Why is my Form 1 "Pending Research" and How does it Affect Processing Time?

After handling at SHOT, I made sure to get a copy from the first shipment and I decided to Form 1 the CSV-9 into an SBR (short barreled rifle) so I could add a stock to the M1913 modular backplate. This was tricky since it appeared that I was the first person to Form 1 a CSV-9. After consulting Four Peaks, I was instructed – very specifically – to list “Czech Weapons SRO” as the manufacturer and “CSV-9 – Version 1” as the model on Screen 5 of my eForm 1 application.

Of course, I had to manually enter this information because it was not in the BATFE’s database, meaning that it triggered a “Pending Research” status. This hadn’t happened to me before but I could glean from context that this related to the novelty of the firearm in BATFE’s system.

I hit Google and found a page from nationalguntrusts.com that, if true, confirmed my suspicions. It read:

The most common reason [for “pending research” status] is for applicants who are manufacturing their own silencer, suppressor or SBR, more specifically using the manufacturer code, “FMI” can trigger the pending research. You might also have seen that your model was not on file with the ATF. This does trigger the pending research, as the ATF will need to verify the details that you submitted on Screen 5 of your eForm 1 application. While your application is pending research you aren’t required to send in your FD-258 fingerprint cards yet. You will receive another email from the ATF usually in 2 to 10 business days with your CLEO copy of your eForm 1 and your submitted form with the bar code and control number. Your 10 business day deadline to send in your FD-258 fingerprint cards into the ATF starts after they have sent you the second email with your cover letter. In summation, if your eForm 1 is pending research this isn’t an issue. You will need to wait for the ATF to email your submitted application which you should receive in 2 to 10 business days after their research is concluded.

This time frame ultimately proved to be correct, as the process took 13 calendar days and exactly 10 business days before my form cleared “Pending Research” and changed to “Submitted/In Process.”

In summary, there appear to be several circumstances under which you may encounter a “Pending Research” status when you submit a Form 1, but it appears that the research procedure will add “just” two weeks to the process.