ATF form 4473 question- legal permanent resident

[jamesbeat]

I am from England, but am a legal permanent resident of the USA.

I am looking into making my first firearm purchase, and I have a question about the form.
Question 20 asks if you entered the country on a nonimmigrant visa.
If you answer 'yes', you are directed to an area of the form dealing with visitors to the States who wish to buy a firearm while visiting the country, and it asks for your hunting license number (a requirement for visitors when buying a firearm).

Thing is, although I am a legal permanent resident, I did in fact enter the country on a nonimmigrant visa, or rather the 'visa waiver program'.
While I was here, my circumstances changed (my wife and I got married) and I went through a process called 'adjustment of status' to become a permanent legal resident (aka green card holder).
There is no legal impediment to me owning a firearm, and all of the other parts of the form present no difficulties (I have an alien # and can pass a background check).

My question is, does the adjustment of status count as a 'reentry' into the country with an immigrant visa?

If not, then I'm a little stuck, as despite the fact that it is perfectly legal for me to buy a firearm, the form has no provision for my particular set of circumstances.

 

[jamesbeat]

Never mind, my google skills must not have been working, and I think I managed to answer my own question!

It seems that, during the adjustment of status process, I was found to be entitled to an immigrant visa, which was assigned to me and I technically 'entered' the country on that visa on the date that my status was adjusted.

Mods, at your discretion, please feel free to either delete this thread, or leave it here to help others who may be looking for an answer to this question.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Look at printed page 197 of this document:

http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-4.pdf

(R2) Typically, who are "nonimmigrant
aliens?"

In large part, nonimmigrant aliens
are persons traveling temporarily in
the United States for business or
pleasure, persons studying in the
United States who maintain a foreign
residence abroad, and certain foreign
workers. Permanent resident aliens
are NOT nonimmigrant aliens. Permanent
resident aliens often are referred
to as people with "green
cards."

 

[jamesbeat]

Yes, I know I'm not a nonimmigrant alien, but the question on the form doesn't ask that, it asks if you were admitted into the country on a nonimmigrant visa.

The part where I got my wires crossed was the 'admitted into the country' part.
Turns out that when my status was adjusted, I was 'admitted into the country' again even though I was already in the country at the time, this time on an immigrant visa.

I'm sure looking forward to the day I can become a citizen and leave all of this behind me!

 

[Flyincedar]

Keep on truckin, and it'll happen. The owner of Gun Envy, where I am employed, is also from England. He actually had an FFL before he had his citizenship!

 

[jamesbeat]

Yeah I know, it's mostly a matter of waiting until I'm eligible, which is not for another couple of years.
I go through the citizenship questions from time to time to ensure that I know it inside out by the time I take the test.
I'm quite interested in history anyway, so I find the learning process enjoyable.
I also have to make sure I can understand one out of three English sentences

I also expect to have a FFL before I am a citizen, because I'm looking into getting a C&R.

 

[Art Eatman]

Best luck to you, jamesbeat. I'll go ahead now and close the thread.