Foreign Nationals

FOREIGN NATIONALS AND FIREARM & AMMUNITION POSSESSION ELIGIBILITY

Federal law restricts certain foreign nationals from receiving, possessing, renting, or using firearms and ammunition in the United States.

A “nonimmigrant alien” generally means a foreign national who is in the United States temporarily, such as on a tourist, student, business, or work visa, and who is not a lawful permanent resident.

Under federal law, a person admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa is generally prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms or ammunition unless that person meets one of the exceptions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(y)(2).

Common exceptions include:

• The person is in possession of a valid, unexpired hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States.
• The person was admitted to the United States for lawful hunting or sporting purposes.
• The person is an official representative of a foreign government who is accredited to the United States Government, accredited to the government’s mission to an international organization headquartered in the United States, or traveling to or from another country to which that person is accredited.
• The person is an official of a foreign government or a distinguished foreign visitor designated by the U.S. Department of State.
• The person is a foreign law enforcement officer of a friendly foreign government entering the United States on official law enforcement business.
• The person has received a qualifying waiver from the Attorney General of the United States or the U.S. Department of Justice.

A valid, unexpired hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States may satisfy the federal hunting-license exception. The license or permit does not have to be issued by Colorado, but it must be valid, unexpired, and lawfully obtained.

Lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders, are not considered nonimmigrant aliens for this purpose.

Foreign nationals lawfully admitted to the United States without a visa, such as through the Visa Waiver Program, are not subject to the nonimmigrant-visa prohibition, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Being from a Visa Waiver Program country by itself is not enough. The guest must have actually been lawfully admitted to the United States without a visa, such as through the Visa Waiver Program, and must not otherwise be prohibited.

Current Visa Waiver Program countries include:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Chile
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

Taiwan and United Kingdom eligibility are subject to the special notes and requirements listed by the U.S. Department of State. Visa Waiver Program travelers must also meet all current ESTA and admission requirements.

Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Waiver Program

Federal firearms violations can carry serious criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. A knowing violation of certain federal prohibited-person firearms provisions may be punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine, or both.

If you are visiting from another country and do not meet the federal criteria to lawfully possess firearms and ammunition, you may not shoot at Centennial Gun Club. If you are unsure whether you qualify, you should consult qualified legal counsel before attempting to rent, receive, possess, or use firearms or ammunition.

Read More Here:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html

* Check in store for the most up to date information.