Recommendation for International shipping

I am reposting this message under the ball python forum, hoping maybe I will get more replies here. Thanks for the one person that replied in the general forum.

I was hoping someone could help me with some guidance as far as paperwork and approved carriers for international shipping. I have owned two BP for about 10 years now, they were captive bred but never got any paperwork from the pet store to prove it. My husband was transferred to France and it looks like we are here to stay. I had left my babies in the care of my brother in the meantime and now I am looking at how to get them back with me. My brother (lives in Austin, TX) can no longer care for them and I am too attached to them to give them away.

The airlines will not accept a person to check them in unless you are an approved carrier but they will not either supply the list of certified carriers.

It seems that you need some paperwork from cites and also the US wildlife. However it seems that it is all set up for only professionals.

Does anyone have experience preparing the documentation for shipping for non commercial purposes? And/or names of approved carriers.

I have seen some rates between $3000-$5000 I cannot afford this so I am trying to do as much as I can on my own.

Any recommendations or personal experience on how to proceed would be appreciated.

Thanks

Sorry that no one else responded last time other than little 'ol me, who doesn't know how to ship internationally. Were you able to find any breeders in TX who might be able to help you out?

Thanks!

I asked my brother to look, but he is just getting back from vacation and is in the process of moving so I am sure this is not on his priority list right now

In any case I need to first get the paperwork going, CITES is one of them and was hoping maybe someone had some experience with it.

Thanks again