Question about USDA vet

My appointment is tomorrow to have my cats papers signed by the USDA vet.

I have a health certificate (3rd country) and the cats rabies titre paperwork.

This is all I need to take to have signed, isn't it?I was also told they need to have
 "recent " signatures on their paperwork. I am totally confused. The rabies titres were done in April, the vet cert. ,today.

We have done the whole PETS scheme....all that is left is the tick and tapeworm on the 12th.We fly the 13th to London.

I can just see myself missing some crucial piece of paperwork.

                                 Thanks! Lena

My recommendation is to talk with your USDA vet - and if possible have him/her contact your vet as well - to ensure you go with everything in order.  In my experience the USDA vets are eager to work with you and your vet to ensure everything goes smoothly.  Don't hang up until you are clear on everything they are asking from you. They are civil servants, your taxes pay their salaries, and you have the right to understand their bureaucratic procedures.

The recent signatures they may be referring to may be for the APHIS 7001 form, which is the US government's international health certificate for export/import of animals, and is required by some USDA vets to sign the EU 998 form.  This form would be available at your vet's office and is only valid within 10 days of travel.  Some USDA vets use the individual number of the APHIS 7001 form to complete that top line "certificate number" entry on the EU998 form.

Again, this is only conjecture and speculation based on my experience with the PETS scheme. Please contact your USDA vet and, if needs be, have the USDA vet contact your vet so that the process goes as smoothly as possible.

Smocha, I was told to also take to the USDA a "rabies certificate," which is not the same thing as the titre page, but one from my own vet showing his microchip number plus the date of his rabies shot that preceeded the blood draw/titre, and the type of vaccine, along with my own vet's signature and clinic stamp. This is to confirm to the USDA vet the same info that my own vet filled out on the 998 in the appropriate sections. I think the USDA want this brought along too just so that they can compare and verify the information on all three pieces of paperwork -- the FAVN titre result from Kansas, the 998 information filled out by your vet, and this other set of rabies vacc details also provided by your vet.

At least, that's the three pieces of paper a transport agent told me my local USDA office would want to inspect before endorsing -- possibly your USDA will want to see all three too? I can't say for sure, I only know those were what I had to bring to them.

I can e-mail you the scan of this other vet-isssued "rabies certificate" if you need me to?

I included the original rabies certificates in my packet, as well -- like Midnight blue said, to show the original vax date and vet signature and to "prove" that the vax and titer dates and chip numbers were all in agreement.

I was pretty nuts about double and triple checking anything anyone told me. I found the USDA folks for my state to be incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the process. 

Thanks you guys!

   WE were approved today!

They DID ask for the rabies titre papers and the rabies vaccine papers too. Luckily I had brought everything but the cats.

What a nightmare that was. In the next day or so I plan to post an instruction sheet for those who are totally confused, as I was OR those with a Vet that is totally unfamiliar with all this paperwork.

                                               

Thanks you guys!

   WE were approved today!

They DID ask for the rabies titre papers and the rabies vaccine papers too. Luckily I had brought everything but the cats.

What a nightmare that was. In the next day or so I plan to post an instruction sheet for those who are totally confused, as I was OR those with a Vet that is totally unfamiliar with all this paperwork.

                                               

YAYYYY! I'm so happy all your paperwork was approved!! It's such a great feeling, I was the same when mine were okayed!

There are so many "devil in the details" aspects to it all, it seems like it should be simple but it IS complicated in all the little tiny things that are going to make a difference to the powers that be, so YAY for sailing through!