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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Victoria BC

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barmstro
1st Mate

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34 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/30/2004 : 03:29:24

I want to sail up to Victoria BC next week and have some questions. We went to the Canadian Gulf Islands 25 years ago and all I can rember is that the Captain is the only person to leave the boat untill you clear customs.
1. how do you clear customs? do I contact them by vhf and what channel or by phone and what number?
2. do I need to call ahead and make resevarations at the harbor or marina and again by vhf or by phone.
3. When we come back where do I check back in?
We would like to head up Monday.
Thabnks again in advance

Bob Armstrong 1979 c25 SK/SR #1119 GoodTide'ngs II
Federal way Wa.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2004 : 07:22:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by barmstro
 I want to sail up to Victoria BC next week and have some questions. We went to the Canadian Gulf Islands 25 years ago and all I can remember is that the Captain is the only person to leave the boat until you clear customs.

1. How do you clear customs? Do I contact them by vhf and what channel or by phone and what number?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Bob,

I can't respond to your questions specific to your locale, but generically speaking, there are basically two ways to enter Canada via private boat. One is through the CANPASS program and the other is to enter a Canadian port of entry and check in with the Canadian Customs.

With CANPASS, you pre-register with the Canadian government and then up to 4 hours before entering Canada, call to check in to Canadian Customs.

The other way to enter Canada is to simply enter a port/harbor with a Designated Marine Telephone Reporting Station and call in (1-888-226-7277). When you call in, you will be asked the same questions normally asked at the border and then you will be issued a report number which is then posted so it is visible from the outside of your boat. At this point, you may or may not be visited by customs agents for inspection. From my experience, Canadian inspectors make rounds at marinas and walk up and down the docks looking for non-Canadian boats to verify that they have properly checked in and have a report number posted (keep this number with you as well). If you are at your boat, the agents may ask you some more questions or just welcome you to Canada. All in all, its pretty painless.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by barmstro
 2. Do I need to call ahead and make resevarations at the harbor or marina and again by vhf or by phone.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

With CANPASS, you call up to 4 hours ahead of entering Canada. With the Designated Marine Telephone Reporting Station, you call upon arrival.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by barmstro
 3. When we come back where do I check back in?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When returning to the US, you will either need an I-68 form or check in at a US Port of Entry.

Here is some more information on the [url="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/canpass/canpassprivateboat-e.html"]CANPASS[/url] program and some [url="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/canpass/faq_boat-e.html"]CANPASS FAQ's[/url].

Here is a link to the US Customs and Border Protection [url="http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/leavingarrivinginUS/pleasure_boat_fact_sheet.ctt/pleasure_boat_fact_sheet.doc"]Pleasure Boat Fact Sheet[/url].

Edited by - dlucier on 07/30/2004 07:43:39

lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2004 : 12:28:16

I sail to Ontario all the time. I call 1-800-CAN-PASS when I get there, answer a few questions, done in 5 minutes. Have information for all people on boat ready, that will be helpful. I never usually worry about keeping people on board, and the marina I am visiting never minds either. Upon returning home, I usually never call unless I am brining someone back from Canada. I am not saying this is correct, but this is the way I have always done it, probably some 30 times, no problems. The cross border flow is pretty open here on the Great Lakes, and I hope it never changes.

Lance
85 FK/SR

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2004 : 17:39:08

Bob, I just sailed into Victoria in May as part of the Oregon Offshore race from the mouth of the Columbia River. We sailed into the inner harbor and went to the custom's dock. The crew could get onto the float. There was a phone there and we just called in with crew information. I recommend a copy of a birth cert. just in case, or, better yet, a passport for coming back into the states. I have been able , in the past, to check back in by phone, but that was after checking with U.S. customs before going over. Otherwise, you will need to check back in at Roche Harbor, or some other Customs port of entry.

Hope this helps. Calling customs ahead of time, before your trip could only help you out, I think....

Gary B.
s/v Encore! #685

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