TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands BVI to CRUZ BAY and BACK to BVI How exactly to do

How EXACTLY do I check out of the BVI and check into to Cruz Bay customs? How do I recheck into BVI after leaving Cruz?
I need specifics such as do I need to check out of BVI before leaving for Cruz? Do I need to check out of Cruz before rechecking into BVI? Can I skip any of these steps?

Please give more specifics so we can alert your charter company to not let you charter their boat.

Pretty basic
Yep- check out of BVI�s
Check in at Cruz with everyone present
Check back in to the BVI�s � Capt. only

please get a cruising guide and at least do some basic research. I kind of agree with Tradewinds, if you are clueless about checking in and out, you might need a Captain

With respect to a newcomer to the board, there is a search function with this forum. I personally would try something like "Clearing customs procedures" and search for the last year's worth of posts.

Ouch you guys are brutal... I've sailed plenty in BVI just haven't gone over to USVI on the boat and wondering what the steps are. None of you have ever answered that question succinctly.

Rhans really did answer your question, but here are some more details.
It is probably easier to check out of the BVI at Soapers Hole. Only the captain is required to go to the C & I office, on the second floor of the ferry terminal building, with the ship's papers. Just grab a mooring and dingy over.
The US rules require that all members of the crew go to the C & I office with passports and ship's papers. It is best to grab a mooring at Caneel Bay and dingy over to Cruz Bay where the C& I office is located at the ferry dock. You do not need to check out of the of the US Virgin Islands.
Upon returning to the BVI, you need to check back in - captain only with ship's papers. We usually check back in on Jost, but Soaper's is a bit closer - depends on your itenery.
In truth, we find the process to be a pain and spend the vast majority of our time in the BVI.

I agree on the brutal part - Everyone has had to do this once before for their first time and had questions. I'd be far more concerned with someone showing up and not knowing how, but doing the research and asking the question here is not something that I think deserves some of the responses given. New members should get a better welcome! Especially Mother Teresa!

As said above, it is very simple. In the BVI, only 1 person needs to check everyone in and out. Usually two of us go. In the USVI you only need to check in, not out and EVERYONE must go. As Mike said, we grab a ball near Caneel but as close to the cruz bay end as possible and dinghy in.

We've done this a few times now. We enjoy the USVI as well as the BVI, so popping over to the USVI every few trips gives us something new to do. It takes a little time, but isn't that big a deal as long as you don't try it when there's a ferry.

Hang in their Motherteresa ....

Generally this is a great group with most, like all good sailors, willing to give a helping hand.

Always keep in mind that you can take two lobsters per day per person in the USVI! Free lobster always easily covers your customs fees!
George

Not surprised with sail2wind's wanker response but a bit surprised with tradewinds. He is usually very pleasant and helpful.

This is true but I have rarely ever paid US Customs fees in STJ. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> Lobsters can only be taken by hand or handheld snare. Spearguns are prohibited in NPS waters.
This is an excellent resource publication for STJ boat visitors.

http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/upload/MooringGuide.pdf

Yes, this is usually a helpful group... I think you got the info you need, but definitely get a cruising guide. Have a great trip.

please reread, I suggested a guide book and a day Capt., hardly wanker <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Dog-gone-it, for a limin group of helpful people some are just being rude. If you want to have a serious debate let's take a look at the real MotherTheresa. She was not the total saint we were always brought up to believe. Don't agree, do some google searches with the word skeptical included and if you're still not sure PM me! That has as much to do with the OP's question as the pooh pooh posts. So, maybe I don't like the OP's chosen nickname but I'd like to try to answer the question and leave out the rest because he didn't ask "do you like my nickname" or "can I find the answer to my question somewhere else"

Rant off.

To answer the OP's question, up to date within the last 3 weeks. Only the captain goes to C&I in BVI with ships papers and all passports. The office is on the left side of the building at Sopers as you look towards it from your mooring. Don't go to the dock with your boat. The door you want is the closest to the water. After you finish you will be directed to the next door over to pay. Once you have paid you go back to prove to them you have paid and then you are done. This is not a two story building at Sopers. Everything you have to do is on ground level. The dingy dock is to the right as you are facing the C&I building from your mooring. If you want to get rid of some trash there is a dumpster about 60 feet from the dingy dock to your right, free.

