A cruising permit is good for up to 12 months. The info below doesn't address the case in which a foreign-flagged yacht is initially arriving as cargo, but has some useful information. But, no matter what you read on the Internet, it would be prudent for you to contact CBP in West Palm Beach to get
documented advice on how to proceed. The costs of a mistake can be very high.
Quote:
The master of a foreign-flag or undocumented foreign pleasure boat must report its arrival to US Customs immediately and must make formal vessel entry on a Customs Forms (CF) 1300 within 48 hours. In the absence of a cruising license, vessels in this category must obtain a permit before proceeding to each subsequent US port. Navigation fees will be charged for the formal entry, the permit to proceed, and for the clearance of foreign-flag pleasure boats. The master of every foreign-flagged vessel arriving in the US is required to make entry and the master must have a complete legible manifest consisting of CF 1300 through 1304 and a passenger list. Pleasure boats from foreign countries, without a valid US Cruising Permit, must obtain clearance before leaving a port or place in the US and proceeding to a foreign port or place or for another port or place in the US.
Cruising licenses exempt pleasure boats of certain countries from having to undergo formal entry and clearance procedures, such as filing manifests and obtaining permits, to proceed as well as from the payment of tonnage tax and entry and clearance fees at all but the first port of entry. These licenses can be obtained from the US Customs port director at the first port of arrival in the US. Normally valid for one year, a cruising license has no bearing on the dutiability of a pleasure boat. Under Customs policy, when a foreign flag vessel's cruising license expires, that vessel may not be issued another license until the following three conditions have been met: (1) the vessel leaves the US for a foreign port or place, and (2) it returns from that foreign port or place, and (3) at least 15 days have elapsed since the previous license expired. (Customs Directive 3100-06, November 7, 1988.)
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source:
US Customs arrival requirements on private yachts. US and foreign flag entry requirements
Another helpful source:
Noonsite: Report Of New Reporting Requirements For Foreign Yachts Entering US
And another:
ussuperyacht.com » Guide to U. S. Entry