Need Advice for German Citizen entering the U.S.

[Stowe18]

Hey everyone - I have a friend (German citizen) who has just sailed from Germany to the Caribbean. He is planning on visiting the U.S. for a couple weeks this June. What are the requirements for him entering? From what he's telling me, he has to go through an interview process, which the earliest he can get is July.. I can understand certain countries not being allowed in - but a German citizen with a passport who just wants to visit for a week or two to jump through so many hoops to enter - seems excessive.... Especially compared to the 12 countries he's visited along the way so far. I thought you just threw up your yellow quarantine flag, checked in/boarded/paperwork, and you were good to go for a few weeks.. Thats how it's been so far for him with other ports. Just wondering if there is anyone here who knows a little about the process. Also, I should mention, he did not acquire a visa prior to leaving on this trip.. Is he stuck with bypassing the USA altogether?

Thanks in advance.

[IslandHopper]

Just guessing here, but could it have anything to do with the countries he has previously visited?

[Stowe18]

Not from what he's telling me.. According to him, he should have applied for a visa while he was still in Germany before leaving on this trip.. And since he doesn't have that - he's screwed with coming into the US until after the interview, which the earliest available wasn't until July. And that was just the interview, not necessarily the approval for entry into the country. The 12 countries he's visited have been primarily in the Caribbean, Spain and Germany.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Stowe18

Not from what he's telling me.. According to him, he should have applied for a visa while he was still in Germany before leaving on this trip.. And since he doesn't have that - he's screwed with coming into the US until after the interview, which the earliest available wasn't until July. And that was just the interview, not necessarily the approval for entry into the country. The 12 countries he's visited have been primarily in the Caribbean, Spain and Germany.

Ahh, America becoming great again.

[Sea Dreaming]

Here is what US customs say about visitors arriving to the US on private yachts.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...tering-the-u.s.

And this is the wikipedia page for the visa waiver program

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Waiver_Program

[Island Time O25]

If coming by sea, as long as it is a cruise ship, you will need to apply for ESTA (check the ESTA Web site for approved cruise lines.) If you are coming in a private sailing vessel, ESTA is not an issue since you must have a visa to arrive in the U.S. by that mode. VWP is not approved for travel to the U.S. on a pleasure boat.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...lyUzhlbg%3D%3D

So it seems the best solution if one has to come would be to leave the boat at the nearest port to US and get a r/t airline ticket.

[hafa]

We just entertained visiting cruisers from Australia who visited Guam (a U.S. port with the same CBP entry procedures as the U.S. mainland) after getting their visa at the U.S. embassy in Pohnpei. Your friend should be able to apply at any U.S. embassy in the Caribbean.

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by hafa

We just entertained visiting cruisers from Australia who visited Guam (a U.S. port with the same CBP entry procedures as the U.S. mainland) after getting their visa at the U.S. embassy in Pohnpei. Your friend should be able to apply at any U.S. embassy in the Caribbean.

Great advice. A cruising friend of mine says that US embassies in small island nations are much easier to deal with (with some exceptions) than their counterparts in bigger countries.

[bletso]

Now that America is great again Subject to change without notice.

[TrentePieds]

It defies belief that a normally aware GERMAN citizen would not know that he cannot enter the US UNLESS he is in possession of a current visa! So what is the "back story" here?

In any event, Stowe 18, why ask us, when the US Customs and Border Protection Service is only a phone call away? Seems to me that when you are messing with things that can have SERIOUSLY adverse consequences - like entering the US"illegially" - you'd best get the answer straight from the horse's mouth!

TrentePieds

[chris-travel]

I wouldn't come to the USA at this time. Too many problems getting in here now.

[DMCantor]

We researched this quite a lot for a Swiss friend. To use the visa waiver program you have to arrive on a vessel or aircraft that is recognized by US Customs and Immigration. That excludes all private vessels.

There is a trick that people use in the Virgin Islands. If you take a ferry from the BVI to the USVI, the visa waiver program applies, just like a cruise ship or a plan. Once you have legally entered the US, you are good to go for several weeks. You can take the ferry back, and then sail to the USVI and clear in like you would on any other island.

[boatman61]

If he wants to go in on his boat he'll need a B1/B2 visa.. tell him leave his boat in the islands and fly in on an ESTA.. easy online application and $14.50 approx cost.. valid for 2 years.

[RickG]

I'm not an expert and have never done this. The work around that worked in the past was to take the short ferry ride from Tortola to Cruz Bay St. John under the visa waiver program. Then ferry back to Tortola and bring the boat through.

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/val/R2012-04-03-3

Cheers, RickG

[jmschmidt]

Citizens of EU countries are VISA free into the US. Could have something to do with apparent or possible one-way entry since he is entering by boat.