|
 From: US DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY
CUSTOMS
& BORDER
PROTECTION Division
(Jan.
11, 2005):
PLEASURE
BOAT FACT SHEET FOR CANADIANS
Laws and
Regulations Governing Pleasure Boats
Title 8, United States Code, Section 1225
(a)(3), requires
that every applicant for admission to or transit through the United States must be inspected by officers.
The implementing regulation, Title 8, Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 235.1 requires that every
application for
entry into the United
States
must be made in person to an officer at the port of entry (POE) at a
time when
the POE is open for inspection. A person
claiming to be United
States
citizen must establish that fact to the examining officer’s
satisfaction.
Title 19, United
States
Code (USC), Section 1433(a)(1), requires that the master of a vessel
immediately upon arrival report at the nearest facility or designated
place. The implementing regulation,
Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 4.2 requires boaters to
immediately
report their arrival by any means of communication approved by the
agency.
Reporting
Requirements
Pleasure boaters are
required to comply
with all reporting requirements. Boat
masters, family members and all guests entering the United States
must report for
inspection. Inspection may be obtained
in one of three methods:
- Be in possession of a
pre-approved form I-68 or NEXUS member proximity card;
- Physically report for
inspection to the nearest open port-of-entry (POE);
- Utilize an Outlying Area
Reporting Station (OARS)/videophone station
Alternative
Inspection Services Program
The alternative
inspection programs are
available for those traveling by boat along the Northern Border.
Specifically, the I-68 Canadian Border Boat
Landing Program will be resumed with additional security enhancements
during
the current boating season.
Only
the current Form I-68, revised January
31, 2002, will be accepted for the 2005 boating season. The Form
I-68 will not
be
renewable by
mail. Each applicant must appear in
person for inspection, interview, and various other law enforcement
checks. The fees are $16 for an
individual or $32 for a family, the same as last year. The names
and dates of birth of children
under 14 years of age must be listed on one or both parents’ Form
I-68.
If approved, a three-part Form I-68 will be
issued to each applicant age 14 years and older. Each part of
Form I-68 will bear the
photograph and fingerprint of the applicant.
Under
the Form I-68
program, applicants for admission into the United States
by small pleasure
boats are inspected and issued a single boating permit for the entire
boating
season. This I-68 permit allows boaters
to enter the United States
from Canada
for recreational purposes with only the need to report to CBP for
further
inspection by placing a phone call to report their arrival. U.S. citizens (USCs) or lawful permanent residents
(LPRs) of the United States
and Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada
who are nationals of Visa
Waiver Program countries are eligible to apply for Form I-68.
For
those who are
not USCs or LPRs of the United States,
Form I-68 authorizes admission within the immediate shore area of the United States
for no more than 72 hours at a time.
Those
persons eligible for the Form I-68 program who are also enrolled in any
other
Alternative Inspection Program, such as NEXUS, may enter the United States
by pleasure boat without obtaining a Form I-68 if they are in
possession of
evidence of that enrollment, i.e., NEXUS card.
On
March 17, 2003, nationals of British
Commonwealth countries and Ireland
who are residents of Canada
and Bermuda, and were not previously required to present a passport and
non-immigrant visa to enter the United
States
are now required to present these documents for entry into the United States.
These individuals are no longer
eligible to enter the United States with a Form
I-68, unless they are
nationals of a Visa Waiver Program country and are in possession of a
previously issued, unexpired Form I-94W, Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver
Arrival/Departure Form. In addition,
those individuals who are subject to register in the National Security
Entry
Exit Registration System (NSEERS) are not eligible for the I-68 program.
Boaters
not in possession of a valid Form
I-68 or proof of enrollment in any other Alternative Inspection
Program, such
as NEXUS, must either report in person for inspection at a
port-of-entry or
utilize one of the OARS videophone stations every time when entering
the United
States. Under the OARS program,
videophones installed at public marinas along the Canadian border
provide an
automated inspection service enabling two-way visual and audio
communication
between the inspector and the applicant for admission.
Any person that does
not comply with these
procedures may be subject to adverse actions under the provisions of
the
Immigration and Nationality Act and may be subject to a $5000 fine,
seizure or
criminal penalties as defined in 19 USC 1436.
Other Alternative Inspection Options
The
NEXUS alternative inspection program
allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to be processed with little or
no delay
by United States
and Canadian border officials. Approved
applicants are issued a photo-identification/proximity card. Participants cross the border in a dedicated
lane, where they present their membership identification and proximity
card,
and make a declaration. They are then
released, unless chosen for a selective or random secondary referral.
A NEXUS member will have the benefit of the
expedited processing in
both marine and highway modes. Becoming
a member of the NEXUS alternative inspection program simplifies border
crossings for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. As
NEXUS members, recreational boaters have the privilege
of entering
the United States
from Canada
for
recreational purposes with only the need to report their arrival to CBP
by
placing a telephone call. Boaters can use their NEXUS membership in
lieu of
the I-68 for reporting purposes.
Who
Qualifies for NEXUS?
Individuals
may qualify to participate in NEXUS if they are a citizen or
permanent resident of the United States
or Canada,
or are a non-permanent resident who can demonstrate a need to use the
NEXUS
lanes. However, individuals may not
qualify if they:
- Are
inadmissible to
the United States
or Canada
under applicable immigration
laws;
- Provide false
or incomplete
information on their application;
- Have been
convicted of a
criminal offense in any country for which they have not received a
pardon;
- Have been
found in violation of
customs or immigration law; or
- Fail to meet other
requirements
of the NEXUS program.
To
participate, an individual's application
must be approved by both the United
States
and Canada.
If an individual does not meet the requirements of the program, their
application will be denied.
What
are the Benefits of NEXUS?
Individuals
approved to participate in
NEXUS receive an identification card to use at the border that allows
them to:
- Use NEXUS-dedicated lanes
in
the United States
and Canada;
and
- Cross the border with a
minimum
of routine customs and immigration questioning.
- NEXUS membership allows
recreational boaters the privilege of entering the United States from Canada for recreational purposes
with only the need to report their arrival to CBP by placing a
telephone call.
Because
NEXUS is a harmonized program,
applicants complete a single application form.
NEXUS
also allows United
States
and Canadian Customs and Immigration officials to concentrate their
efforts on
potentially higher-risk travelers and goods, which helps to ensure
security and
integrity at our borders.
Finally,
there is a cost benefit compared
to other existing alternate inspection programs.
- Recreational boaters
now pay
$40 CAD for a 5-year membership in the CANPASS Private Boat Program.
- Recreational
boaters must pay
an additional $16 USD yearly for an I-68 permit.
- NEXUS will cost $50 USD
or $80
CAD for 5 years.
Over
a five year period recreational
boaters would pay approximately $110 USD . The total cost of the NEXUS
program
is $50 USD for five years. This represents
a significant cost saving of $60 USD.
OARS:
Outlying Area Reporting Station
The Outlying Area Reporting Station (OARS) has been developed as an
innovative
alternative inspection method. The system is free, convenient, and easy
to
use. Under the OARS program, videophones
installed at public marinas along the Canadian border provide a
two-visual and
audio communication link between the inspector and the applicant for
admission.
Customs Decals
The
Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 authorizes U.S Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) to collect fees on incoming commercial
vehicles, private aircraft, and private vessels. You are required to
pay the fee if:
|
CANADIAN
BOATERS: