Important Customs Update!

Fred Ficarra · Apr 24, 2005

Why thank you Tim! What a nice thing to say!

I really try. But you didn't fully quote me. You left off the last part that made my point. But again, thank you so much!

John Nantz · Apr 24, 2005

Current I-68 form dated 10/04

Patrick - It's my fault - I've never heard of Sumas before and the guy I talked to for a bit about the location indicated it was near Spokane. Then I even commented that that is WAY inland and he agreed! I questioned why boaters should contact Sumas when it is so far inland and he agreed with that too! Looking back he was probably trying to indicate it was TOWARD Spokane - which it would be, but that sure wasn't the impression he left me with. Heck, I've got property in Blaine (Semiahmoo Marina) and crossed the border numerous times but never heard of Sumas. After geting bounced around all over the place by phone nothing would surprise me about it being way inland though.Why isn't the Blain office used? Heck, from the Blaine Marina one might not be able to throw a rock to the Peach Arch border crossing but I bet a good sling shot could get one there! Steve Christensen: re 5 tons - look at Page 1 of the I-68, lower left corner there is a box with a paragraph that talks about the five tons. Follow my earlier link to the form (have to download a *.pdf file of the form).http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-68.htm Not trying to split hairs here but 5 or 5 net doesn't make any difference to me because I'm still way over, irregardless. I-68: Latest news from Port Angeles (the port that nabbed the guy coming from Canada with explosives to blow up the Space Needle that made national news) and the Senior Inspector there said he will bring up the five ton weight limit with his supervisor tomorrow. He said that all the rules have been constantly changing in the past couple weeks and even the form has been updated. Notice: The latest I-68 form is dated 10/04 so that's newer than the *.pdf form (1/31/02) on the US Customs and Immigration government web site that I have the link to!!! The weight limit wording hasn't changed.Without NEXUS or the I-68 it appears the only way to clear is by going to a designated port during regular business hours or maybe pay for overtime.Gary: well, it looks like you opened a can of worms!

patrick · Apr 24, 2005

Sumas is not the main truck crossing, Tim

From west to east - Blaine marina - travel about a mile east to the Blaine car border crossing at I5. Travel another couple of miles east to the Blaine truck crossing (which is usually the quickest way to cross if you are in a car). Sumas is yet another 20 miles east of that and is a very sleepy place near the town of Lynden. I think they used to close it at night not long ago by putting a sawhorse with a closed sign on it across the road.I guess my thinking is that whichever place the border guy comes from to inspect your boat or papers is not going to be convenient and will probably involve a car trip for him so it doesn't really make too much difference. I don't think that you would be walking a mile through town to the POE at I5 to clear customs. Why would they even allow that? As to slingshots, coming from Canada, you better not have one - but we have already had that conversation.

Andy598 · Apr 24, 2005

Our brotherhood of frustration

In March our marina hosted a dinner and tried to get the Feds to come and do I-68s. They refused, they said they were not sure what was happening this year. I tried to figure out the nexus thing (as mentioned) and the CBP (US) site seems to say yes and the Canadian (they administer the program) site says only on the Detroit River (pilot program). An option here on lake Erie is the OARS system which is a direct (videophone)link to the powers. Yet, the nearest phone is an hour and half sail from our slip if conditions are perfect. The internet sites seem to indicate that the Nexus card will be a substitute for a passport but I would not bet on it and I agree with Allan the costs are ridiculous. I have friends in Canada that will not come to the US as it is too much of a hassle. I feel the same way. It will probably take someone yelling "economic impact" before anyone takes notice. I blame Bruce Willis in The Jackel. He showed how you can do it.Andy"Baroque"

John Nantz · Apr 24, 2005

Right On Andy!

