When do you (generally) need to check-in with immigration etc

[mnschwarz]

Hi guys,

I'm doing up a rough passage plan and just wondering what the general rules are for when you are required to check in with a country's immigration, customs etc. I can find plenty of info on the check in process but not so much for what point are you deemed to have entered the country and required to do this? Is it when you anchor, make landfall, enter territorial waters, sail within a certain distance of the coast?

As an example, I'm doing a rough plan up from Sint Maarten and heading past Virgins Islands, Puerto Rico, DR, Haiti, Jamaica, Providencia (Colombia) and finally Panama. We're not planning on stopping at all of these places (unless required or for bad weather etc). So would I be able to just sail right on by the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and make port in DR for example? If so, would I need to stay a certain distance offshore? Or will I be required to make port and check in simply by entering their waters?

Cheers guys!