I'm new, so please forgive my ignorance. Let's say I own a 40-foot yacht, and I sail from the mediterranean to Montauk, NY. What happens when I get close? Am I stopped by the coast guard? Am I approached for documents as soon as I dock at the marina? After all, I did just stroll into the United States. I'm seriously asking. I've never been in that situation.
You must immediately report your arrival to US Customs. Every coastal marina has the appropriate telephone number posted, and if you are a US Citizen you can use a phone app called ROAM. Only the captain is allowed ashore until you are cleared in. And yes, you may be stopped by the Coast Guard.
So let's say the coast guard misses me for some reason. I get to the marina, I dock, I get out and I ask the manager there to use a physical phone they have and I call U.S customs? Then what happens? They ask me questions on the phone, I answer and... that's it? I'm cleared?
If you are US then you could be cleared at that time (officer's discretion). If non-US you will need to make your own way to the nearest CBP office. The nearest one to Montauk is New Jersey, so you'd probably want to choose your port of entry more wisely. In Newport, RI for example, they come to the boat within a couple of hours.
I don't know how it works on the East Coast, but given our close proximity to Canada we have a regular inflow of foreign visitors. Here, everyone is required to stay on the boat until Customs sends an officer and releases you. Only exception is if Capt needs to go ashore to call Customs. But given everyone has cell phones these days, they will hassle you if anyone goes ashore before clearing.
I've only been to 78 countries over the last 30 years, but every State has pretty much the same system. One crew member or agent goes ashore and clears in with Immigration and then Customs will have a look. The toughest were Norway and the UK.
We always had to check in 72 hrs in advance of hitting the "Q" dock. We had to provide multiple colour copies of passports for everyone aboard, a copy of the sale papers, insurance and owners information. That's before arrival. The CBP/ICE would meet our ship and come aboard. There was always a USCG cutter hanging around. Divers would go over the side and inspect the bottom for contraband and anything else that wasn't supposed to be there. All in all, it took about 3-4 hrs OP: There is no getting missed by the Coasties. They have you on radar and satellite imagery from a long ways off. And if you have AIS - pretty much like being in the same room
In Venezuela I wouldn't let the boarding party into the saloon with their boots and rifles. Only the Officer came in to do the paperwork with the agent. I think he was a bit pissed having to take his shoes off. Good!!!
Trying to do a quick count, only counting those by boat as I could add another 6 or 8 by plane, but we've been to 35 in the past 9 years and by the end of this trip will hit 47 total. Don't know if we'll ever catch your 78 but then this is pleasure and likely you've been to some we would not go to as you would have preferred to avoid. Process the same, people vary. We've often used agents so made many simpler. Never had 20 people to board like Ken did, guess we needed a bigger boat. I can't remember ever having 10. Very surprised by lack of issues on this trip since the US doesn't have a vaccine passport but all countries have accepted our proof of vaccine as well as our testing for the 7 year old. We just did Guernsey and the UK with no issues but someone speculated the UK was easier because we came from Guernsey. We do have complications shuttling guests in that we arrive in a country with some on board and leave with others but no serious issues. The biggest single piece of advice I can give is to notify at the earliest possible moment of your intention to enter a country and have all the information available then. It's clearly listed online as to what is needed. Have copies galore so they don't have to copy anything. Have copies even of the passports as they'll want to check the original but many then make copies. Also, show them courtesy and respect from the outset. We've made a habit of giving desserts to them. Nothing big, but just would you like a piece of cake. Have invited them to have hamburgers. Same with dock crews. And if a foreign country where under paid agents solicit tips, then don't argue or fight or quote the law, go along with it at a moderate amount. They'll remember when you get ready to check out.
Yes. We also tip where appropriate but amazing how appreciated a slice of cake and a bottle of water or soda is to someone working hard outdoors. We've also given food to lockmasters, typically desserts but occasionally we'll be grilling burgers and they'll notice and we'll ask if they'd like one.
It was definitely overkill. But I don't think they are used to yachts in Salina Cruz. These are the ones that remained outdoors for the picture.
There are many here we'd like to see but schedules have been changing regularly with Covid restrictions and we do travel with a large group (right now 17 although two are 7 year olds) so you'd think it was an invasion. We tend to not disclose where and when we're hitting until after the fact. Guernsey is beautiful, however and makes a great location for shuttling people in and out while not using up Schengen days. From Guernsey, we went to Poole and saw the beauty there as well as visiting the local boat builder.