Landing in USA ... Visa Needed?

[MattyRossJa]

I've been invited on a last minute sail from Jamaica to Florida.
I have a british passport and don't need a visa to fly to the USA.
Will I need a visa to sail there?
if so, what type of visa ?

Also, if I land without the necessary Visa, what happens ?

[Hud3]

Hi, Matty.

If I were you I'd call the US Embassy in Kingston and ask them what you need and how long it will take to get it. Here's the number

(876) 702-6000

[Tim Godber]

Yes, if arriving by non commercial boat or plane the visa waiver doesnt apply, at least that was the case when I sailed to Key West from Grand Cayman in 2005. You can only get the visa from an embassy outside the States, and we got ours from Kingston Jamaica, I seem to remember that we had to apply, then go and attend at the embassy but I cant remember if it was by appointment. I do remember thinking at the time, that standing outside the embassy at 7am was probably the most dangerous part of the trip!
You will also have to report to the authorities fairly regularly in particular when you move from State to State.
Hope that helps!

[MarkJ]

To arrive in the USA by sail boat you absolutely need a B1B2 visa.

If you don't have one I think they send you to the Crimea.

[alanvdh]

What about the Visa Waiver Program ? If I understand correctly, this only entitles one a 90 day stay.
Where do you find info on "To arrive in the USA by sailboat" as a non American citizen ?
I'm a Canadian citizen (no worries for me) but my wife is Belgian.

[Teknav]

Contact your nearest American consulate or embassy. Their office will issue you the required visa; allow 2-6 weeks for processing. Good luck!

Mauritz

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by alanvdh

What about the Visa Waiver Program ? If I understand correctly, this only entitles one a 90 day stay.
Where do you find info on "To arrive in the USA by sailboat" as a non American citizen ?
I'm a Canadian citizen (no worries for me) but my wife is Belgian.

Your wife will need a B1 or B2 visa. Do NOT arrive in the US without the correct visa. She cannot avail of the visa wavier arriving by private yacht.
Dave

[alanvdh]

Thanks Dave,
Just curious. Where on the web does one find this info ?
Much appreciated though,
Cheers,
Al

[JPA Cate]

^^^^^^U.S. Dept. of Immigration

A.

[goboatingnow]

http://london.usembassy.gov/mobile/faq-vwp.html

Also noonsite

Dave

[alanvdh]

Ah, here it is ! Thanks Dave, just like Markj said.
I am entering the United States on a private yacht; do I qualify for visa free travel?

No. If you are entering the U.S. on a private yacht, you will require a visa.
Sorry about the bold huge font. Just copied and pasted. Not shouting.

[captainbri]

Just swim the last 50ft to shore tell immigration your from cuba and they will give you the world. No visa required. Just kidding.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[MattyRossJa]

So I decided to make the sail. Went great. 4/5 days sailing.
They gave me a hard time about not having the B1/B2 visa. But in the end applied for the visa waiver and they approved it and also waivered the us$585 fee for the visa. Got lucky. Thanks for the replies

[Sailorman Ed]

$585 ? Really? Is so, I as a US citizen am embarrassed but happy to know yours was waived

[MattyRossJa]

Originally Posted by Sailorman Ed

$585 ? Really? Is so, I as a US citizen am embarrassed but happy to know yours was waived

Yes we were shocked .
If it's anything you should be embarrassed about it's the fact that they didn't once ask about my luggage or what i was bringing into the country. Or even sent anyone to inspect the boat. Was quite surprising. I even took my bags to immigration/customs in case they wanted to inspect. But not even a question .