St. John Customs / Immigration - Page 2

Zanshin · 02-08-2009, 13:13

MustangSally - please only comment about things that you understand.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

Zanshin · 02-08-2009, 13:17

Sorry, the previous post sounded harsher than it was meant to be. This information is both from private experience and from official U.S. Government web sites and sources. If you make such an assertion that is in direct contravention to what I've experienced and is common knowledge, please cite your source of information.

Mustang Sally · 02-08-2009, 13:25

As a charter boat we have had guests aboard numerous times from the UK this past winter. They did not have visas ahead of time but were issued a small piece of paper (i don't think it was a visa but may have been) when they landed on St Thomas USVI. We then sailed into the BVi and back into the USVI and nothing was required. They then handed the small piece of paper back in when they flew out of St Thomas.

Zanshin · 02-08-2009, 13:30

Please re-read my earlier post. If you clear into the USA via the VWP and then keep your I-94 (piece of white paper) when departing then you can re-enter the USA by any means, including a private or charter vessel, while the I-94 is still valid, since one has not officially "left" the USA. I can wager that none of your customers tried to enter the USA without a visa or I-94 in their possession.
The rules remain - the VWP program does not apply when entering the USA via a method that is not in the officially approved carrier list.

osirissail · 02-08-2009, 16:59

Both of you are in agreement only using different words. - The UK or anyother VWP or long form US visa holder who enters via commercial airline - has a valid visa or the airline would not have let them on the airliner at their departure point. There is a massive monetary fine to any airline who fails to ensure that their passengers are in possession of a valid visa prior to boarding the airliner. And if one slips through the airline not only has to pay the fine but must take the person back to their departure city and eat that cost (over and above any money their got from the round trip ticket the passenger purchased).
Entering any US port (with includes airports) on anything other than the approved airlines, approved cruise ships, ferries, etc. (and specifically does not includes private sailing vessels) requires a long form pre-approved Visa which it very costly and time consuming to acquire. The "ferry option" between the BVI and USVI is well known and used extensively by cruisers coming up island and heading west to gain access to the USVI and Puerto Rico. It is also technically available heading east from the Dominican Republic but unfortunately the Ferries only leave from Santo Domingo and are very expensive so nobody uses it.

02-08-2009, 13:25	#3
Mustang Sally Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Caribbean Boat: Voyage 44 Posts: 81	As a charter boat we have had guests aboard numerous times from the UK this past winter. They did not have visas ahead of time but were issued a small piece of paper (i don't think it was a visa but may have been) when they landed on St Thomas USVI. We then sailed into the BVi and back into the USVI and nothing was required. They then handed the small piece of paper back in when they flew out of St Thomas. __________________ Capt Dirty Doug Mate Wicked Wendy Catamaran Mustang Sally

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02-08-2009, 13:13	#1
Zanshin Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Boat: Jeanneau 49DS Posts: 268	MustangSally - please only comment about things that you understand. Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

02-08-2009, 13:17	#2
Zanshin Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Boat: Jeanneau 49DS Posts: 268	Sorry, the previous post sounded harsher than it was meant to be. This information is both from private experience and from official U.S. Government web sites and sources. If you make such an assertion that is in direct contravention to what I've experienced and is common knowledge, please cite your source of information.

02-08-2009, 13:30	#4
Zanshin Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Boat: Jeanneau 49DS Posts: 268	Please re-read my earlier post. If you clear into the USA via the VWP and then keep your I-94 (piece of white paper) when departing then you can re-enter the USA by any means, including a private or charter vessel, while the I-94 is still valid, since one has not officially "left" the USA. I can wager that none of your customers tried to enter the USA without a visa or I-94 in their possession. The rules remain - the VWP program does not apply when entering the USA via a method that is not in the officially approved carrier list.

02-08-2009, 16:59	#5
osirissail Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: onboard in the Caribbean - mostly in Grenada Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris Posts: 851	Both of you are in agreement only using different words. - The UK or anyother VWP or long form US visa holder who enters via commercial airline - has a valid visa or the airline would not have let them on the airliner at their departure point. There is a massive monetary fine to any airline who fails to ensure that their passengers are in possession of a valid visa prior to boarding the airliner. And if one slips through the airline not only has to pay the fine but must take the person back to their departure city and eat that cost (over and above any money their got from the round trip ticket the passenger purchased). Entering any US port (with includes airports) on anything other than the approved airlines, approved cruise ships, ferries, etc. (and specifically does not includes private sailing vessels) requires a long form pre-approved Visa which it very costly and time consuming to acquire. The "ferry option" between the BVI and USVI is well known and used extensively by cruisers coming up island and heading west to gain access to the USVI and Puerto Rico. It is also technically available heading east from the Dominican Republic but unfortunately the Ferries only leave from Santo Domingo and are very expensive so nobody uses it.