visa info please

[purplecaiman]

what if one mored or docked and didnt find customs?do sailors come in and out of ports or land with out filling out visas?
can i just go to shore and shop and come back to my boat?
doesnt seem it would be a big deal to go have a drink and return.
thank you

[Cheechako]

You need to enter at a port of call. then move to your destination. It is possible often to anchor for the night then go to enter. But dont go off the boat and fly a yellow flag. Yes , you can get away with what you propose, but not adviseable!

[Efraim]

Originally Posted by purplecaiman

...
doesnt seem it would be a big deal to go have a drink and return.
thank you

Get caught doing it and you'll find out what a "big deal" really is.

[Hud3]

www.noonsite.com is a good source of information on various countries' ports of call and their customs and immigration procedures and fees.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Efraim

Get caught doing it and you'll find out what a "big deal" really is.

Well said. It is a VERY "big deal" to the officials in some countries.

[jeremiason]

HUD is right about using Noonsite... It is usually the most update information.. Also local cruising guides are a great help and tend to know the in's and out of each country's check in procedures.

You didn't mention which country, so without that information it is anyone’s guess.

Some countries are very serious about checking people in before you leave the boat, others don't seem to care too much... Theoretically, the master of the vessel is the only one allowed to leave the vessel and only to process the crew and vessel into country.

There are two major issues with most countries, immigration and then the boat. Some have Port Captains, Immigration, Customs and Agriculture Officers visit... Some just use the Navy and Immigration Official come by and process you. Sometimes no one comes to the boat and you have to go to the various agencies, with all the necessary paperwork, including crew passports.

We have been in four countries so far... Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua were fairly slack about letting crew leave the vessel before checking in...

Costa Rica on the other hand was very serious about it and even fined one Captain for allowing his crew to depart the vessel, before they had been processed by immigration.

When we entered Costa Rica, I used an Agent and processed in at Marina Papaguayo (Pacific side). Before the arrival of the Agent or Officials, the Harbor Master had me sign a letter stating I would not allow the crew to leave the marina until they were processed by Immigration, or I would face arrest.

The Agent later informed me that Costa Rica is serious about immigration, due to the amount of illegal immigrants from neighboring countries... Kind of sounds like the US doesn't it.

[purplecaiman]

thanks all,i just figured that since i can come in and out of the canals here without hassle .

[purplecaiman]

so if i see a nice beach uninhabited i cant go ashore?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by purplecaiman

so if i see a nice beach uninhabited i cant go ashore?

Yup, that's about the size of it. Of course you can chance your arm. ( you don't mind a little playful cell mate do you. Possibly a 300 pound one)

Dave

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by purplecaiman

what if one mored or docked and didnt find customs?do sailors come in and out of ports or land with out filling out visas?
can i just go to shore and shop and come back to my boat?
doesnt seem it would be a big deal to go have a drink and return.
thank you

Just to make things perfectly clear.

If you land in a foreign country without clearing immigration and customs you are breaking their laws.

The penalties vary. You could wind up in jail.

Please do not perpetuate any kind of myth that just sneaking in for a bit is "OK" - it is illegal.

While it is illegal and it is not OK, some people do it. Evaluate your own tolerance for risk, maybe impounding and confiscation of your boat and maybe jail time in a foreign country.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by purplecaiman

so if i see a nice beach uninhabited i cant go ashore?

Sure you can. You can also be arrested, have your boat seized, and spend many years in some third-world, rat-hole prison.

If you are hoping to have the people here tell you that it's okay--no problem at all--to break the laws of the countries that you're visiting, don't expect that to happen. As Ex-Calif said, some people take a chance, violate the laws, and don't get caught. That's true everywhere you go, on land or at sea. That's why every language has a word for "criminal."

Just remember that most every country also has prisons, because some people DO get caught! Don't take the risk if you're not fully willing to accept all possible consequences.

[Blue Stocking]

In most countries, land above the high water mark can be privately owned.
Below high water mark, but within territorial waters is owned by the government.
To swim to the beach is still illegally landing.
Below HWM around here is "the Queens bottom"

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

In most countries, land above the high water mark can be privately owned.
Below high water mark, but within territorial waters is owned by the government.
To swim to the beach is still illegally landing.
Below HWM around here is "the Queens bottom"

Actually in many (most? All?) countries anchoring in terrtorial waters is landing and you are supposed to clear in.

Malaysia is very closes to Singapore. When feathers are ruffled between the two countries Malaysia can get testy about this.

I know a guy who has been fishing here for like 50 years. He and his budddies often penetrate Malaysia waters. - we all do while under way. No problem if you don't anchor and usually a blind eye is turned if you do anchor. He recently caught a whole lotta grief for anchoring in Malaysia waters. Was it BS? Yes. Was it technically a foul? Also yes.

[Daddy's Dream]

I'm sure the legal aspects as known. I believe the question is: Say for example, you drop anchor in a port of calll, have ole yellow flying from the mast, get no response from te port captain over the VHF, and you have no cell phone. What do you do after you sit there for two days and still no response?

I'll agree that no response is unlikely....... But that said, what if?

Do you up anchor and leave for another port of call?

[Blue Stocking]

You are visiting their country.
Onus is on you to do it legally.
I guess the success of your last question is pretty much as Ex-Calif describes.