drive to the depot to pay and collect the parcel there, its will be way faster to wait. But do I go to the depot when the update shows that the parcel has been arrived to the national depot? 

 

[Tommikka]

43 minutes ago, Francisfung1126 said:

 

wow, even for only belt & mag pouches?  

 

 

It was only the import VAT & fees, no declarations 

 

 

…. but not your normal belt & mag pouches, overpriced paintball pod belt style mag sleeves/pouches 

 

[Mush Airsoft UK]

I imported a pair of gel blasters from Australia at the begining of the year, and I had no issues.  The operating principle is no different to airsoft pews here.  However, airsoft is banned in Australia, and "gel blasters" have become a popular alternative.  In all states (except Queensland, where I was) a licence is needed to hold a gel blaster...  Strange I know...

 

A P90 SmG and a Glock G17.

 

I of course was concerned about this exact issue, so I contacted Customs here both by phone and email from Australia to try and figure out what my steps were to be able to import them.

 

I was told that there is a comodity code that covers air weapons (9304 0000 00) which covers the importation of airsoft weapons with customs.  I had no issues whatsoever and they arrived literally no more than a week after I got home from Australia.  I was never even contacted by Customs or the police about my pews...

 

If you are carrying them in your own lugguage, you first have to tell the airline you are carrying them (don't use Singapore Airlines, or you will be prohibited from travelling, this is why I had to ship mine with a specialist freight company at a cost of £772 at the time as I paid in AUD), and if they allow you to carry them, place them in your checked lugguage and declare them to customs when you arrive in the UK.  They may inspect them to make sure they are not real firearms, however that should be it.

 

I hope that this info helps in some way in future.

Edited December 28, 2024 by Mush Airsoft UK