From BoatUS - March 30, 2004 Foley (FL) And Shaw (FL) Urges Customs Reform For Recreational Boaters “By not re-evaluating our customs procedures, the good guys are being punished.” WASHINGTON, March 30, 2004 -- Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) again is urging on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to ease immigration customs procedures for Floridian boaters who will be traveling outside the U.S. during the up-coming holidays. “I realize the current difficulty of protecting U.S. shores,” Foley said. “But, Osama Bin Laden isn’t driving his boat through Florida’s ports over the up-coming holiday seasons and checking in with U.S. Customs.” Recreational and commercial boaters returning from a foreign port are forced to make major detours and wait for hours so officers can determine whether they are U.S. citizens or have the right to be in the country. “By not re-evaluating our customs procedures, the good guys are being punished, ”Foley said. “We faced this issue last year, and we shouldn’t have to face it again.” Congressman Foley released a letter that he and Rep. Clay Shaw wrote to Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson, calling on him to answer questions about reforming immigration customs procedures for recreational boaters. To read the letter please click here. Similar appeals from the two resulted in a more manageable procedure for boaters during the holidays last year. Officials have not determined whether these methods will be used again in the up-coming holiday season. ©2004, Boat Owners Association of The United States. All Rights Reserved.
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Problems even on the Great Lakes
We may not have it quite as bad as the Florida folks, but the border between Canada and the U.S. has it's own set of rules including the infamous Form I-68, Video-Phones, and now possibly the NEXUS ID card. It seems that all of the good guys are the ones obeying the rules and the bad guys, well, are they going to apply for the necessary paperwork? A forum with a Home Security Border, Customs official would be nice to get all of the rumors out in the open. Ken Palmer S/V Water Colors Hunter 33.5 Rochester, NY
We may not have it quite as bad as the Florida folks, but the border between Canada and the U.S. has it's own set of rules including the infamous Form I-68, Video-Phones, and now possibly the NEXUS ID card. It seems that all of the good guys are the ones obeying the rules and the bad guys, well, are they going to apply for the necessary paperwork? A forum with a Home Security Border, Customs official would be nice to get all of the rumors out in the open. Ken Palmer S/V Water Colors Hunter 33.5 Rochester, NY
Not Quite CBP, but...
My wife reicently retired from CBP as a Port Director, so I am well versed with complying with the law for re-entry into the US on the Northern Border. Not quite the same for East Coast & Gulf States. When returning from out of the US, you need to check in with a CBP inspector. You can do this at a port of entry, via the Video-Phones, by an I-68 (good for one year, as many times as you come back) or by a NEXUS card (good for five years) (this is for returning form Canadian waters ONLY! If you have gone anywhere else, it doesn't apply.) With an I-68 & a NEXUS, you must still call a port of entry and get Customs' Clearance. This link will get you to the NEXUS application web (and yes, it is correct to see that it is on a Canadian page, the program is for a land boarder crossing with both countries, but is accepted by US side as an I-68 replacement.) http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/nexus/ If your boat is 30' or larger, you must also have a Custom's Decal affixed to the "windshield" of your boat. (This program is for all the US, and is really a program for airplanes that carries over to boats.) See link for info and application. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/leavingarrivinginUS/user_fee_decal.xml For East Coast and Gulf States, I-68's and NEXUS doesn't apply (Except those East Coast States that are near enough to Canada, and don't be surprised if the inspector isn't familar with the programs), but the laws still do. You must be inspected upon your return, face-to-face, and be given both immigration and customs clearance. Congress makes the laws, not CBP officers. They just enforce the ones in place. Of course, if there is an Orange or Red Alert in place, don't bother coming home, because all programs are suspended and there is no legal way to come back. What a country... Clear as mud now? Steve
My wife reicently retired from CBP as a Port Director, so I am well versed with complying with the law for re-entry into the US on the Northern Border. Not quite the same for East Coast & Gulf States. When returning from out of the US, you need to check in with a CBP inspector. You can do this at a port of entry, via the Video-Phones, by an I-68 (good for one year, as many times as you come back) or by a NEXUS card (good for five years) (this is for returning form Canadian waters ONLY! If you have gone anywhere else, it doesn't apply.) With an I-68 & a NEXUS, you must still call a port of entry and get Customs' Clearance. This link will get you to the NEXUS application web (and yes, it is correct to see that it is on a Canadian page, the program is for a land boarder crossing with both countries, but is accepted by US side as an I-68 replacement.) http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/nexus/ If your boat is 30' or larger, you must also have a Custom's Decal affixed to the "windshield" of your boat. (This program is for all the US, and is really a program for airplanes that carries over to boats.) See link for info and application. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/leavingarrivinginUS/user_fee_decal.xml For East Coast and Gulf States, I-68's and NEXUS doesn't apply (Except those East Coast States that are near enough to Canada, and don't be surprised if the inspector isn't familar with the programs), but the laws still do. You must be inspected upon your return, face-to-face, and be given both immigration and customs clearance. Congress makes the laws, not CBP officers. They just enforce the ones in place. Of course, if there is an Orange or Red Alert in place, don't bother coming home, because all programs are suspended and there is no legal way to come back. What a country... Clear as mud now? Steve
