CBP on hold on the phone trying to clear

[Mangusta]

We arrived from a foreign port into FLL and called the CBP number as required.
Last night I was on hold for 3.5 hours, gave up, went to bed and started again this morning at 7am so now been on hold for 3 hours.

Starting to wonder what to do?
The previous record is 2 hours on a bank holiday but this is clearly WAY beyond that.
I need to get the boat and my home secured for Irma!!!

[Sailmonkey]

If it were me, I would take a screen shot of the cell showing the call times, then put them into an email explaining the scenario and go about your business.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Mangusta

We arrived from a foreign port into FLL and called the CBP number as required.
Last night I was on hold for 3.5 hours, gave up, went to bed and started again this morning at 7am so now been on hold for 3 hours.

Starting to wonder what to do?
The previous record is 2 hours on a bank holiday but this is clearly WAY beyond that.
I need to get the boat and my home secured for Irma!!!

I think we waited 40 minutes on hold. They almost will surely tell you you have to come in so maybe just do that and be done with it.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mangusta.

Are you calling Phone:
(954) 761-2000
or
Pleasure Boat Reporting, 1 (800) 432-1216 ?


CBP Port Everglades
1800 Eller Drive
Suite 104
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

[PuttingDoctor]

Are you on SVRP? Once you file online and have the number you are pretty much cleared. Once you get thru remember the agent on the other end has also been on the phone as long as you have.

Finally I don't think the office is staffed until 9 a.m.

[pete33458]

What Sailorboy1 said is correct. They're only going to tell you to come in anyway, just go and get it over with. According to the CBP.gov website,

"The master of the boat must report to CBP telephonically and be directed to the nearest Port of Entry to satisfy the face-to-face requirement, OR report to the nearest designated reporting location along with the boat's passengers for inspection."

Pete

[john2445]

Is this with the Local Boater Option?

[pete33458]

John: if you're referring to my post, no, successful enrollment in SVRS (formerly LBO) satisfies the requirements for face-to-face reporting. Pete

[jmschmidt]

Don't know about FLL but at Key West we biked a few blocks to the CBP office in town on bikes provided free by the marina, no good, closed at 10:00AM on a week day to save money, or something, had to take an expensive cab ride to the airport and back. At their airport office CBP had all the lights turn off to save money. Not a sole there except one nice officer who cleared us in quickly. Plenty of money to bomb every worthless country in the world and feed all the deadbeats but not enough for lights or ample staff to answer phones. Welcome to the New Normal.