Questions about sailing to the USVI

[LaResh]

Your post was very informative. Where can I got to get legal details for my upcoming sailing trip to the US VI ? Do I need papers for all passengers? License ? Fees? I`d appreciate any help I can get.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by LaResh

Your post was very informative. Where can I got to get legal details for my upcoming sailing trip to the US VI ? Do I need papers for all passengers? License ? Fees? I`d appreciate any help I can get.

Need to know more to give you any answers. What are your and your fellow sailors' nationalities? Are you chartering? Are you sailing in from somewhere else in your own boat? Do you plan to sail from the USVI to the BVI or the Spanish Virgins?

[LaResh]

Originally Posted by Hud3

Need to know more to give you any answers. What are your and your fellow sailors' nationalities? Are you chartering? Are you sailing in from somewhere else in your own boat? Do you plan to sail from the USVI to the BVI or the Spanish Virgins?

I am sailing a 38ft pearson sailboat with my wife and two children, age 9 and 11. we will be sailing from north carolina to bermuda and then on to US virgin islands.

[Hud3]

If all are US citizens, just clear in--Cruz Bay on St John is easier than Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas Everyone on board will need to go to the Customs office "for inspection"
Here's some detail from the govt website: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands - CBP.gov

"The Master of the vessel must call to report arrival immediately upon entering the United States by calling the nearest designated location and provide:

• LBO registration number (if applicable)
• Name, date of birth and citizenship of all persons on board (including passport number)*;
• Name of the boat and/or boat registration number;
• CBP user fee decal number (if 30 feet or longer);
• Homeport and current location;
• Return contact number

*Beginning January 31, 2008, U.S. and Canadian citizens 19 years and older who enter the U.S. at sea ports of entry from within the Western Hemisphere will need to present government-issued photo ID as proof of identity along with proof of citizenship. By summer of 2008 it is anticipated that only passports or WHTI-compliant documents will be acceptable for entering the United States."

[speciald@ocens.]

If you have a user fee decal and all aboard are US citizens, clearing into Pureto Rico takes only a phone call and is good for the Spanish and U S Virgins. If you go to St Thomas you have to clear back into Puerto Rico as St. Thomas is a duty free port.