You're right-on Andy. Why invent new forms? If passports work for people in cars crossing the border why invent new forms because people are in boats? Why can't passports work?*box Instead of inventing new forms like I-68s, NEXUS, and the like, why not have a rider, attachment, revision to the Passport? With radio station license you list the equipment you use on board, or might use, so why not do something similar with the Passport?Car, boat, plane - it shouldn't make any difference how you travel, you're still the same person and that hasn't changed, so why go to another form?The I-68 only lists names of the family. The ONLY things on the I-68 that isn't on a passport is (1) the names of other family members that would be on the boat, and (2) the "Area Limitation". Soooo.... the question is: if everybody has a passport why is the I-68 needed? $32 for the Area of Limitation? could this be just a rubber stamp instead?Or is this just some way to make it look like the government is doing something to control the border?I just wrote Sen. Cantwell (WA) and Rep. Inslee (WA) so I'll see how our government-in-action really works. *yawn* :{

Stu Jackson · Apr 24, 2005

Passports, again

JohnI think you have the concept down pretty well.The only part I don't understand about all this (since I'm not a frequent border-crosser), is why anyone is even thinking about trying to comply with rules that haven't been confirmed and, for what little there seems to be, keep changing, it seems, hourly.Why don't you folks, like John, write your representatives, and maybe including our new friend, John Negroponte, and tell them that they're out of their bloody minds, and you're (we're) not gonna take it anymore!I wish I could be up there with you and sail back and forth across and NOT stop in anywhere. What would they do to me? I could point to all their conflicting rules and say, try it yourselves. Oh well, let's just get in our cars.Sorry for the rant, but this is bloody stupid.Stu(PS - My in-laws live on V.I. - We do visit them by car, and even that's a mess now at the border. In the future, I may want to visit sometime by boat. What an unnecessary hassle.)

John Nantz · Apr 24, 2005

Paperwork Update

Paperwork update: Just sent off an email to RBAW (Recreational Boating Association of Washington) so there are some others that know about this now, outside of us sailboatowners.com people.Thanks, Gary, for the wonderful report. I can sure see why you're not in a mood to complain. So apparently all that wind didn't impact your docking ability? Passed three boats, eh? Not bad! That's a good upper even without the wine!Ahhh, Stu. Please be careful with your rebelious ideas! I was just reading where failure to properly report can cost $5,000 per incident plus seizure and forfeiture of your dearly loved one (the boat). They way these guys operate up here under Homeland Security is to take no prisoners so be careful!

Stu Jackson · Apr 24, 2005

I Understand...

John,But there is a BUT.Gary wrote back in after his wonderful afternoon with his wife and wine - what more could anyone ask for?But, he says: "got our I-68's with a minimum of hassle and at the cost of $32. It's a bit of a bureaucratic pain in the butt. Then again in the grander scheme of things, we probably have bigger things to complain about."When all the little things start adding up, when is it time to say ENOUGH ALREADY!!!???If we don't start now, it's gonna roll and roll and roll. The longer we wait the harder it's going to be to stop this nonsense.$32 is a LOT of $$ to a lot of people.What is wrong with a passport???What else do "they" need?????Even your earlier post including: "why not have a rider, attachment, revision " is an admission of being able to put up with something MORE than ANYONE ELSE, including illegal aliens, even needs to pass the border.I'm tellin' you, if we don't start reacting now, it's only going to get worse. I'll join you and write to RecBoatCal, too.If it's "only simple bureaucratic nonsense," then how come there's more and more and more coming?When will we say enough already?All ANYONE should need is a passport.StuPS1. I'll (try to) stop repeating myself

2. All the wine in Friday Harbor won't be enough if the idiots don't let us back into our own country just because we're on boats.3. "They way these guys operate up here under Homeland Security is to take no prisoners so be careful!" It's Homeland Stupidity - the idiots work for us. 'Bout time to remind them of that! 4. "When logic and proportion...."

Phil Herring · Apr 25, 2005

Politics and sailing

OK guys, we've had an excessive amount of politics on this board lately and I want to remind everyone that the board is here so you can get _away_ from that stuff for a while. If you feel compelled to post about international documentation, immigration laws, gun control, the current (or past) administration, congress, Iraq, oil prices (although I have to admin I did find the economic arguments interesting), et al, PLEASE use another web site for those discussions.These are excellent and necessary discussions, but this simply isn't the right place. The issue is not so much the topics, which begin... well, they begin on topic. But all it takes is one political rant to turn the whole board into CNN.Among our family of web sites we do have one forum which does not have any guidelines regarding political posts. If you wish to discuss politics with sailors, this may be the answer for you. See the link below.Thank you for your patience with _my_ rant, and for your cooperation.ph.

