I e-filed a form 4 for a suppressor on March 12 at 2:38pm.  The approval came back at 10:43am on March 14.  

That’s 44 hours 5 minutes.

Big change from nearly a year.

Did an automated system get automated?

Red

They are now doing NICS checks as soon as you submit an eForm 4 and if it gets a 'proceed' they approve. No more FIFO shenanigans.
This, hopefully, will be the new norm. My only guess is the FBI told them to fuck off with all the background check requests.

So if you buy a suppressor on SS is it just as fast or?

Criteria are:
1. eForm 4
2. Individual
3. Provide SSN on form

The new system does not apply to Trusts

I'm assuming as an individual as well

Reading threads like these is going to keep costing me money.  Good problem, though.

I had 2 day approval from a local dealer early march. On day 3 after submittal from Capital armory, waiting.
Seems crazy I can get a 2 day approval, then a week and a half later, it's taking longer.
Yes I know the NFA and the ATF make no sense.

I know a guy at 13 months. I'm wondering if he should just cancel and resubmit at this point.

Is this theory or actual?

Got any proof of this new process?

Is the SSN thing confirmed?

If so, whoops.

I want to say it's been discussed in some other threads, but I can't quote anything. Someone will chime in I am sure.

https://eforms.atf.gov/faq

Q. Are NFA applications processed in a first in, first out basis?

No. NFA applications were previously processed in a first in, first out basis. Adhering to the first in, first out basis resulted in processing delays for NFA applications with a proceeded background check. For example, a NFA application with a proceeded background check would not be processed until a NFA application with a delayed background check was resolved. While first in, first out is a guiding principle, NFA Division will focus its resources to processing those NFA applications that have received a proceed from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check. Accordingly, NFA Division will process NFA applications as it receives background check responses from FBI-NICS. However, NFA Division will submit background checks to FBI-NICS in the order applications are received.

The TL;DR is as of Feb 1st of 2024 if you recieve a 'proceed' from the NICS you get approved.


Yah one of their later Questions they answered basically said the SSN inclusion allows them to add it to the NICS batches isntantly without further research.

EDIT: Attaching full FAQ if for people who can't reach it.

Q. Has NFA Division implemented processing changes to reduce the number of pending applications?
Yes. For example, NFA Division is shifting resources to processing applications that have received a proceed from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.

Q. Are NFA applications processed in a first in, first out basis?
No. NFA applications were previously processed in a first in, first out basis. Adhering to the first in, first out basis resulted in processing delays for NFA applications with a proceeded background check. For example, a NFA application with a proceeded background check would not be processed until a NFA application with a delayed background check was resolved. While first in, first out is a guiding principle, NFA Division will focus its resources to processing those NFA applications that have received a proceed from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check. Accordingly, NFA Division will process NFA applications as it receives background check responses from FBI-NICS. However, NFA Division will submit background checks to FBI-NICS in the order applications are received.

Q. My NFA application is submitted, but my background check has not been sent to FBI-NICS, why?
Due to the record number of NFA application submissions and ATF's limited resources, NFA Division must submit background checks to FBI-NICS in batches. Currently, there are approximately 200,000 NFA applications pending. As NFA Division reduces the number of pending applications, the background checks will be submitted to FBI-NICS closer to when the NFA application was received by NFA Division.

Q. I submitted my NFA application the same time as my friend/family member/etc. and his or her NFA application was processed before mine, why?
NFA Division can approve a NFA application only after receiving a proceed response to the required FBI-NICS background check. Some background checks may take longer to process because FBI-NICS must perform additional research on the applicants background. As a result, two individuals who submit NFA applications at the same time may have their NFA application processed at different times because the background checks are completed by FBI-NICS and transmitted to NFA Division at different times.

Q. What can I do to make sure my background check is processed timely and accurately?
While it is not required, the simplest way to help ensure your background check is processed timely and accurately is to provide your social security number with the NFA application. Without the social security number, FBI-NICS may have to perform additional research to ensure the applicant is not prohibited, thereby delaying the background check response to NFA Division. For example, without a social security number, FBI-NICS will have to perform additional research to properly identify the applicant when the applicant has the same name as someone else with prohibiting information in the NICS database.

Q. My background check is currently in a pending status with FBI-NICS, can ATF approve my NFA application?
No. NFA Division must receive a proceed from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.

Q. My background check is currently in a delayed status with FBI-NICS, can ATF approve my NFA application?
No. NFA Division must receive a proceed from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.

Q. My background check is currently in an open status with FBI-NICS, can ATF approve my NFA application?
No. NFA Division must receive a proceed from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.

Q. FBI-NICS responded to my background check with a proceed, can ATF approve my NFA application?
Yes. NFA Division may approve an NFA application only after FBI-NICS responds with a proceed to the required background check.

