Going to America

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suzieconwy

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Hi Guys, we've got the chance to help take a friends boat from the Carribean to the U.S.A. but are unsure if we need visas etc, has anyone any info? we may stay around 3-4 months once we get there, we are british nationals by the way,
 
In a nutshell, even though you have UK passports, if you arrive in US territory (and that includes the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) by boat then you need visas.
If you fly in (ie travel by 'conventional' means) then you don't.

Perhaps best to get visas in London before flying to the Caribbean. Otherwise you will have to travel to Barbados to get your visas if you decide to wait until you arrive in the Caribbean.
Oh, and make sure that you have 'machine readable' passports, ie the ones with the computer bar-codes on them.
And try not to be facetious when faced with questions on the application form like 'Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organisation?'
The Authorities are not amused if you say 'Yes' in jest.
 
And, remember that you cannot be English and have to be Great Britainish to satisfy immigration. I was forced to alter my country of residence to Great Britain from England to satisfy the requirement that your passport needs to be issued by the same place as your country of residence.

Long live the Queen.

Paul
 
That applies to 'United Kingdom' in some cases also. We recently hired a car in Nassau, but the girl at the desk was unable to process our paperwork. A girl from another desk advised that the computer did not recognise 'UK', only 'GB'. Once that change was applied everything went smoothly.
 
Be prepared for a vile and horribly long wait OUTSIDE the American Embassy - DO go to the loo beforehand, and no matter how thirsty you get, DON'T even be tempted to drink anything for at least three hours before, or while you wait... Dress for the weather, and if you've got a portable lightweight folding seat, take it - the queues are mostly at a standstill. Oh, and the photo in your visa will be the most unattractive you can ever imagine, with all the nosmilingshowyourearshairofftheface - don't be tempted by a diy £1 in the slot photo either - pay for a professional passport photographer - it's VERY precise..

My brother got a visa in Bermuda (I think), but that's almost like shutting the stable door if you're arriving by boat, and unreliable, cos boats sometimes have to go with Plan B ... and end up elsewhere.
 
As well as 'a vile and horribly long wait OUTSIDE the American Embassy' be prepared for another one once you get INSIDE. Just before you get inside, you pass through a tacky little portacabin security place, where they make you deposit your 'smart' car keys, incase they are capable of blowing the place up. Then, once inside, you wait and you wait and you wait. The whole experience reminded me of when I once went to a bank in southern India to cash a travellers cheque. 3 hours later I had my money. I'm afraid the US Embassy in London is a Third World experience. It's sad they've become so paranoid.
 
In case all this is putting you off, the cruising grounds in the US are great and the boaters are the friendliest in the world .... it makes up for all the hassle getting a visa, even if that seems hard to believe when you are queueing in the embassy for five hours.

You will also need a cruising permit for the yacht when you arrive. Customs will issue it.
 
Visas? Each time I enter the US ( done this for both business and pleasure many times over the last 18 years- I have flown in, driven in and... sailed in to the US from Canada on long weekend sailing trips) I just fill out the green visa waiver form and pay my US$6 (if driving and sailing in - free by air as it's included in the airfare). I'm a dual national - UK and NZ and both countries participate in the visa waiver program - and it doesn't matter which passport I travel on. No smart ass remarks to the immigration officer and all usually goes well. Unless something has changed recently that I don't know about it shouldn't be a problem.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

Info in the website suggests that a stay of three months would let you participate.

If you plan on hopping back and forwards you could probably do this indefinitely.

IMPORTANT: When you leave the US - ensure that you hand in the green stub that they give back to you upon entry - this helps them track that you have left. I failed to do this on one occasion and received a stern warning that I could have been denied re-entry as an overstayer/illegal. Though that was the extent of it.

Make sure you have the boat documents with you also.

Good luck

JJ
 
If you scan down the web-page you cite, you will see it says the visa-waiver program applies only to people arriving by an 'approved carrier'. A yacht is NOT, and has never been, an approved carrier for this purpose.

Formerly they would eventually let you in after a clearance procedure lasting a day or two. But post 9/11 it has been much tougher. Yachts are simply turned back in the USVI and Puerto Rico - I don't what they would do if you showed up in Florida, but I wouldn't like to try finding out.

Incidentally, don't be misled by the rather more relaxed procedures for crossing between USA and Canada, specially for Canadian citizens. Prior to 9/11 I (a UK citizen) managed to sail across a couple of times with no visa. Since then though a visa is essential and you must check in at a full CBP post (unless you have an I-94). At this time of year that can mean a long sail out of your way as many of the small 'yachting' posts are unmanned, no more than a phone link. I can still get into Canada from the US with just phone clearance though.