Rich L · Apr 25, 2005

I-68 : what do I do?

I am so confused. Here's my scenario and your opportunity to tell me where to go (be gentle):I'm spending a week sailing the Lake Erie islands and visiting Leemington for a day or two in October of this year. I'm a US citizen, living in KY. I may or may not return in future years (could be a regular thing) depending on how much fun I have sailing and trailering...I got the definite feeling that passports are no longer enough. I don't want to make any special trips with a 5000 lb boat in tow (H26) to document my person. I saw that NEXUS requires an in-person visit at selected ports, none of which I'm going anywhere near. Does the I-68 require the same? Thanks for some direction....Rich

Andy598 · Apr 25, 2005

For Rick

Rick,If you go to Canada and land (dock or otherwise touch land you have to call the Canadian authorities and report your landing. If you do this ( or "meet" anothe vessel in Canadian waters) you have to report to the US authorities upon return. Officially (as I understand it), if you do not have an I-68, you have to physically report to a port of entry and be interviewed. If you have an I-68 you need only call them and report. In your case it might be best to use an OARS phone. This is a vision phone directly to their office. They are at the Cedar Point marina in Sandusky bay, Put in Bay on South Bass, and elsewhere. So this has to be your first stop after returning to the US. My suggestion is, when you have your trip planned call the Cleveland office and ask the specific questions.Andy"Baroque"

J.B. Dyer · Apr 25, 2005

I-68 Forms Web Site

Here you go guys, it's downloadable.

John Nantz · Apr 25, 2005

Monday Morning I-68 Update

Just had a call this morning from the Port Angeles WA Border Station and after some discussion in their office they interpret the "...traveling by small pleasure craft of less than five net tons without merchandise to be landed..." to mean the weight of cargo, not the displacement of the boat. They couldn't quote me a CFR or the like for reference. This was based on the supervisors interpretation.Soooo.... take it from there. Oh, and they also stated/admitted yesterday that the "rules" are constantly changing on a daily basis - which makes their work difficult. And this is in addition to the "do more with less".Gary is apparently happy running around with his empty wine bottle. Oh, by the way, speaking of Gary and wine, I need to make a correction to my previous post - I meant to say "So apparently all that wine didn't impact your docking ability?" and not "... all that wind.."

Ahh..Stu, Stu, Stu.. not only do you need to be careful with the border patrol but also with the web site patrol! I'm sorry if I may have inadvertantly suckered you into this! It was not in any way intended as a set-up. Uh oh! Wait a minute! After re-reading Phil's post I think he might be talking about me!!! But, but, but... Phil - in this day and age you have to have paperwork to go sailing. It isn't like in the olden days (as my daughter refers to my younger years). Now we need a boat drivers license (although not in WA yet), radio station license (if you cross the international boundary), vessel papers, state registration numbers, overboard discharge placard, etc., etc. The I-68/NEXUS stuff is just a few more items in the continuum of paperwork. Okay, I won't talk about it anymore, was just trying to be helpful. *x

Stu Jackson · Apr 25, 2005

Gary, Phil and John, Thanks

John, I don't mind being suckered into something as easy as this! *yks No apologies required, better we work together.However, it seems we weren't far from wrong about changes being made on a daily, if not hourly basis.Hmmmm, 5 tons "cargo." Gary, better empty that wine cellar you have on board right away.

Phil, sorry about the rant, but it seems that while it may not have been reasonably formulated, it turned out to all but too true. ;{ I'll keep it down in future.There's a new RBOC President, Doug Hipsley of Santa Cruz, CA, and I'm planning to also write to BoatUS (you know, the safety in numbers group

).During the last "do more with less" fiasco for the Coast Guard a number of years ago, their Admiral stated:"The logical extension of doing more with less is doing everything with nothing."Some things never change.Stu

Important Customs Update!

Fred Ficarra

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John Nantz

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Allan

patrick

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Andy598

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John Nantz

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Stu Jackson

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Gary Wyngarden

John Nantz

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Stu Jackson

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Phil Herring

Alien

Garry @ S/V TASHTEGO

Rich L

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Andy598

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J.B. Dyer

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John Nantz

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Gary Wyngarden

Stu Jackson

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Steve Christensen