TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands USVI/SVI Customs Question

For the first time, we're going to sail from the BVI to Culebra. I've done lots of research on the customs requirements but still have one question about our return. We will be leaving the BVI from Jost - we will check out there and sail directly to Culebra. We won't be stopping on St. John or St. Thomas on the way, so we are not planning to clear customs in Cruz Bay but rather at the airport in Culebra.

On the return, we'd like to stop in St. John before heading back to the BVI. Will we need to check in at Cruz Bay at that point, or will our customs check in from Culebra work for all US islands?

Thanks!

Amy

you have to clear in at the closest U.S. port which would be Cruz Bay. You will then need to check in again in Culebra. If your boat has a U.S. customs sticker you can phone into Culebra, or you have to present yourself in person to Culebra customs. On the return you can sail directly to BVI and check in. I would spend the night in Christmas Cove, which is about 20 miles from Culebra and check in the next morning in BVI. Try to dine at Susies in Culebra, very good

Departing the BVI you can sail directly to Culebra and clear C&I.
Since Puerto Rico and the USVI are separate US territories it's not necessary to check into Cruz Bay first unless they changed the rules.
On the way back to the BVI you can visit the USVI without checking in or checking out and then check in the BVI.
I'm assuming your boat is US registered.

I agree with sail 445 for a Canadian flagged vessel. Rules change. Call customs and ask,

We are planning on doing the same thing on our charter in June. Only we are starting our charter in Puerto Rico and are planning to sail from Jost straight to Culebra on our return trip. I know that you don't have to clear into the USVI when coming from Puerto Rico and I believe it is okay to sail straight from the BVI to the SVI without clearing in at St. Thomas or St. John, but I'm not positive. So, I e-mailed C&I on Friday with that exact question. I was going to call them but I would rather have something I can print out directly from them in case I get hassled so I thought e-mail would be better. Haven't heard back yet but I will post when I do.

Incidentally, I also asked if we had to sail to Ensenada Honda to clear customs or if it would be okay to clear in from a different location as long as we are willing to show up in person. Conditions permitting, we are hoping to sail to Flamenco and call from there to clear in (and taxi to the airport if necessary).

Hope to hear back from them sometime this week.

Matt

USVI and PR (Including the SVI) aretwo separate entities. You can sail directly ftom Jost to Culebra without checking through the USVI unless you plan to stop.

As I remember, C&I at Culebra is at the airport so you do have to go to Ensenada Honda.