With lead-times for NFA applications exceeding eight months and rising, I am often asked how to go about checking the status of an application.
The ATF addresses this question on their NFA Frequently Asked Questions Page.
“If you wish to confirm receipt of an application by ATF or obtain a status check on a pending application, you should call the NFA Branch at 304-616-4500. It will help the NFA Branch locate your application more quickly if you have the serial number of the firearm sought for transfer and the name of the prospective transferee.”
I should note that this number is not being staffed during the government shutdown.
There are also third-party sites where collectors share the status of their own applications. These sites allow you to see what processing times the larger community is experiencing.
While I am not affiliated with nor endorsing any of these sites, one popular example is NFATracker.com.
