Sailing to the US VIrgin Islands as a Non-US Citizen on your
Charter Yacht
If you plan to explore the US Virgin Islands during your
sailing holiday in the British Virgin Islands, please be advised
that you will need to clear
in and out of both BVI and US Customs and Immigration Departments.
To enter US waters you will need either a:
(i) Current US Visa (Visitor’s Visa) stamped in your
passport (please contact your nearest US embassy for further
details)
(ii) US Visa Waiver Form - this is a green form that is
completed by all persons who are traveling to the US or US
territories on a commercial or registered carrier without
a Visitor’s Visa and who are approved for the Visa Waiver
Programme (please seek advice from your nearest US embassy
to confirm that you qualify). Upon entering the US, a US Immigration
Official will return the bottom of the green form to you and
this will remain in your passport until you exit the US. You
may be asked to hand in this green exit form when you exit
the US, but if you mention that you would like to retain the
form as you plan to sail from the BVI to the USVI on a private
yacht, then you may be allowed to retain this form for further
use. You will then be required to produce it at the US Customs
and Immigration in St John/St Thomas when checking in on your
private vessel.
(iii) If you are NOT traveling through the US to get to
the BVI (and you qualify for the US Visa Waiver Programme),
you may consider obtaining a
green Visa Waiver Form by traveling on the ferry to St John
on a day return trip. You will then have the necessary form
to enter the USVI on your private charter yacht.
Please note that all non-US citizens in your party must
observe the advice outlined above. If you do not have a US
Visa or US Visa Waiver Form you will not be allowed to enter
the USVI under any circumstances on a private yacht and you
will be sent back to the BVI. These rules MUST be adhered
to as US authorities strictly observe them and the fines are
heavy if broken. While every effort to ensure the information
given above is correct, we are not responsible for any errors
or omissions.
Please confirm the details by visiting the US Embassy website
for your country.
For UK citizens you may visit: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/visaindex.htm
|
