Decal / Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS)

As Pascal said, you need to have the customs sticker to clear back in the US. It is very easy to do on line. This is separate though from clearing all passengers through US customs on return. On return to US waters, you have to call the SVRS and they will ask for all passenger and crew names with passport numbers. You will be given a clearance number and then you and all passengers are required to report to customs in person to complete the clearance. There is a substantiual fine if the captain or any passengers do not report to customs and clear in person.

FL though has made it very easy with the Local Boater Option. You go in person for a 5 minute interview with passport at customs and are given a LBO card and can clear by phone on return. You still may be required to report in person, but we have never been asked to. The phone call is much quicker with the LBO card and any passengers without LBO cards can report seaparately.

This whole process varies from state to state. Go to your local customs office and find out what applies in your state. For example, the process in the state of Washington is completely different than the process in Alaska. In Washington, we can call and get the clearance number over the phone, if you have pre-registered. That pre-registration is no good up in Alaska where they will physically come down to your vessel and clear you. Up in Alaska they don't even given you a clearance number. As I understand it, it is a matter of local interpertation (and administration) of the regs.

So check with your local office.

Just to be clear- this is Immigration. The first step (phone call) is to clear Customs.

With the LBO, you won't be required to clear Immigration

Your post made me wonder as when previousy clearing in person in S FL or getting our LBO cards, I only remember seeing the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) insignia. After a little research, to clarrify:

In the United States, there is no INS and "immigration" as it use to exist. The INS and Customs (formerly part of the Justice and Treasury respectively) have been integrated into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency within DHS.

INS functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly formed Department of Homeland Security: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

CBP performs passport control and routine inspection functions, while the investigative functions (which formerly were part of the same agencies that performed inspections) are now performed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

As such, there are no separate "immigration" and "customs" inspections. However, at most large international airports, travelers go through two inspections stations:

1) Passport Control - also known as "Primary" - Here, a CBP officer scans the MRZ on your passport OR permanent residency card OR visa, checks for admissibility, looks for any outstanding warrants etc.

2) Customs - After you pick up your checked luggage if any, you present your stamped customs declaration to another CBP at the exit door. This officer checks for any codes written on the form by the "primary" officer. The officer then decides whether you should receive a secondary.

At smaller stations, or when arriving on private aircraft, or at land/sea ports of entry, one single CBP officer might perform both of the above functions.

Note that in S. Florida, CBP has implemented revised clearance procedures for pleasure boats arriving in the United States from foreign waters. In the pleasure boat environment, the master of any vessel must report their arrival to CBP after having been at any foreign port or place or after having contact with any hovering vessel.

The Local Boater Option allows a participant, under certain circumstances, to telephonically report the arrival of their private vessel, make customs declarations, submit any necessary additional information, and be cleared for Immigration purposes without the need to report to a port of entry in person. If an arriving passenger is not an LBO participant, the master must insure that the unregistered passenger reports to a CBP office in a timely manner.

CBP retains the authority to require LBO participants to report for a physical inspection and/or board the arriving vessel.

The program is only available to private vessels arriving into ports of South Florida, Tampa, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Pascal,

We have had non LBO guest a few times, and we just reported their passport numbers on the phone when checking back in along with our LBO numbers.

It did not seem to be an issue for them. We usually arrive at Key Largo or Marathon before heading back to the gulf side. And as you probably know, there are no close offices (Miami North and Key West South).

Ken

No they did not require them to report in person. Got a clearance number each time. It appears to me just to be standard procedure for them. They ask just a few questions, get the LBO numbers, and then ask for the passport numbers for the non LBO guests.

Ken

So it depends on who answers the phone. I was always a little concerned about this. And I agree, it isn't worth the risk. I am going to request LBO's for all guests. The issue for us is where we make landfall back into the US. It is very far to a Customs office.

Ken

Keep in mind that in todays age of computers, customs officals on either side of the border know more about you and your vessel than you could ever believe. Get caught once, even for a very minor infraction, and you will be in their computer, for life. And once there, your custom's check-in will no longer be over the phone, but in person.

Hijacking and old thread to ask a related question... i just got my first CBP decal and wondering where others place them. The official word is 18" from the main point of entry, but we have at least two ( port and starboard ). I'm thinking of putting it on or near the salon door. Where are you putting your decal?

I just keep my decal in the drawer with my LBO cards and documentation. You will need the number every time you call to clear in. I have never been boarded by CBP but would simply produce my decal if needed.

Also new to this but do the same. Besides Sea Gull - too nice of a boat to mar with stickers : )