Your advice regarding the I-94 ("green stub") is not exactly correct. This stub is stapled into your passport when you arrive. It does say on the stub that it must be surrendered when you leave. However, if you intend to return to the US shortly then CBP staff suggest that you hold onto it. With it, you can then re-enter the US with just phoned clearance, provided you intend to leave before it expires (6 months from date of issue). Moreover, when you finally leave the US, if you do so by phoned clearance, it does not seem to matter that your I-94 hasn't been turned in.

The above applies to UK citizens and I believe those of other 'visa-waiver' countries except Canada. Other nationalities aboard can be faced with much tougher restrictions.
 
Not so for arrival by private vessel. Under the section regarding which visitors must apply for a visa and cannot use the VWP, one inclusion is if the visitor:
'Intends to travel by private aircraft or other non-signatory air or sea carriers to the United States'.
From my own experience, don't even think of arriving at a US border by private boat without a visa.
 
Yep that all seems about right!
We turned up in St Croix unexpectedly, tired and hungry after a rough passage from Venezuela. US Immigration said politely clear off and even put parole papers in everyones UK passport! paroled to leave asap. We were told we could sail to St Johns and get a visa there and then come back.

Instead we headed for the Bitter end yacht club, to enjoy some hospitality.
 
Won't get into a back and forth over this. I'm just citing my experience to date. As mentioned, I've flown, driven and sailed on numerous occasions under the visa waiver program with no problem. The reverse side of form I-94 states that it must be turned in upon departure. Whilst I have been offered to keep it for upcoming travel it was to easier abide by the written statement than encounter further concern. Bear in mind, that I also am not Canadian.
Interpretation of procedure can vary considerably from customs officer to customs officer. Maybe you would be safer getting your visa in London prior to departure.

Safe and pleasant trip,

cheers

John
 
Tell me fellow forumites, why does anyone want to go to the Good Ol' US of A if they make it such an unpleasant experience to get into their violent and bigoted country.

I do not understand our colonial brethren's paranoia and hippocracy about about their own borders when they walk over just about everybody else's border including ours, without a 'by your leave'.

my son is off there soon to visit his great aunt in marina del rey. best I can hope for is that he gets back without being shot.

Ah well, rant over, I can get back to my padded cell now!
 
Yes , why indeed? Though there must be some fantastic sailing to be had and reports do come through of the hugely friendly and generous people along the way. But why bother with the buerocracy, there are lots of 3rd world countries to visit, most have better food and less rules than the good ol us of a. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Tell me fellow forumites, why does anyone want to go to the Good Ol' US of A if they make it such an unpleasant experience to get into their violent and bigoted country.

[/ QUOTE ]
I suspect that rant would classify you as being bigoted too, don't you think?

Are you violent as well?
 
[ QUOTE ]
A girl from another desk advised that the computer did not recognize 'UK', only 'GB'.

[/ QUOTE ]
I believe that the initials 'UK' now refer to Ukraine and the United kingdom had to relinquish title.

This was decreed by the United Nations when Ukraine 'split' from SSR some years back now.
 
What a strange attitude, redolant of our wonderful chattering classes. I spent most of my working life working with Americans, generous, friendly PROPER people. Going to the states, which i try to do most years is a wonderful experience, yes it took me half an hour to get thru customs the last 2 times, so what? it used to take an hour plus to enter angola and if you want to try bolshieness go to sydney!!
they instilled in me the work ethic that took me from a council house to being a self made man, comfortable in life and able to look after my family in the manner that i choose.
the old story of someone standing in new york and seeing a rolls royce go by and saying "Gee, one day I will buy one" and the person standing in London and saying "Huh look at that jammie [--word removed--], lucky so and so" says it all.
Stu
 
To add another point.. When you do get your 10 year multiple entry US visa to get into the US via yacht, no doubt you will have to renew your passport at some point before the visa expires, you will be required to show this visa upon entry to the US regardless of whether you are entitled to the visa waiver scheme, and have to fill out a white form form as opposed to the green, for as long as the visa is valid. A pain in the A having to bring two passports to immigration.
 
You MUST have a Visa if visiting by US boat. Best to get in London difficult to obtain elsewhere although possible in Trinidad but not Barbados. Visa waivers only apply to aircraft (and presumably) cruise ship passengers with return tickets.
Immigration and customs officials in US (including) USVIs, Puerto Rico and mainland USA are we have found rude and unhelpful and often ignorant of their own country rules but the one thing they do know is that boat visitors need a Visa. For a high cost they are able to offer temporary permits for short stays but they do not all know that and will usually tell you to go away
Look at the US Emabassy web site for how to proceed.
 
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