NICS News
Contents
1. Their Delay or Denial Over the Phone Due to the Privacy Act of 1974 the NICS Section cannot provide the reason for your customer s delay or denial over the telephone If a prospective transferee had extended delays or has been denied the transfer of a firearm the FFL should give the individual a NICS Resolution Card and write the NTN on the line provided on the bottom portion of the card The NICS Resolution Card directs the customer to the NICS Appeal Web site lt www fbi gov nics appeals gt for customers to begin their appeal process For customers without Internet access they may appeal via the U S Postal Service by sending a letter requesting the reason for denial their NTN name current address and phone number If the customer has ever been arrested it is recommended the appellant provide their fingerprints along with any documentation that may help expedite their appeal The appellant may mail their request to Federal Bureau of Investigation NICS Section Attention Appeal Operations Unit Post Office Box 4278 Clarksburg WV 26302 9951 Protect Your FFL Number and Codeword Your FFL number and codeword are confidential and very important to your business practice Protect this information by keeping them out of sight and off your store counters walls phone etc Do not provide this information to your customers The customer is not permitted to contact the NICS Section to check the status of their delay or to find the reason f2. NICS News The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division s National Instant Criminal Background Check System NICS Section Takes a Look Back Provides Statistics and General FYIs for the Federal Firearms Licensee FFL 2012 Busy Season Survival Success The NICS Section set unprecedented records during December 2012 with the receipt of an extraordinary number of transactions December 2012 was the highest volume month ever for NICS background checks with nearly one million checks being received during the third week alone New records include the following e December 17 23 2012 was the highest volume week ever for total NICS checks with 953 613 transactions being received e Anew highest volume day was added on December 21 2012 when 177 170 total NICS checks were received Link to NICS Statistics e Eight of the Top Ten Highest Volume Days for the NICS occurred during December 2012 FFL Community Thank You for Your Patience and Support The NICS Section developed an FFL group e mail address This group e mail address is used by the FFL NICS Liaison Specialist to send out pertinent information to the FFL when needed for example system outages delays milestones statistics etc Currently there are approximately 8 000 FFLs signed up to receive these messages During the past five months there have been many messages e mailed to the FFL through this group e mail address explaining the necessary NICS process changes Th
3. TER Page 3 NICS News Receive NICS Messages FFLs and their employees can receive updates through a group e mail address The group e mail address will allow the FFL to be informed of system changes outages general updates etc The FFL can add their e mail address request the e mail address on file to be replaced with a new e mail address or ask to be removed from the e mail list There is no limit to how many store employees can request updates To be added to the list you will need the store s FFL number and current e mail address The NICS updates will be sent to you from the following e mail address lt nicsfflupdates leo gov gt NICS Videos for The FFL and Their Customers The NICS Process in Motion Video Two separate videos are available to provide NICS background check process and other valuable NICS information One version is for the FFL specifically and the other version is for the FFL s customers The VAF Process Video This video was developed for customers who experience constant or extended delays The video walks the customer through the VAF Process step by step General NICS Reminders for the FFL Help Minimize Unnecessary Duplicate Work Have the ATF Form 4473 completed prior to making the call to the NICS Section Only call with new transactions Do not try to do status checks on previous delays The NICS Section processes these transactions in the order they were received Once the transactions are complete
4. d they are instantly put in a queue for the FFL to be called back You may also notice during transfer calls if we have completed transactions they are provided at that time Please do not conduct duplicate NICS background checks for the same transaction For example Calling the NICS Contracted Call Centers multiple times or calling the NICS Contracted Call Center then initiating a NICS E Check transaction This can be considered misuse of the NICS and only adds to the workload which in turn slows down the final statuses from the NICS Section to the FFL Once the FFL receives an NTN the transaction will be processed In the event you are disconnected during the transfer or must hang up IF you have already been provided an NTN please do not void or call in a new transaction as this causes duplicate work These transactions will automatically be sent to the NICS delay queue to be processed In the event this does happen mark the Form 4473 delayed Then the transfer date can be established NICS NEWSLETTER Page 4 NICS News by going to the NICS FFL Web site at lt www fbi gov nics ffl gt and choosing A NICS Delay under NICS Information e The NICS Section is diligently working to process delayed transactions When the NICS Section calls your store with a final status please take the information at that time This will eliminate duplicate calls for both parties NICS Cannot Provide Your Customer the Reason For
