Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post - S. Pacific Islands

osirissail · 23-08-2009, 08:36

To double up on "Anders" - it is definitely expensive for a foreign boat and crew to enter the USA. You must have a "long form B1/B2 visa for everybody who is not a USA citizen/resident (very few exceptions). Getting that can make the Galapagos fees seem cheap. My Swedish (rich) friend wanted to sail with me from Florida to Bahamas and back. Cost her US$800 total fees and expenses to get the visa. Then there are the "cruising permit" fees - (from entry procedures for private vessels - Non-US)"Navigation fees will be charged for the formal entry, the permit to proceed, and for the clearance of foreign-flag pleasure boats. "
- - Back to reality - - the days of sailing around the world "free" are done and gone. Virtually every "foreign" island country and So & Central American country requires entry fees if you are not a citizen/resident there or an associated citizen (E.U., UK Commonwealth sort of thing). And they are not getting any cheaper (with the possible exception of the Dominican Republic). The Pacific - forget it! Paradise is full! And closed unless you can demonstrate significant financial resources. As listed by others the "fees" add up to significant money.
- - I strongly suggest - do not try to wiggle your way in without paying or having the necessary resources. At best they will turn you away or put you in "quarantine" which means you cannot go ashore or at worst put you in jail and "Deport" you back to your home country. They may keep your vessel to pay for the Deportation (which is popular here in Grenada). It will probably not be a real loss to you as once you have "Deported" stamped in your passport, you will almost always be denied entry to any other country in the world. So your sailing days will be over anyway except for local - in your own country - sailing. So what to do?
- - Build up your "cruising kitty" to a sufficient level to afford the fees, boat repairs, food and everything else - then go cruising. Thousands are doing it just that way very successfully and enjoying everything "Paradise" has to offer.
- - Another alternative is to sign on as "crew" on somebody's boat going the way you want to go. See Find a Crewâ„¢ Worldwide - The World's largest Online Marine Crew Network to possible opportunities. There are also dozens of "non-paid" crew positions listed on all the sailing forums - but usually there you will have to come up with your own expenses including bonds and personal entry fees.

23-08-2009, 08:36	#38
osirissail Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: onboard in the Caribbean - mostly in Grenada Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris Posts: 850	To double up on "Anders" - it is definitely expensive for a foreign boat and crew to enter the USA. You must have a "long form B1/B2 visa for everybody who is not a USA citizen/resident (very few exceptions). Getting that can make the Galapagos fees seem cheap. My Swedish (rich) friend wanted to sail with me from Florida to Bahamas and back. Cost her US$800 total fees and expenses to get the visa. Then there are the "cruising permit" fees - (from entry procedures for private vessels - Non-US)"Navigation fees will be charged for the formal entry, the permit to proceed, and for the clearance of foreign-flag pleasure boats. " - - Back to reality - - the days of sailing around the world "free" are done and gone. Virtually every "foreign" island country and So & Central American country requires entry fees if you are not a citizen/resident there or an associated citizen (E.U., UK Commonwealth sort of thing). And they are not getting any cheaper (with the possible exception of the Dominican Republic). The Pacific - forget it! Paradise is full! And closed unless you can demonstrate significant financial resources. As listed by others the "fees" add up to significant money. - - I strongly suggest - do not try to wiggle your way in without paying or having the necessary resources. At best they will turn you away or put you in "quarantine" which means you cannot go ashore or at worst put you in jail and "Deport" you back to your home country. They may keep your vessel to pay for the Deportation (which is popular here in Grenada). It will probably not be a real loss to you as once you have "Deported" stamped in your passport, you will almost always be denied entry to any other country in the world. So your sailing days will be over anyway except for local - in your own country - sailing. So what to do? - - Build up your "cruising kitty" to a sufficient level to afford the fees, boat repairs, food and everything else - then go cruising. Thousands are doing it just that way very successfully and enjoying everything "Paradise" has to offer. - - Another alternative is to sign on as "crew" on somebody's boat going the way you want to go. See Find a Crewâ„¢ Worldwide - The World's largest Online Marine Crew Network to possible opportunities. There are also dozens of "non-paid" crew positions listed on all the sailing forums - but usually there you will have to come up with your own expenses including bonds and personal entry fees.