What you need at immigration

ATTENTION: THE FOLLOWING IS A NOTICE FROM THE AIRPORT:
Airline passengers are advised that St Maarten Immigration has implemented strict protocols regarding entry into St Maarten at this time, and are therefore advised as follows:
• Travel documents must be in order, with passenger name and details matching support documentation if required.
• Visa requirements where necessary for entry into St Maarten must be strictly adhered to
• Customers connecting via St Maarten must have all legal documentation for their entry into their final destination, e.g. visas, work permits etc.
• Under no circumstances will passengers with onward connections be allowed to overnight in St Maarten.
• Travelers who are not nationals of Dutch St. Maarten or French St. Martin must have proof of accommodation. Persons staying at hotels must have proof of hotel reservations confirmed after the passage of Hurricane Irma (06 September 2017).
• Please note that many hotels sustained damage and remain closed. Persons who will be staying at private homes must have proof of this. It is recommended that the host be at the airport in case the Immigration officials need to interview them.
• Travelers must be able to advise the purpose of their travel to St Maarten.
• Persons must have sufficient funds for their period of stay.

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

So I guess I need to take a copy of my deed with me?

Oh boy. our deed is in our house in sxm... this should be interesting... I have to hope they will accept us looking at our passport that has St.M. all over it, and except that we own... Passport stamped only Sxm... But I will look into this... what is something else to worry about. Just want to get there. And yes Carol!!! I understand your dismay over my too many posts about this experience... I should not have vented as much as I did. this is not the place... This is a vacation board. We are owners. lots different.

While it says you must be able to prove yourself having reason to be there along with finances to allow you to be there and a place to stay while there, I don’t see that it actually requires a ‘deed’ though perhaps I missed it. I’m sure you can provide a legal resident status or property ownership in some other way - perhaps a utility bill or something of that nature? Good luck with your home and I hope it is in far better shape than you have been anticipating. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Many people go to SXM many times that do not own property, so passport stamps will not do it, I expect. I would think that you should have SOME documentation in the states that shows you are the owner of the property. That shouldn't be too hard to come up with.

Regarding your posts here, I am sending you a PM.

Thank you!

Oh lord! Oh well. Such is life.
Right Pat? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />

oh boy such is life... agreed...

Hmmm. Well my parents aren’t going to make it to the airport to meet us, so I hope they just recognize my name, see my passport stamps and let me thru!

Have them fax a statement to you. Mailbox is open in Simpson bay and they do faxs.

If that's an issue, try flying in through grand case on the French side. You will have to fly to Guadeloupe and connect to grand case there.

OK, faxing something to Simpson Bay doesn't help at the airport?

You didn't understand the post. The relatives on island could fax through mailbox to her so she can have something to show upon arival at sxm.

Oh right, sorry.

Perhaps you could have your parents send you an e-mail stating something to the effect that "our daughter (insert name as on passport) will be arriving on flight XYZ on XXXXX and staying with us at our home located at xxxxxxx until xxxxxx to assist us with xxxxxxxxx. If you require further information you may contact us at xxxxx, (insert their full names)" That would be as specific as any hotel reservation would be!

Maybe you have a GEBE bill or payment proof

I got this message from Princess Juliana International Airport - St. Maarten Facebook page

Kind of refutes the original post. Wonder where it came from?

As has been stated multiple times, not everything posted on the internet, re-posted on the internet or from any of the social media sites is accurate. Thanks.

I will never understand why people post fake or inaccurate information...

On this Board, I think that the vast majority of people post only what they believe is accurate. They can be wrong but I do not think it intentional.

I agree absolutely. And if occasional mistakes are made, I’m pretty sure they aren’t meant to intentionally mislead anyone here. We may argue and bicker back and forth, but in the end we’re just like any other family. We’re human and we’re fallible.<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Absolutely. I don't believe anyone posts fake information intentionally. It's hard to know who to believe, as apparently you can't believe stories in the Daily Herald either, as I guess that 'press release' about the first ship was incorrect.

While I do not believe it is at all intentional, many times people get wrapped up, want to be the first with news and do not bother to check links, verify what they are posting or look for further information to substantiate it.