5. e FFL community was very receptive and appreciative about being kept apprised of the decisions quickly being made by the NICS Section due to the increased transaction volume The NICS Legal Instruments Examiners NICS Examiner have also commented about how friendly respectful and supportive FFLs were during their phone calls even when they had been on hold for an extended period of time The NICS Section would like to take this opportunity to thank the FFL community for their continued team work being demonstrated now and historically The positive e mail responses and kind words on the phone calls from FFLs have been very appreciated during these busy times FFL Checking Delayed Transaction Status During the past few months the NICS Section has been forced to make some major NICS process modifications due to unprecedented transaction call volume The high volumes have not ceased Until further notice the NICS Section can no longer accept calls from the FFL for status checks NICS NEWSLETTER Page 1 NICS News The service has been eliminated because the FFL will receive notice of a final status shortly after the NICS Examiner has made a final decision The NICS Section processes NICS transaction numbers NTN in the order they were received Once the transactions are completed they are instantly put in a queue for the FFL to be contacted with a final status Also when an FFL is conducting a NICS background check during transfer calls to t
6. er P O Box 0279 Kearneysville WV 25430 0279 The NICS FFL Quick Reference Guide The NICS Section wants to make it simple for you to contact us if assistance is needed This link provides the FFL with the necessary NICS information needed daily Link to the FFL Quick Reference Guide NICS NEWSLETTER Page 7
7. he NICS Section if an FFL has completed transactions they will be provided a final status prior to concluding the call Check the Status of Your Delayed Transactions on the NICS E Check 24 7 In order to check the status of a delayed NTN the FFL must enroll with the NICS E Check processing your NICS background checks via the Internet The NICS E Check allows the FFL to check the status of their transactions conducted both on the phone and Internet 24 7 Therefore if you do not want to initiate your NICS background checks via the Internet you can continue to call the NICS Contracted Call Centers then log into the NICS E Check to view your NTN statuses During the past few months the NICS E Check has been running with little to no delay During February 2013 the NICS E Check average answer speed the time it takes a NICS Examiner to begin processing the NTN was within 39 seconds The NICS E Check average handle time the time it takes for a NICS Examiner to process the NTN and apply a final status was within 71 seconds The average wait time for the FFL to receive a status on a NICS E Check transaction is less than two minutes Below you will see comments from FFLs who currently use the NICS E Check and are satisfied with the process e I use the NICS E Check on all my sales and have never waited more than 90 seconds for a check to come back Works great Thanks e I guess do not understand why there are so many people
8. leo gov gt NICS NEWSLETTER Page 6 NICS News Please Keep Your FFL Contact Information Up to Date If the NICS Section must contact your business do we have the correct contact information on file for you When your FFL contact information changes there are two agencies to contact the ATF Licensing Center at 1 866 662 2750 and the NICS Section s Customer Service at 1 877 FBI NICS 324 6427 option 2 for FFL Customer Service then option 4 Call the Correct NICS Phone Number Currently the NICS Section has one working phone number The number is 1 877 FBI NICS 324 6427 Please disregard any previous documentation NICS Brochures Resolution Cards etc that provides other listed numbers Where Do You Mail Your ATF Form 3310 4 Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers The NICS Section has been receiving numerous ATF Form 3310 4 erroneously at the address in Clarksburg West Virginia The ATF Form 3310 4 provides instructions on the back of the form regarding where this information should be sent Section 6a advises that a copy of the form should be submitted to the National Tracing Center no later than the close of business on the day the multiple sale or other disposition occurs The form can be provided in a couple different ways It can either be faxed to 1 877 283 0288 or mailed to the U S Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives National Tracing Cent
