Might have a problem with getting a USDA vet appointment

 

I am leaving for the UK on Tuesday December 2. I know that the Annex 2 and APHIS form 7001, etc. cannot be signed any earlier than 10 days before I leave, which means I will have to get the documents on Monday, Nov. 24 (my vet is closed on weekends). Also, I was told by the USDA that they want all documents faxed to them before they will schedule an appointment. My problem is Thanksgiving is that week, so I have only a few days to get to the USDA vet.

My question is: will the USDA endorse forms before I can get the tapeworm treatment? The only date within the 5-day range I can get the tapeworm treatment is Monday, December 1. That's the day before my flight.

Has anyone dealt with this sort of thing? Sorry if this is confusing. Heck, I'm confused, too.

Please help...

Yes, I had my forms signed by the USDA vet before the tapeworm treatment.

Timeline was: Thursday - USDA vet
                     Saturday - Tapeworm treatment
                     Sunday   - Fly to UK (via Paris )

What did the USDA vet office tell you when you called to get the appointment? Do they know the date you are flying out?

Stephanie303,

I contacted them last week and did include the date of my flight in the email. All they would tell me is that I will have to fax them my documents before they will give me an appointment.

Could you tell me (if you remember) how long it took to get an appointment with the USDA vet? Was it days? Hours? I have so little time to work with and that's making me nervous.

I think I called the USDA office (New York state) about 3 weeks before to the 10 day window. I didn't fax any paperwork up to them (wasn't a requirement for this office) prior to the appointment, as I was close enough that if there were any problems I could run back to the vet and get it corrected (luckily I did not have to do that)!

Why not fax (or have the vet fax) the paperwork to the USDA office first thing today and get the ball rolling so you can get the appointment set up?  It will accomplish two things, get the appointment set up and if there are any errors on your paperwork you will have time to get it corrected. Can you call the office or do they only accept emails? If you can call it might be easier to get it all sorted then going back and forth with emails... 

GAtoWales, it is easy for  me to say (now that it is a year down the road) but really, try not and stress too much about all of this!  The paperwork is really just filling in the blanks and doing all the correct steps in the correct order. I know it can be awful as you are dealing with your own vet, the USDA vet, then the airlines and it is a nightmare at times trying to get it all coordinated!  As long as you have done the microchipping/rabies shot/tapeworm all in the required time and have the forms filled out and signed by all involved (remember Blue Ink Only on the forms)! You and your dogs will be A-OK!  If the worse comes to worse comes to the very worse, the dogs might have to stay in a kennel at Heathrow? (I don't know which airport you are using) for a couple days until whatever needs to be corrected on the forms is done.  But that is like the very worse of the worse scenario! It won't happen! 
To help ease your stress, you can also fax or scan & email your paperwork to the pet reception office at whichever airport you are flying into, it is often done and from what I have read they seem to be a friendly bunch at these pet reception offices and will check it out and let you know if it is ok.  I would do that if I were you, will help calm your nerves for sure  You and your dogs will be fine, you seem to be on top of it all and before you know it, it will all be over with!



 

I will fax them what I have today and see if they will schedule me next week.

Thanks so much for your advice.

Stephanie303,

Just an update: I did fax them and they called me back after a few hours to set up an appointment, so we're good to go now. thanks again!

Thats awesome!  Another thing to cross off the "moving to the UK list"