Customs and Entry

[Liquid Asset]

I am having some trouble finding information and I am hoping yall can help. In June, we are taking our boat over to the Bahamas. It is clear to me what we have to do by purchasing the decal ahead of time and then what we do to enter the Bahamas customs. What I can't figure out is how to re-enter the U.S.. The Customs and border patrol website is not clear and I do not know what we need to do when we re enter.

I have been told that we need to call a 1800 number (which I can not find anywhere) and then we have to report to imagration within 24 hours. But it says nothing about this on the CBP website.

Thos of you who have traveled by boat and back into the Bahamas recently, can you help me out. Thanks.

 

[shvldis]

The numbers for Sebastian Inlet and south are 800 432 1216 and 800 451 0393. There are also some local numbers numbers available. Where are you going to clear back in the US? We are leaving Pt Canaveral June 1 Hope to make West End on the 5th. Then Taking the northern route to abacos then south. Kent

 

[Liquid Asset]

We are going ot clear in Stuart. We will be docking at Nettles Marina in Jensen Beach for 1 night when we return. Then we will run the boat back thrugh Okachobee to the west coast and home.

Since we are not planning to stay in Jensen Beach for long, we need to have the process down so that we can clear and move on as soon as possible.

 

[Spellbound]

As stated you call Customs with decal #, registration #, persons on board, birthdates and anything to declare. Must check (in person) with immigration within 24 hrs. West Palm (Port of Palm Beach), Ft Lauderdale and Miami are immigration facilities. Actually the process has been fairly painless the past few years.

 

[DeeRow]

2 summers ago, we checked in with immigration at the St. Lucie County airport in Ft. Pierce. This is a lot closer to Nettles Island than the other locations. The airport is set up to receive people from airplanes so you need to enter thru the exit door which has no handles! There were many people coming in from boats so the door was openned frequently and it was easy to get in the out door.

 

[Paul45c]

Do you have a passport? The last time I was over there was June of last year, and I was told by the immigration guy on Bimini that come Jan. '06, passports were required. Prior to that you were allowed to bring a birth certificate, soc. sec card and anything else establishing residency (though they didn't even want to look at driver's licenses for a couple of my passengers who didn't have passports and thought that was enough).

I hadn't heard from anyone else that the Bahamas in fact implemented the passport rule, but you'll want to check it out. In any event, if you don't have one, I'd get one on an expedited basis. It sure makes things simpler and faster.

It's a shame that we have to report to immigration on this end, but I can understand the precaution. It used to be you would call from your boat to customs, get their clearance number, and then call immigration with that clearance number and they would clear the captain and crew over the phone. No muss, no fuss. But, hey...you're going to the Bahamas. That's good news on any day.

Don't know if Bimini is in your travel plan, but you probably have heard that the famous old Compleat Angler Inn/pub burned to the ground last year. It's a shame to lose such a famous landmark.

-- Paul

 

[Liquid Asset]

Ok, so Ft Pierce Airport is the place to go. I will check it out. We all have passports except for my niece. But thats ok because she is 5. I think I have everything under control. I ordered the Decal yesterday for the window.


Do you have to pre clear with Customs in the US before you leave, or is the window decal good enough?

 

[Genesis]

Be careful and check on the Niece. They're tightening the rules BIGTIME about minors travelling abroad especially if both parents are not present due to a huge number of kids that have been internationally abducted by one parent during custody disputes.

My understanding is that the Jan 1 2006 date has been pushed back to Jan 1 2007, but I would call the State Department and check this out carefully. Being wrong on this one can get you in major trouble.

 

[ThirdHatt]

I agree, there is no reason a 5-yr old can't have a passport. Children are people (U.S. Citizens) as well and should have proper ID when crossing borders. We travel to the Bahamas regularly and my sister-in-law has gotten passports for all three of her children as infants so there would be no problems when re-entering the country. I would highly recommend it simply because it certainly can't hurt, and it can only help expedite your re-entry into the country. It would also be pretty cool as an adult to have an old passport from your youth documenting your international travels! Granted, the fact that a passport is only good for 10 years makes the photo of a small child nearly useless after a few years due to growth. We always joke that the photos look nothing like the kids do today, but we have never been questioned by immigration.

IMHO, a U.S. Passport is (now more than ever) essential for all U.S. Citizens traveling abroad, no matter what their age. It's easy to get, inexpensive and doesn't take long. They can even expedite the process if needed. It is the right of all U.S. Citizens to carry a passport when traveling abroad, so why not?

 

[Genesis]

Yeah, but it gets interesting if you're divorced.

The State Department generally will NOT issue one without the signatures of both parents. This gets dicey if one of them is "absent."

You can submit documentation to them of this, but there's no guarantee they'll issue it. Its entirely at their discretion and there is effectively no appeal if they say "no."

If you're married and have kids, GET THE PASSPORT! Once you have one renewing it is a trivial thing and THAT is not normally a problem, even if you and your spouse split up later.

But original issue for kids in a split family can be.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Well, My brother is going and My parents have Partial custody with him. (it is in writing from the court) , so I dont think that will be an issue, we will just make sure that we take all the proper documents.

I will mention to them about getting a passport for her.

 

[DeeRow]

Children under the age of 16 need to get their passports renewed every 5 years. Sent my daughter's in a couple of weeks ago. The Martin County courthouse is processing 60 passports a day! I guess that alot of locals go to the Bahamas during the summer.

Mark