9. or delay deny If your FFL information is compromised potentially NICS background checks could be called in on noncustomers Using E Check is also the best way to prevent someone from acquiring personal information of a customer NICS Background Checks are Good for 30 Days The applicable regulation 27 CFR 478 102 c states that a NICS check is valid for 30 days from when the check was initiated The 30 calendar day period should be counted beginning on the day after the date of initiation NICS NEWSLETTER Page 5 NICS News NICS Examiner s Name and Brady Identification ID Number e Question 21f on the ATF Form 4473 asks for the name and Brady identification number of the NICS Examiner This is optional for the FFL to complete Once the call has been terminated it is not necessary to call the NICS Section to retrieve this information e Since the NICS Section is not permitted to provide the reason for delay or denial over the phone please do not provide your customer with the NICS Examiner s name and Brady ID number Provide your customer with a NICS Resolution Card More Information is Best NICS background checks are name based and dependent upon the descriptive information provided on the ATF form 4473 Question 8 asks for the customer s social security number This descriptive identifier question is optional but if provided may help prevent a misidentification which would results in an erroneous deny and a possible lo
10. ss of sales If your customer provides their social security number when completing the ATF form 4473 please use it when conducting your NICS background check via phone or the NICS E Check Military Phonetics The NICS Section uses military phonetics when providing a NTN to the FFL It is very helpful for the FFL to utilize the phonetics when providing an NTN A Alpha B Bravo C Charlie D Delta E Echo F Foxtrot G Gulf H Hotel I India J Juliet K Kilo L Lima M Mike N November O Oscar P Papa Q Quebec R Romeo S Sierra T Tango V Victor W Whiskey X X Ray Y Yankee Z Zulu Letters currently not being used in an NTN Information on Canadian Nonimmigrant Aliens Obtaining I 94 Numbers Per the Customs and Border Protection nonimmigrant aliens entering the United States are admitted under different classes categories Canadians are considered noncontrolled aliens and commonly admitted under class category V Visitor for business or pleasure Nonimmigrant aliens receiving an I 94 number are normally entered under categories E and K The issuance of an I 94 number is a manual process 6 charge and not necessary for visitors of business or pleasure including Canadians For firearm sales a nonimmigrant alien must possess an I 94 number If you have this situation and your customer is unable to obtain an l 94 number because they have been admitted under a class category other than E or K contact the NICS Liaison Specialist at lt nicsffl
11. that are not using the E Check System It is wonderful and works every single time e Asa five year use of E Check I ve literally called the Call Center maybe 10 times in 5 years think it is certainly an un tapped resource e We use NICS E Check on line 98 of the time and we ve been very happy with it e The NICS E Check system is wonderful use it exclusively and have never had a problem My customers are amazed at how fast things go and how efficient the entire system is e have been using the E check since became an FFL over a year ago It is fast efficient and have had no issues whatsoever e I ve been using E Check for years without any trouble and I have limited computer skills e I doall my NICS checks online always have love it NICS NEWSLETTER Page 2 NICS News e I can t imagine why an FFL wouldn t use the NICS E Check system no waiting time on the phone real time responses easy and efficient to use Cost and time effective do all my NICS checks online always have love it e use the NICS E Check and think it is terrific If you are interested in enrolling with the NICS E Check the FFL must complete a new NICS FFL enrollment form including the NICS E Check sections 12 14 The NICS FFL enrollment form is located on the NICS FFL Web site lt www fbi gov nics ffl gt Once you have completed the NICS FFL enrollment form you must ret
12. urn it to the NICS Section via facsimile at 304 625 0897 e mail at lt fbinicsteamcc leo gov gt or mail to Federal Bureau of Investigation NICS Section Post Office Box 4278 Clarksburg WV 26302 9951 If you are a current FFL and you are already enrolled with the NICS Section to conduct background checks via phone you must request to use the NICS E Check at lt www nicsezcheckfbi gov gt Once the FFL has registered to use the NICS E Check the NICS E Check Examiner will issue a digital certificate and send it with the downloading instructions to the FFL e mail provided Once the digital certificate is downloaded to your computer the FFL will be ready to conduct the NICS background checks via the Internet The NICS Contracted Call Centers will still continue to conduct NICS background checks for FFLs who wish to process their transactions via the phone This process has not been modified the FFL will continue to call the NICS Section at 1 877 324 6424 and press 1 to do a background check Knowledge at Your Fingertips With a NICS FFL Dedicated Web Site lt www fbi gov nics ffl gt This Web site was developed with the FFLin mind The following basic NICS information is available at lt www fbi gov nics ffl gt NICS FFL User Manual e Enrollment Information e Sign up to Receive NICS Messages Updates e NICS FFL Quick Reference Guides e Appeal Information e NICS Process Videos for the FFL and Their Customers e Much more NICS NEWSLET
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