U.S. visa

[jonic]

Hello All,

We are currently anchored in the lagon in St Martin and now plan to visit the states for the summer. However have just discovered that as we are arriving by private yacht we have to get a visa. Does anyone know for sure ,that the rumor Brits can get them in Nassau is true? If not any other practical ideas?
Thanks

 

[snowleopard]

suggest you get into the us immigration website, that's where we got the information we needed. sorry i can't be more help but mention of being in the lagoon at st maarten set me thinking. we spent 6 weeks there this time last year.

please give our regards to jack on the morning net, i'm sure he'll remember our strange rig. enjoy a beer at the yacht club for us on friday night and have a curry buffet at the indian by the bridge!

good luck

 

[rallyveteran]

Yes you need visas for everyone on board.

In theory you can turn up without them and pay a fee (used to be $100 or so) but that is at the immigration officer's discretion. I did it once (we had visas for two out of three on board) and it was not a pleasant experience - we were threatened with a $3,000 fine and had to eat extensive humble pie before proceeding.

In our experience the USA was one of the most tedious countries for paperwork that we have visited (out of more than 40) and it is unlikely to have improved since September 11.

Nassau appears to offer visas. See: http://usembassy.state.gov/nassau/wwwhvisitorvisa.html

but undoubtedly best to try to phone, or check with someone who has been there recently.

Despite all the hassle, visiting the USA in a small boat is rewarding. People, expecially other boaters are pleased to receive foreign visitors. Boat parts are cheap and abundant and provisioning is a dream.

 

[kgi]

Yes get your visa in Nassau, its only on certain days of the week, and they only take the first hundred, be warned you need to get there EARLY in the morning 6am is about right, yeah i knowits early but you want to gaurantee yourself a place, every one who needs a visa on the boat will have to present them selves. be warned don,t try and enter the US and get a visa on entry, the whole system has just been reshuffled and you will have to go through the new department of homeland security.....these guys are taking it all very seriously, plus the CG, DEA etc are keeping a very close eye and will turn you back...if you need anymore info PM me or drop into morgans bluff Andros and say hello on the way through....by the way itseasy to clear in at lake worth (west palm beach) everythings in the same building and its only ten minutes walk from the municipal marina.......keith

 

[Guest]

Only one other thing to add:

If you are entering the US as a "foreigner", please be advised that there are very new and specific rules regarding the distance vessels (recreational and otherwise) must stay away from US Naval and US Coast Guard vessels. Darned if I can remember the distance...but I'm pretty sure its at least 500', and you may not move at a speed faster than "idle" or steerage speed.

Approaching one of these vessels without permission or attempting to overtake or pass at high speed could lead to serious consequences.

Please don't take what I post as a joke. Since 9/11 this has been in effect and now with the present situation....I'm sure that our sailors will be very vigilant and "on edge". I would hate to hear of one of you being "chopped up by a quad 50".

Rob.... in Pensacola, FL

Reality is the cause of all stress!!

 

[kgi]

yes totallyagree Rob the only time i find it really depressing is if you try and leave Miami when the cruise ships are entering or leaving, everyone is banned from government cut except cg dea and the sherriffs boats, i do find that a tad draconian, having said all that iwas boarded for the first time over christmas as i entered palm beach. they waited for me to anchor, drove up alongside in the rib and were not officious in anyway, they put two on board and went and got a customs agent, so we had a real party going, further to what you said it is inadvisable to enter ANY port which has a military base in it, Mayport/Jax, Kings bay etc, it doesn't matter which flag you are flying they will board especially in times of heigtened security, and i do know of boats that were damaged while it was happening (all took place well outside the breakwaters), all that said i would recommend the east coast of the states to anyone, people are real freindly lots to see and enough anchorages to keep the budget healthy......keith

 

[jonic]

Many thanks to you all for your information.
We will have a drink/curry and say hi! to Jack.
Best wishes
Jonic.

 

[AndrewB]

We arrived at St John's USVI with visas, this went down well but they seemed fairly used to yachts arriving without.

Warned us that without we would have had to hang about 'in quarantine' for 2 or 3 days and that the paperwork would cost rather more than back home, but it did not seem impossible.

However, this was before 9/11. It might be worth calling USVI ahead to check current situation , assuming that is where you would first like to stop.

I'd echo Rallyveteran that US immigration in USVI, PR and Florida are really tough. Elsewhere is not so bad. On the west coast we were allowed to enter through Friday Harbor (Washington) on the nod without being asked about visas (again, pre 9/11).