You won't have room to anchor in Cruz Bay (too crowded) and they will charge you to dock at C&I (CBT) there and only give you 15 minutes to be gone. There is a lot of traffic coming in behind you to C&I so just don't do it. Take a free ball at Caneel as close to CB as you can find. It is a short ride by dingy. Veer to the left as you enter the harbor, watch out for ferries behind you, the building is on your right hand side. You can tie you dingy up on the end of their dock and no one will mind. That would be the end closest to you on the way in (west side). Now you need your boat papers and they want everyone aboard to go inside with their papers. For a bareboat you are not considered captain & crew because you don't have paying passengers so answer the questions like you are passengers. Do your best to answer the questions but don't sweat it - they will correct any of your wrong guesses on the form.

When you leave the USVI and return to the BVI you DO NOT need to clear out of the USVI (think of it as clearing in and out at the same time when you came in) so proceed back to the BVI where they only want to see the captain and the papers for everyone aboard. Now you are back in!
Rant back on...

If others don't want to be bothered and answer a question then why not just let somebody else help, a la Momma always said if you don't have anything nice... Sometimes the published information is out of date or inaccurate like the water taxis. I come here to get the latest scoop and those who have discovered this wonderful resource do to. Please don't mess with that!

Welcome to the board MT.
This is a great place to learn and share.

I am glad this thread has come up again.
It am preparing a document for our partnership that outlines exactly this process and have a few additional questions...

After you clear out of BVI is there any time limit you have before you clear into USVI? Ex 24 hrs ? I know you must fly your yellow Q flag in between but wondered if there are rules around time One of our partners asked this question .. Can't find this answer.

also some places that give the hours for the ports of exit and entry in BVI indicate there are open on Sunday and others say they are closed.
anyone know?

Also looking for a phone number for Gun Creek customs.?

I have asked these questions to the contact us section of the BVI immigration site but thought you all may know???

MT if you send me a PM with your email ( click on my name which takes you to my profile and hit send private message) I will share my document when it's done with has links to the forms you need and other helpful information ....most of which I got from these fine TTOL folks <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

There should be no time limit between check out and check in. They are separate countries. you could goto st thomas via a month in st martin if you like.

It's pretty easy. We've done it basically any day of the week betwen 8AM and the last ferry time, usually about 5:30PM. We'll be doing it this Sunday and again the following Monday.

Ask your charter company for two copies of the BVI C&I form. Might as well fill both out at the same time, with different dates for check out and check in. You'll also need a copy of the individual customs form for each family. The forms require you to have passport info for each person. I keep an old copy of a form to use as a template.

There is a thread on the US C&I form below. These are adobe acrobat forms that I fill in electronically and keep a template. I've already added our US check in and printed copies.

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/s...e=0#Post1513459

The cruising guide gives detailed location on the three BVI C&I locations. I've never checked in/out at Gun Creek. Sopers Hole is busy and takes longer, but that means 15 minutes instead of 5 minutes.

For the USVI, you can check in at Cruz Bay or Charlotte Amalie at the Tortola ferry wharf. We check in at Cruz Bay and take a mooring at Lindt Point or Caneel Bay. If you draw less than 5 feet you can anchor in the Creek in Cruz Bay as marked in the cruising guide. There are two dinghy docks in Cruz Bay, one on the right of the ferry wharf and one at the NPS dock past the C&I. Do not attempt to dock at the C&I wharf unless you want to play pinball with the ferries and leave some gelcoat behind. There are no spots for you dinghy at C&I, just walk around on the sidewalk and into the secure area through the open gate.

In the US, when asked if you disposed of any trash or brought any trash with you the answer is no. If you say yes they will send you to the incinerator at Yacht Haven or Crown Bay. Same if you have any fruits, vegetables or meat from the BVI.