NOTMARS now ON-LINE
To improve service and reduce costs, the U.S. Coast Guard is moving to issuance of the Local Notices to Mariners (LNM) exclusively via the Internet. Recently, we revised our Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Manual (COMDTINST M16500.7) to authorize elimination of printed LNM. Effective April 1, 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer print and mail copies of each LNM. A Notice concerning implementation of Internet delivery of LNM will be published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2004. The notice can be accessed at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html The electronic versions of LNM appear on the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center’s Website at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/default.htm For many years, each U.S. Coast Guard district has printed and mailed LNM free of charge to any mariner requesting a subscription. LNM provide important safety information; however, the cost of printing and mailing has become prohibitive. Technology now allows us to provide LNM in a timelier and less costly manner via the Internet. All individuals are encouraged to register for List Server notification on the Navigation Center’s Website, so when LNM are posted for the district(s) in which you are interested, you will receive automatic notification of their availability. Internet delivery of the LNM is part of a much larger U.S. Coast Guard effort to integrate, improve, and streamline the collection and dissemination of all navigation safety information. Users interested in Canadian maritime navigation and safety information may visit the Canadian "Notmar" site. http://www.notmar.gc.ca/eng/index.php Regards, Gord
To improve service and reduce costs, the U.S. Coast Guard is moving to issuance of the Local Notices to Mariners (LNM) exclusively via the Internet. Recently, we revised our Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Manual (COMDTINST M16500.7) to authorize elimination of printed LNM. Effective April 1, 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer print and mail copies of each LNM. A Notice concerning implementation of Internet delivery of LNM will be published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2004. The notice can be accessed at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html The electronic versions of LNM appear on the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center’s Website at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/default.htm For many years, each U.S. Coast Guard district has printed and mailed LNM free of charge to any mariner requesting a subscription. LNM provide important safety information; however, the cost of printing and mailing has become prohibitive. Technology now allows us to provide LNM in a timelier and less costly manner via the Internet. All individuals are encouraged to register for List Server notification on the Navigation Center’s Website, so when LNM are posted for the district(s) in which you are interested, you will receive automatic notification of their availability. Internet delivery of the LNM is part of a much larger U.S. Coast Guard effort to integrate, improve, and streamline the collection and dissemination of all navigation safety information. Users interested in Canadian maritime navigation and safety information may visit the Canadian "Notmar" site. http://www.notmar.gc.ca/eng/index.php Regards, Gord
Hey Steve, did I read that right?
If we are under a orange or red alert status, even U.S. citizens can't come back into the country? Does this apply only to people on boats? What if you were flying back in from another country? Can a customs agent really refuse entry to an American citizen for no other reason than the current 'alert status'? (which, let's face it, is kind of a joke anyhow) How can this be? What is someone supposed to do if they are refused entry back into their own country? What if they had become sick or injured while out of the country and are returning to seek medical assistance? Really would like to hear some details on this!
If we are under a orange or red alert status, even U.S. citizens can't come back into the country? Does this apply only to people on boats? What if you were flying back in from another country? Can a customs agent really refuse entry to an American citizen for no other reason than the current 'alert status'? (which, let's face it, is kind of a joke anyhow) How can this be? What is someone supposed to do if they are refused entry back into their own country? What if they had become sick or injured while out of the country and are returning to seek medical assistance? Really would like to hear some details on this!
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