Visa Requirements USA

pmyatt

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Does anyone know what are the visa requirements and procedures for arriving in the USA by yacht. Currently in Cyprus but planning to cross the Atlantic Nov/Dec 2006 on the ARC (yes I know - I've read all the posts about incompetents using the ARC as a crutch!) and then cruise north to the St Lawerence and the Great Lakes.
 

bruce

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would recomend contacting the us reps there. if going to the great lakes, you might consider leaving them at chicago and doing the rivers down to the gulf of mexico and beyond, called 'the great circle' over here, because one would go up the coast and around, but you would be half way done already. recomend reading up on the great lakes, they can be VERY ocean like.
 

l'escargot

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Start here - be warned though the telephone help line charges at a premium rate.

My son had to fly home from the BVI's last year to get a visa so he could sail in the Bermuda/Newport race - you have to apply in person and be "interviewed" at the US Embassy.
 

Salty John

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You need a tourist visa in your passport before you arrive because the visa waiver scheme under which most tourists arrive applies only if you arrive by an approved carrier - basically the airlines, and in any case would limit you to 90 days stay. To get a visa contact your nearest US Embassy or Consulate. You can find out more about that on-line, I forget the address but do a search for US visa and you'll find the official website.
That is you sorted out; next is the boat: When you arrive you will clear in and obtain a Cruising Permit. This is normally a simple procedure. If you are with the ARC I'm sure they will have pre-arranged something. The cruising permit allows you to travel around the US without having to clear in at every port.
Simple really. Have a good trip!
 

snowleopard

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we got our visa by post after printing the forms off their website. there was no requirement for an interview. that however was before 9/11 and i know they have got a lot tougher since then. i have heard of people being locked up then deported because they had the wrong type of visa. suggest you check and study the small print. but even then some care is needed - i have a couple of 'indefinite' visas in old passports but when i asked if i could just show those the answer was 'we've redefined indefinite to mean 10 years'
 

giraffehappy

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Hi, we've just got our visas from the American Embassy in London. The whole thing was an enormous hassel, beginning with many expensive phonecalls to establish the requirements. Filled in all the forms online, which are more complicated for men between 18 and ? 65(more likely to be terrorists?). Then slogged up to London, queued for about an hour and a half to get INTO the embassy, ( huge security checks) and waited another 3-4 hours to complete the interview. Both my partner and I had to go. Each visa cost £60 in addition, pluss a day each off work and travel expenses: you have to be really determined to do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It felt like they were trying to kill off the tourist trade there!!!!!
We don't even know if we are going there!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sailing over the pond this winter) Heard it was tough the other side, so though we'd better get them in case. GOOD LUCK!
 

snowleopard

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i wonder what effect all these stories are having on the level of tourism into the US. i for one am a lot less keen to include it in my next itinerary.
 

Rum_Pirate

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[ QUOTE ]
Hi, we've just got our visas from the American Embassy in London. The whole thing was an enormous hassel, beginning with many expensive phonecalls to establish the requirements. Filled in all the forms online, which are more complicated for men between 18 and ? 65(more likely to be terrorists?). Then slogged up to London, queued for about an hour and a half to get INTO the embassy, ( huge security checks) and waited another 3-4 hours to complete the interview. Both my partner and I had to go. Each visa cost £60 in addition, pluss a day each off work and travel expenses: you have to be really determined to do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It felt like they were trying to kill off the tourist trade there!!!!!
We don't even know if we are going there!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sailing over the pond this winter) Heard it was tough the other side, so though we'd better get them in case. GOOD LUCK!

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="blue"> In the Caribbean you have to fly to Barbados to the Embassy there (usually requires two overnights). Air travel in the Caribbean is VERY expensive.

The best advice is to call the Embassy and then follow up on the information received rather than ask fellow forumites here or elsewhere.

Remember there is no legal right to a Visa.

The Schengan Visa (a number of European countries) requirement (in the Caribbean at least) :-
application form
appearance in person of the applicant at the Embassy or Consulate,
one picture,
passport valid for 3 months after end of proposed visit
Copy of travel itinary from Travel Agent
Letter from employer
Bank letter/statement
Letter from prerson/firm you are going to visit
Travel Health insurance for E35,000.00
And you cannot apply for visa for more than 3 months in advance.

Yep the 'terrorists" have made it difficult for the rest of us. A bit selfish but what do you expect from a terrorist?

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif </font> x
 

pmyatt

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Many thanks for the input - bit concerned that there is no one with actual experience of this who has contributed - does that mean that no one who crosses the Atlantic by yacht these days actually goes to the USA.
 

paulrossall

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Have you tried to do a search on this subject on the forum? I remember reading a number of reports about yachts arriving in the USA without visas and the occupants being arrested and boats impounded. I seem to think the boats were allowed to leave after paying very significant fines and the peps involved were not allowed to get off their boat once released from custody. I might have read this on some cruising site. There were a number of these experiences, at different ports. IMHO. Paul
 
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