clear in fee

Anyone know what the current check in fee is or how it works?

Are you looking for information on what is involved in clearing a boat (private or charter) into the BVI? Or information on the ferry system fees?

or flying in?

use Sailclear its free

you can not bypass customs in BVI with sailclear

Why is it that you can arrive by ferry for "free" but have to pay a fee to arrive by boat?

fees must be built into the ferry charge. What we find funny is every time we check in the amount is different. It can range from .75-$5, have no idea why?

Especially at the West End.

Did not get the answer I was looking for. Checked in last week and paid $10.00. Time before, about three weeks ago, paid $42.00. Would sure like to know how they come up with the charge.

They use a random number generator. No point looking for logic or consistency, there isn't any.

It may depend on if you are clearing in for the first time for the calendar year. When we cleared in last time they were asking everyone when they had last cleared in.

If you arrive at C&I at West End when they open at 8am they know you arrived before 8 which is against their rules and they charge a fee of $5.

There are different fees depending on whether you arrived on a charter boat or Private boat.

One thing to remember. You must present the boat for inspection. Do not under any circumstances sail to White Bay on Jost and cab or walk over to customs. The boat has to be in great harbor if you clear there. Same with west end. Never actually heard of them inspecting a boat but the fine is huge if it's not there.
George

They inspected my boat at West End when arrived from St Maarten, I asked why and was told I'm supposed to check in at VG

One is supposed to clear in at the first available port of entry, so when arriving from St. Martin it should be Gun Creek, Spanish Town and Road Town - but the West End and Jost are too far and one could get in trouble when clearing in, depending upon the officer and their mood for the day.

Due to a back injury while sailing across from St. Martin a couple of years back I couldn't get the dinghy off the deck (I singlehand) so went to the dock at Leverick and immediately took a cab into Spanish Town to clear in. The officers were not amused at all and I think that only my obvious pain at trying to stand up straight convinced them to only give me a stern verbal warning rather than a steep fine.

I thought "proceed directly to a port of entry" meant no stopping (no anchoring, mooring or tying up to anything) but I've been wrong before...

how can you check in without anchoring or mooring?

The first time your anchor touches bottom or lines hit a {customs} dock should be at your port of entry. Some countries have a quarantine/clear-in area specifically for this purpose, or they have a customs dock.

I came into the BVI between Peter and Norman right after sun up so West End was the closest. I single hand also but my back is in good shape. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Hi Mike, nice to see you are still out there. We are heading down to charter a 44i with Conch 4/16. We'll see what the charges are then. ......... Red Gray

Well, you won't have any charges since your charter is from the BVI. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

They might have thought that, in addition to visiting St. Martin for your own enjoyment, you also went there to load up on boat parts/equipment from a duty-free island to then bring back to the BVI and avoid their import duties.

Thanks sail445. redgray

Probably a lot of things we don't know about that might have flagged them or maybe five different interpretations of the rules.
Mysterious!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

You do have to consider that USVI based charters have to pay the cruising permit of $2/ day per person. Don't confuse that with the clearance fee.

I have never been charged the same fee twice - always different - every time. Do they just make it up or something? Seriously.

Tradewinds dude please don't flog/flain/fillet me I'm chillin' and haven't had my first cup of coffee yet but if you must then fire away! I can take it!

The C&I of the BVI are unique in that each one interprets the law the way they feel it should be so consistency is out of the question. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Hi Red

Yes, still around but now boatless. Sold Jeannius just over a year ago.

busyengineer, lighten up, every post does not need a Tradewinds disclaimer.

For three recent entries into the BVI with owners and guests from St Thomas, each entry was interpreted differently by three different BVI Customs agents resulting in three different fee structures. The first one charged full fees as if we were a charter boat. Second charged minimal fees as he entered us as a private yacht. The third one was somewhere in between where only the owners guests had to pay for cruising permit and National Parks.....Go figure......

Yachtmaster,
Have you heard of Sailclearin in BVI? I know it works in the French Islands. BVI is listed on their website, but have not talked to one local who knows anything about it working in BVI. I find it hard to believe BVI would allow online check in without associated fees. There is a TTOL user who swears it works.

Evan, how could SeaClear work in the BVI’s? It would require consistency in the rates and/or procedures. Can’t see that happening although it would be GREAT.

Scary stuff. I have been using seaclear - sailclear and they always say something like "congratulations you have successfully cleared in"

These folks still use a dot matrix printer so I am very wary of this process. .

I contacted Premier Smith (yes we email PM a lot) on this very issue but have not received a response yet. Will keep y'all posted

I think in the interim I may just clear in/out the old fashioned way