I have no idea what is accurate with regard to this situation but the initial post and what you posted are pretty far apart. Perhaps there was a retraction or miscommunication??

Again, just because it is on the internet or social media does not make it 100% accurate. Or the newspaper as far as that goes.

Sorry, I should clarify my thought. I meant why people are creating such information or fake posts. I don't blame people who sharing it.

Except on April 1, the Daily Herald is very reliable and you should not feel at all bad about posting that link.

With the story of the Grandeur coming, the Daily Herald took the Port's bizarre press release at face value, not stopping to think that it was a very strange substantial revision to the previous press release and statements about the Port opening to regular cruise ship stops on November 11 - which were later admitted to be largely "symbolic."

We cruise on Grandeur a lot and I was surprised and interested that it would be going that early. I really wanted it to be true. We have decided not to make any plans to do a land vacation on SXM in 2018 - first missed year since 2004 for a land vacation there if we do not go in 2018 - but we will get there on a port of call no later than this coming February - on Grandeur - if the port is open for the cruise ships.

Better safe than sorry. SXM always required info on where tourists and visitors would be staying. I would have documents showing your hotel, villa or guest housing. I would think a rental agreement for the villas or a Gebe bill for owners would do the trick. A notary stamped letter stating your stay if with friends or relatives. Good Luck!

My original post stated it was the airports rules. It is actually updated immigration rules. Many were there before but seldom enforced. Sorry about the confusion.
Moderator feel free to edit my post to say for instead of from or change airport to immigration. Thanks.

"Persons must have sufficient funds for their period of stay.
Does this mean cash in hand, or can you use an ATM?

Apparently the entire post is in question, but I wouldn't really worry about that part of it..

And as a reasonable follow-up, are the ATMs up and functioning by now? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

[color:"red"]" Under no circumstances will passengers with onward connections be allowed to overnight in St Maarten"[/color]

[color:"green"]Is this rule still in effect? Thanks for your help.[/color]

Honestly, there were questions whether what was posted here was true, even when posted. I'm not sure who you would check with to confirm, possibly the Tourist Bureau??

Thanks Carol, I wrote to immigration. I will try the Tourist Bureau.
Ellen

Did you not get an answer from immigration?

I just sent the question this morning. Hopefully they will respond. I also sent to the Tourist Board in NY and SXM.
Thank you for that suggestion.
Ellen

Let us know what you find out!

Will do. Have not heard anything yet. Roddy Heyliger told me he would try to find out something, and I have a friend at the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce who called SXM, but immigration was closed. I will keep digging.
It seems strange to me that they would not allow overnights now.
Ellen

As I said, I'm not sure that was ever the case, as some of the other stuff in that note was not true from the beginning.

Ellen, they've never particularly tracked whether you are overnighting or moving through.

The concern may have been whether you had a place to stay. If you do, and can prove it...I'd be willing to bet it is fine.

Hi Beach Kitten:
Most people traveling to Anguilla use the in- transit line, and they do ask where we are going.
In this case, this question is not for me, it is for two separate parties on Trip Advisor who are arriving late. They are worried they will get to SXM and not be able to leave the airport.
Ellen

OK, I guess I'm missing something, as they can't use the In Transit line if they're going to be leaving the airport. So if the immigration authorities ask them where they're staying, they just say where they are going to stay for the first night. Correct?? I don't know what questions they are asking now when people arrive though. The last time we arrived--pre Irma--I don't think they even asked where we were staying or how long, just said 'welcome back'!!

No, you are not missing anything Carol, of course you are correct, I was just stating what we are used to when we arrive. If immigration does not ask people where they are staying, there should be no problem.
I think they just want to know that for sure.
Thanks again,
Ellen

Ellen,

I've been traveling on to Anguilla several times. Yes, you use the in-transit line, but then still are just dumped (in the past) into the area to get your luggage, etc. And if you are taking the Marigot ferry or a private ferry you are just walking right out the door....I've always found that funny, as you could be going ANYWHERE and not to Anguilla.