Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post - Changing US Boat to Foreign Reg, Then Cruising US

s/v Jedi · 05-06-2009, 23:28

Yes, the USA is one of the most difficult nations in the world for visiting private yachts. It is also one of the most expensive, starting with $100.- per person for visa's. It's strange that US cruisers find the $300 Bahama's cost outrageous because the US showed the way. South Florida (Miami, Ft Lauderdale & Key West) officials are famous for being very rude, impolite and aggressive against visitors so many wisely avoid these places to enter. We cruised Florida in 2003 under BVI flag and had a nice time and friendly reception everywhere (but we didn't need to check in there).

But all that still doesn't mean one can't visit or, like the OP wrote, buy a yacht, re-register it elsewhere and cruise the US. We did the same thing. All the reporting is just a phone call, not paperwork (right?)

The cruising permit: the agent we used for re-registering got it for us. You can have it before you fly in and move aboard if you ask them. It's also valid in PR and the USVI.
The trouble start a year later, when it expires. I am making a list of places where you can just get another one instead of leaving the US which is the official view. I think that boats that were build in the US might be exempt from that but I am not sure. (the term "laid up" is used which might mean different things).

Guns aboard is another thing. After you enter you can get a shotgun in the "supermarket" but bringing one in takes many forms (ATF, Homeland security) and even an $20.- Alaskan "protection against wildlife" hunting permit. Supposedly, this is because terrorists try to enter on private yachts bringing their own shotguns and they do not know how to fill out those forms.

Again, we had a very pleasant time cruising there, even in South Florida and are in fact heading to the US again. But we'll do the Abacos and enter a bit further north because the word is that the officials there were raised to respect people and be friendly to visitors ;-) I must say that the officials at the Ft Lauderdale Int'l airport were very friendly last year while the ones we met in Miami in 2002/2003 were not. We don't know if it's the different places, years or if they all got training in manners & normal social behaviour ;-)

ciao!
Nick.

05-06-2009, 23:28	#6
s/v Jedi Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Boat: Sundeer 64 - Jedi Posts: 1,520	Yes, the USA is one of the most difficult nations in the world for visiting private yachts. It is also one of the most expensive, starting with $100.- per person for visa's. It's strange that US cruisers find the $300 Bahama's cost outrageous because the US showed the way. South Florida (Miami, Ft Lauderdale & Key West) officials are famous for being very rude, impolite and aggressive against visitors so many wisely avoid these places to enter. We cruised Florida in 2003 under BVI flag and had a nice time and friendly reception everywhere (but we didn't need to check in there). But all that still doesn't mean one can't visit or, like the OP wrote, buy a yacht, re-register it elsewhere and cruise the US. We did the same thing. All the reporting is just a phone call, not paperwork (right?) The cruising permit: the agent we used for re-registering got it for us. You can have it before you fly in and move aboard if you ask them. It's also valid in PR and the USVI. The trouble start a year later, when it expires. I am making a list of places where you can just get another one instead of leaving the US which is the official view. I think that boats that were build in the US might be exempt from that but I am not sure. (the term "laid up" is used which might mean different things). Guns aboard is another thing. After you enter you can get a shotgun in the "supermarket" but bringing one in takes many forms (ATF, Homeland security) and even an $20.- Alaskan "protection against wildlife" hunting permit. Supposedly, this is because terrorists try to enter on private yachts bringing their own shotguns and they do not know how to fill out those forms. Again, we had a very pleasant time cruising there, even in South Florida and are in fact heading to the US again. But we'll do the Abacos and enter a bit further north because the word is that the officials there were raised to respect people and be friendly to visitors ;-) I must say that the officials at the Ft Lauderdale Int'l airport were very friendly last year while the ones we met in Miami in 2002/2003 were not. We don't know if it's the different places, years or if they all got training in manners & normal social behaviour ;-) ciao! Nick.