Q. If I have more than one application pending, will NFA Division process the applications at the same time?
Yes, provided the applications are for an individual and the social security number was provided with the NFA application. NFA Division has implemented a bundling process which allows an examiner to review all pending applications of an individual. There is no need for an applicant to request bundling, this will be done automatically.

Q. Is bundling available for trusts?
No. However, NFA Division is currently reviewing whether bundling for trust applicants is feasible, given the multiple further complexities presented by trust applicants.

Q. Why do trust applications take longer to process than individual applications?
Trust applications require the examiner to perform several additional steps of review than an individual application. For example, the examiner must read each trust document to ensure it is a legitimate trust. The examiner must also read each trust document to ensure every responsible person to the trust submitted the required responsible person questionnaire. The examiner must also review each trust regardless of whether the same trust was used for a prior application because the terms of that trust may vary between applications.

Q. Are there other factors other than the review process that result in longer processing times for trusts?
Yes. The most common reasons attributable to trust processing delays include:
o Failure to submit a responsible person questionnaire and fingerprint cards for each responsible person named on the trust;
o Failure to submit a valid trust, e.g., there is only one person named in the trust who is the settlor, trustee, and beneficiary;
o The name of the trust on the NFA application is different than the name of the trust in the trust document; and
o The background check is delayed for one or more individuals identified as responsible persons. For example, if one of three identified responsible persons background check is delayed by FBI-NICS, then NFA Division cannot process the application until the delayed background check is resolved.

I went ahead and added my SSN to my registration at Silencer Shop. My Form 3 hasn't been approved yet, so I'm guessing my Form 4 hasn't been generated yet.

Dunno.

Where you buy your silencer has no bearing on the speed of ATF approval.

I just certified mine today.    Dealer told me right now submissions are being processed as "last in, first out".     His most recent submission was a 4 day approval time.    Other customers have been waiting 6-8 months.

Strange times.

Outside the complete dissolution of the NFA this is the best we could hope for in the 2A community, so long as they keep the approvals <15day.

I for one see the suppressor market booming to levels companies are not ready to handle. Just looking through the 5.56 cans on SS, a majority of the ones sold out now were just in-stock last week. Backorder fulfillments will be longer than the actual Form 4

I'm considering it.

I bought one through SS last Friday....still waiting for approval

All my stuff is on a trust. I just submitted 03/03 on a trust. Hopefully it’s not too long, I regret not doing individual. Oh well.

Maybe I missed the memo, but how does this “accelerated” process work in the case of paper F4s (individuals, not trusts)?

As far as I know it doesn't, this seems to only apply to eForms.

Had to do quite a bit of searching to find the 5.56 can in stock that I wanted. The short turn around news is spreading and demand is starting to outpace supply.

Under 40hr approval for my can. Submitted 4pm on Wednesday and approved 7am today. ~39 hours. Individual.

I was in the LGS a couple of weeks ago and there was a guy picking up a suppressor. 21 hrs submission to approved.

All electronic prints I'm assuming?

SS kiosk was used, so yeah.

no trust

FML, I'M coming up on a week since I submitted.  Where's my 48 hour approval damnit!

This. I certified on 3/14. Where stamp??

Sweet. Going to pick up another one on Friday. We’ll see if I hit the Form 4 lottery or if it’ll be stuck in ATF jail for the next year and a half.

I bought the last in stock hybrid 46M at my shop yesterday

inventory is now an issue as SilencerCo lists most models as sold out

Interesting on the trust delay answer.

I have a few items in on my trust.  I know none of these factors in the answer apply.

They’ve approved my Form 1’s in a week.  Same electronic fingerprint file, same picture, same RPQ’s, same trust, same everything.

Yet Form1’s are approved right away, while Form4’s take forever.

There’s more to this answer that isn’t here.  I’d love to know the real answer.

The DoJ just created a national red flag office.  

A trust / entity registration might create some flexibility & legal protection from confiscation risk resulting from false accusations, swatting, forum hyperbole data mining (surveillance repository) abuse. Individual registrations are much tighter associations / title.

Are the hard copy prints still needed for the eform 4 filing or is that no longer a requirement?

I wanted to file individual but all my stuff is on the trust, might as well keep it the same. I'm not expecting a super fast approval because of this. Certified 03-03, not my first item.

I did digital prints. Seems like most ups stores have a print scan station. Cost was $70. Figured better than me screwing up the ink ones then waiting or more cards. Plus I'm impatient .

Really?  Because I got an Eform 1 filed under a trust back in 3 days.  

Per a letter that the ATF sent out it looks like to expedite processing times, once they run a background check they apply the results of that background check to any pending NFA paperwork. Maybe that's why my Form 4 that has been processing since October was approved the next week, even though when I called a month ago they estimated July.

two plus weeks.
SS, individual, Prints on file, not my first rodeo