Info: How much does PETS cost

Hi

Thanks everyone, for your responses to my questions and your comments (especially Carrie & Bmore (thanks for the personal stories -- we feel reassured)!

I wanted to share some info we got recently:

I called the USDA vet in North Carolina and she sent a wonderful detailed e-mail stating what she needs, the fees & other answers to my questions. 

- She said the fees were $76 per pet for the USDA stamp of approval

- Any health certificate required within 10 days of travel is for the airlines -- no USDA signature required (this was one of my big questions)

-Once stamped the Third Country Certificate is valid for four months (but she suggested to do this a couple months ahead instead)

I would suggest anyone having specific questions about what to send to contact the USDA vet for their State and confirm everything for themselves, just to be safe.  I sure feel relieved that I did (I think rules change from time to time).

We decided to use British Airways so we can fly out of Atlanta, which is more convenient for us.  When I called Continental, they said they didn't pay the customs fee, so it would end up to be hundreds more once we reached customs.  BA includes everything (ticket, handling & customs) which is why it's a little higher.  I guess it's hard to keep up with what's changed!

Thanks again everyone!

Caroline

I called the USDA vet in North Carolina and she sent a wonderful detailed e-mail stating what she needs, the fees & other answers to my questions. 

- She said the fees were $76 per pet for the USDA stamp of approval

- Any health certificate required within 10 days of travel is for the airlines -- no USDA signature required (this was one of my big questions)

I'm not trying to cast aspersions on the NC USDA vet (or make things any harder!) but when I flew from Atlanta on BA in October 2006 with my two cats, the USDA's seal and signature was most definitely required on the APHIS 7001 form (the triplicate one) *and* the EC 998/2003 form (the front/back one you can download from DEFRA, where the vet writes in the dates of microchipping, vaccination, etc.) - both of which can only be completed within 10 days of travel.  I learned this the hard way - my local vet screwed up the EC 998/2003 form and I had to make a separate, second trip to the USDA vet's office the day before we left in order to get the new forms signed and sealed.    You might want to give BA World Cargo a ring and ask them - I'd hate for you to get to Atlanta with your guys and have something go wrong!

Also, I'm not sure if the USDA per-animal fee is universal, or varies from state to state, but when I had my paperwork certified, the charge was $76 for the first animal and $4.25 for the second.  I'd double-check the pricing as well, as that's a big difference!

Hi Meg

Yes, these are big differences.  I will double check with BA & the USDA vet again.  This is frustrating because it clearly says on the form she e-mailed me that the health certificate doesn't require a USDA stamp only a signature by an accredited vet, which my regular vet is (wow).  But, I don't want any surprises, so I'll check again!  It also says $76 per pet (ugh) and I hope what you're saying is true, so I'll save some $$$..

Thanks, I'm glad you posted so I can double check now!

--Caroline

Hi Meg

Yes, these are big differences.  I will double check with BA & the USDA vet again.  This is frustrating because it clearly says on the form she e-mailed me that the health certificate doesn't require a USDA stamp only a signature by an accredited vet, which my regular vet is (wow).  But, I don't want any surprises, so I'll check again!  It also says $76 per pet (ugh) and I hope what you're saying is true, so I'll save some $$$..

Thanks, I'm glad you posted so I can double check now!

--Caroline

Why can't these folks get it together and issue one clear set of guidelines? No, wait...that would be too easy.   

One of the (several) things my local vet screwed up on the EC form was the signature - they kept insisting that the USDA vet had to sign the last box on the front page (part V, I think) and when I showed up with the box unsigned, the USDA vet was like, what?   

I just double-checked my paperwork and in the box where the USDA vet signed the EC form (back side, top box) it says "Endorsement by the Competent Authority (Not necessary when the certificate is signed by an official veterinarian)."  I guess the question is, what makes a vet "official?"  My local vet was accredited, but apparently that's not "official" enough - so the signing honor went to the USDA vet.   

Are you within driving distance of the USDA vet, or will you have to send your forms by post?  If I were you, I'd probably just get everything filled out (other than the tick and tapeworm treatment) and send it all off and ask the USDA vet to stick their seal on everything - that way you'll be covered either way. 

I'll keep my fingers crossed - feel free to PM me if you have any questions or need to wibble. It's a scary, expensive, confusing process - but being able to snuggle up with my kitties every day made it totally worthwhile. 

Hi Meg:

Thanks again for your replies.  Wow, it's like my head is spinning.

I got off the phone with British Airways, who are very helpful, actually.  I think I was confusing the general health certificate (or "fit to fly" certificate required only by SOME airlines) and the "Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs .... Entering the European Community for Non-Commercial Movements, No. 998/2003" (which is the pet passport form with the rabies and tick treatment stuff on it).  BA said that the USDA stamp only goes on the Veterinary Certificate one, not the other.  He said the other is just a fit to fly certificate which is just a general exam.  Whew!  You know, it's probably better to do just what you said & send the whole thing to the USDA (minus the tick treatment) to the vet.  The USDA vet in NC is 4 hours from me, so I think I'm mailing it, but who knows, stranger things have happened as far as changing my plans!

Hi
 
- She said the fees were $76 per pet for the USDA stamp of approval

- Any health certificate required within 10 days of travel is for the airlines -- no USDA signature required (this was one of my big questions)

-Once stamped the Third Country Certificate is valid for four months (but she suggested to do this a couple months ahead instead)

We decided to use British Airways so we can fly out of Atlanta, which is more convenient for us.  When I called Continental, they said they didn't pay the customs fee, so it would end up to be hundreds more once we reached customs.  BA includes everything (ticket, handling & customs) which is why it's a little higher.  I guess it's hard to keep up with what's changed!

Thanks again everyone!

Caroline

I definitely only paid around $80 to have the paperwork for my two cats stamped by the USDA vet.

I'm surprised that Continental told you that as I didn't pay anything at Gatwick. Regardless, if BA flies directly from NC, then I'd go with them too. Is American a carrier? I know they fly directly from Raleigh to Gatwick.

Anything the USDA vet signed, they stamped.

Oh, I'm sure the airlines told you this, but book your flight so it arrives during regular business hours. If they have to process them after hours or on the weekend, you'll pay more for the ARC fee.

Honestly, when you pick up your pets, you'll completely forget about all this stress of getting them ready! It's almost surreal when you leave the ARC. Maybe I was just delirious from lack of sleep....