Once you've gone through the process my directions will appear long winded and redundant. Its about as hard as getting in and out of a movie theater.

Cheers, RickG

You should check c&i hours in sopers hole. A couple of weeks ago, they said they have new hours, closing at 9pm

Two things to watch. Make sure you have the proper paperwork for the boat. If it's a U.S. owned vessel that would be the Coast Guard documentation.
At Cruz bay don't show up right after a ferry if it has come from the BVI. Stay on the boat a bit longer and enjoy a cold one if a ferry just passed your boat and turned in.
One last thing. You are supposed to fly a yellow quarantine flag until you have cleared. Rarely done but the park rangers could hassle you.
G

It would be wonderfully helpful if you could post your document when it is done. Thanks.

Another REALLY important element no one has mentioned yet.....

Holding tanks.

The are required in the U.S. so make sure your charter company shows you how to use them before you head out.

Welcome to the "fun" of TTOL, a good place for information if you can navigate the shoals! Its not unusual to get flamed on here for basic questions or comments. Other posts have already given a lot of detailed answers to your question. If you still have questions, send me a PM (by clicking on the username).

I don't see the connection between knowing how to clear customs and being a competent sailor. Maybe I'm missing something.

Here is a follow up. Is it possible to check-out of BVI the day before you plan to head to U.S.? (If so, any restrictions, enforced or otherwise, about hanging out onshore)

My thinking is that this would allow our group to depart BVI waters before the BVI C&I office opens at 9:00 AM, since C&I in U.S. opens much earlier.

[quote]Murdock said:
Here is a follow up. Is it possible to check-out of BVI the day before you plan to head to U.S.? (If so, any restrictions, enforced or otherwise, about hanging out onshore





I think that plan would work fine - especially if you clear out in the late afternoon.

You normally have 24 hours from when you check out to leave the territory.

I've been digging around and couldn't find an "official" answer but did see a consensus of people saying a BVI outward clearance is valid for 24 hours as tradewinds stated. The most official source I found was The RCC Pilotage Foundation Atlantic Crossing Guide By Jane Russell, 2013.

Bumping this up with one more question...
Do British citizens require a Visa to enter USVI.?

Some sources say yes and others no.
One of our Reef Song partners is from England
...any one ??

I'm pretty sure they do if they are not coming in on a bonded carrier (flight/ferry). They can use the Visa Waiver Program otherwise. I'm getting this from the Visa Wizard at travel.state.gov.

He will be sailing Reef Song from BVI.
I am reading no visa needed on most sites.
This is one
http://www.vicl.org/usvi-clearance-information.html
Others say yes they need one....
Any British TTOL.ers out there know for sure?

I would say Yes if they arrive in the USVI on Reef Song.

Some people say that if you've arrived in US, say St Thomas, firstly on a scheduled carrier using the Visa Waiver program, then that visa is valid if you go to BVI and then re-enter USVI on your own boat.

Other people have told me that this isn't true because you should have handed in the exit card (little bit of card they stick in 'Aliens' passports) when you left for the BVI and this cancels the visa waiver rights.

I've had both versions from customs officials in USVI so I certainly wouldn't risk not having a full Visa.

It is easy for a Brit to get a B1/B2 visa from the U.S. Embassy in London so why take the risk?

Hope we find a UK person to shed some light. I have a similar situation with one from Greece (but she has a 10 year visa in her old passport so I think we got lucky, she just needs that and her current passport with an expiration date of over six months) and one from Cyprus.

When I went to the link, travel.state.gov referenced under
"Specific requirements must be met for these Nationals to qualify. For more information visit: Travel.State.Gov.com"
it takes you to the Visa Waiver Program. The problem with the VWP is it doesn't work for private/charter boats. So even though they make you think you don't need a visa it only applies to commercial carriers like airlines and ferries. I think that is the specific requirement they mention in your link.

Of course, I may be wrong. That's just the way I am interpreting it.

Mike is a UK person and did shed some light