EPA Import Approval letter

[Redwineracing]

Can any one tell me more about the EDP Approval better for temporary import in to the USA. I have applied for this over 3 weeks ago and the only reply I received was"documents received"
How long does this normally take? should I hassle them? Or am I being impatient?

[Hemuli]

For me it took around 18 days.
Of course you can ask politely what is the status of your paperwork.

[mark manley]

Or if your plans allow get your bike to Canada and enter the US by a land border when you won't need one.

[Redwineracing]

EPA Arrived Friday

[mollydog]

Are you saying that if your bike shows up in a crate on a Freighter at a USA port that they require this paperwork? As a tourist? Your bike would be denied entry without this paperwork? :confused1:
I'm guessing you could fill out the form ON THE SPOT, when picking up the bike at the port. No?

Seems to me if you make it clear you are there ONLY as a legal tourist, have insurance and have no intention of selling the bike, then they'd wave you through.

Maybe things have changed? :confused1:

As mentioned above, these requirements don't exist entering via land borders. As least they didn't a few year back.
I can't believe they put you through this sort of hassle.

The Feds know very well that your UK bike CANNOT be registered in most USA states. The VIN tells all and any NON USA originated VIN number is NOT allowed to be registered. Instant FLAG by DMV computers.

So if they know your bike cannot be registered, then WHY require this pointless paper work in the first place? And if they do it on bikes entering by Sea and Air ... then why not Police land borders as well?

Anyone have a clue about this?

If EPA, Customs and HS spent just one tenth of their misplaced energy wasted on this and spent that energy inspecting Containers, of which MILLIONS enter without inspection every year, we might actually make a dent in real contraband. Fools.

[Redwineracing]

Originally Posted by mollydog

Are you saying that if your bike shows up in a crate on a Freighter at a USA port that they require this paperwork? As a tourist? Your bike would be denied entry without this paperwork? :confused1:
I'm guessing you could fill out the form ON THE SPOT, when picking up the bike at the port. No?

Seems to me if you make it clear you are there ONLY as a legal tourist, have insurance and have no intention of selling the bike, then they'd wave you through.

Maybe things have changed? :confused1:

As mentioned above, these requirements don't exist entering via land borders. As least they didn't a few year back.
I can't believe they put you through this sort of hassle.


The Feds know very well that your UK bike CANNOT be registered in most USA states. The VIN tells all and any NON USA originated VIN number is NOT allowed to be registered. Instant FLAG by DMV computers.

So if they know your bike cannot be registered, then WHY require this pointless paper work in the first place? And if they do it on bikes entering by Sea and Air ... then why not Police land borders as well?

Anyone have a clue about this?

If EPA, Customs and HS spent just one tenth of their misplaced energy wasted on this and spent that energy inspecting Containers, of which MILLIONS enter without inspection every year, we might actually make a dent in real contraband. Fools.

From all the people I have contacted
BMW Dealers in UK
3 different freight companies
and 3 people who have also shipped a bike in to the USA all say you need this EPA
I have also been warned that even though I may have the correct paperwork they may say that I have not and make me fill in a load more forms when I try to get my bike.
A friend of mine. Was told that he had filled in all the wrong forms and when he politely replied that they were the forms the freight company told him he had to fill in and that he believed that were correct. He was told not to argue and that if he wanted his bike to be allowed in to the country he was to fill out a load of forms or have the bike sent back.
I am hoping that I do not have the same problem.

[markharf]

Redwineracing, you're correct that you need to fill out and submit the correct forms in advance. You're correct that even if the freight company gives you the wrong forms, you *still* need to fill out the correct ones...and if that happens you'll do well if they release the bike without making you wait a bit while the forms are processed.

Ranting and raving about how unreasonable this is, or what a waste of resources it represents, won't help you or #5 in any way. Stay calm (as you appear to be doing), and it'll work out for you.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

[Redwineracing]

Originally Posted by markharf

Redwineracing, you're correct that you need to fill out and submit the correct forms in advance. You're correct that even if the freight company gives you the wrong forms, you *still* need to fill out the correct ones...and if that happens you'll do well if they release the bike without making you wait a bit while the forms are processed.

Ranting and raving about how unreasonable this is, or what a waste of resources it represents, won't help you or #5 in any way. Stay calm (as you appear to be doing), and it'll work out for you.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

i am not ranting or raving just stating the facts

[markharf]

Yes, that's the point I was trying to make--and recommending you remain as calm as you appear.

[lmhobbs]

I would recommend that you goto the US website and download all the forms, plus some spares in case you make a mistake. Our shippers were very good but I am not sure if they of all the forms that had to be filled in.

I cleared our bikes in Boston and we filled in the paperwork as best we could and the guy couldn't have been nicer.

As others have said, entering via a land border we were never asked for the forms, only when the bikes arrived by air

Enjoy your trip

[Hemuli]

If there are any problems, just stay calm.
It took me the whole day to get my bike out in LA.
They wanted to have some official documents from BMW (which I of course did not have), so I told them I will go and ask these.
Later I came back and told them that I called BMW NA and they said I do not need that paper.
Answer was "ok, but do you have this another paper (which they do not need)?".
I told them, no, I do not have it, but I will make some calls and ask if I can get it. An hour later, I went back and told that this paper is not needed either based on BMW NA answer.

On my fourth visit all original papers were enough and I was able to get my bike...

I had to bite my tongue few times, but stayed calm, because I knew if I start arguing, they might say "sorry, your paperwork is not in order, so cannot bring your bike over here"...

Landborder between Canada-Alaska (US) and Canada-US went without a single paper, just showed my passport and they asked where I am going. Once I told them, they said "do not go to Mexico with your bike, because you will be killed and they will take your bike..."

Well, still alive, now in Guadalajara

[Redwineracing]

The only other option is to pay an agent to get the bike through. I have considered this but at $450 its not really an option.
Just got to contact the freight company and arrange the freight for my bike everything else (I think) has been taken care of. Only only 14 days till I finish work. Tenants move in to my house on the 12th of Jan and until my flight I shall be sofa surfing. Its really starting to feel real