Customs and Immigration in BVI

Where is the best place to clear in?

Tried to clear in at Sopers (West End) and all I got was "you have to pay us $250 to "import" your boat and crap.

Was being polite (as you do with idiots that wear uniforms) up until that point but it just got worse - they seemed to enjoy my pain and discomfort.

Finally I snapped and kinda lost it to be honest I said "I formally withdraw my request to enter your country - I'm returning immediately to the USA maybe I'll come over on the ferry instead!!!" They processed my paperwork immediately...

How long did you tell them you wanted to stay?

"You will be required to complete a Customs control document, Immigration cards for each person onboard together with a green Customs declaration form for each person. If you are a charter yacht and you are taking fee-paying passengers whilst in the BVI, you need to buy a Cruising Permit and a National Parks Mooring Permit. This permit allows you to use the mooring buoys in the marine park for your yacht or dinghy (these moorings accommodate yachts up to 60 ft). Yachts visiting the BVI for the first time for the year, will be required to pay an Annual Tonnage fee which is based on your yachtís net tonnage up to a limit of $55. If the vessel is to remain in the BVI for more than one month, there is a fee of $200 to temporarily import the yacht for up to one year."

BVI Marine Guide: Clearance

I wonder if there is a newbie-official at the WestEnd immigration post. Had an incoming visitor come in last month - needed 33 days... ie/ 3 over the 30 day
Usually - a total non-issue...

Nope - not this time.. gave'em the gears, and insisted on the person going to town for a 3 day extension

Maybe he just had a bad day....

Jost has been much easier for us. Somehow cheaper too.

Cheers, RickG

I've been using Gun Creek to clear in and out since that location opened and it has always been fast and efficient. The only drawback is that they still don't have a credit card machine, so all payments must be made in cash.

I wouldn't be so quick to classify people who wear uniforms as idiots, when you just spent the last week stuck on St. Thomas because you couldn't raise your anchor by yourself. Just sayin' <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Spanish Town and Gun Creek are the BEST. IMHO

Man the people on this site can be so mean...

I stand by what I said - just because you wear a uniform with an impressive government badge on your arm in an air conditioned office doesn't give you the right to treat tourists like crap! They are idiots as I am the one that is visiting and as a consequence spending money and ultimately paying their salaries! If they continue to treat folks like me like crap I simply won't go back and they might have to find a new job! Nuff said!

Busy Engineer if you decide to stay in the BVI over thirty days you must spend the $200.00 + on a temporary import permit that's good for one year.
If your there 31 days without the permit they will confiscate your boat and fine you thousands of dollars and due to your run in at West End C&I
I doubt very much the'll give you a break.

Yes...the entire world revolves around YOU...really?

I think we can be a little harsh here, unnecessarily so many times..

Calling them idiots isn't necessary, but he does have a point. Clearly his not going back won't cost them their jobs but if enough people didn't go back because of how they were treated, it could.

At the same time, it seems they were correct and perhaps some of their attitude was a reflection of how busyengineer reacted to the $250 entry fee. We've checked in and out numerous times and everyone was very nice - we also were very nice as well and never gave anyone a hard time. Even got the 10 cent forms for free last time since I didn't have any dimes and they didn't have any change.

I agree Matt. It's just been my experience that when you go in to a government office and have to deal with people in uniforms, having the attitude that "I pay your salary and you work for me" doesn't tend to get you very far. And it doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong

Matt, it's not an entry fee. Private vessels keeping their boat in BVI pay $203 a year for the permit. I have never been asked to produce it, but they ask if I have one. Customs for us is a 5-10 minute procedure, even at West End. Private vessels do not go to the same lines as ferry passengers. We have stayed for 6 weeks and have never had a problem with customs.

I have probably cleared a boat into the BVI more times than most of the posters on this site and I can say with certainty that I have observed idiocy in the C&I offices in the ratio of 999 in line to 1 behind the counter in uniform.
I have seen the lack of respect, level of sobriety, manner of dress, tone of voice, disgraceful comments and behavior, total lack of proper documentation and 100's of other examples of shameful decorum that these uniformed representatives of the Queen face every day and am impressed with their respectful, patient and polite manner on almost every visit.

Yeah, I have no idea what kind of attitude the guy in the uniform might have given the OP, but it seems pretty likely that there was a bit of attitude on both sides of the counter!

Well let's be fair it's a crap shoot going into C&I, sometimes it's pleasant and sometimes its a nuisance.
When they tell you you have to go to the C&I offices in Roadtown is when they're trying to harass you unless it's for extending your stay for another month.
They know when your in town the C&I will keep you there from 8AM untill around 3 PM.
BTW You're not permitted to read while waiting in their Official government office.

maytrix
sail445

Maybe we can agree - that it's all about "consistency"
and.. this is something totally and completely lacking on Tortola - sadly - from C&I to the restaurants

What is it ?.... a simple lack of personal discipline or what ?
Or are we simply too strung out as a northern culture ?

Wow, you guys can be really mean. For the record I was 100% respectful, "good morning, how are you doing this fine day" etc even a lot of "yes sir" to be super super polite. I have and had absolutely no "attitude" whatsoever! I wish folks wouldn't jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. Also prejudging me when you don't know me or the facts is prejudice. The 30 day thing was the catalyst - they could simply have explained 29 days is OK and 30 days is $200. Worse they were having fun at my obvious discomfort. I bet they all had a big laugh behind my back after I left? Not a good start to entering (respectfully) someone else's country - left a bad taste in my mouth

I wish I had never brought up the subject only to get flogged and flailed - where is my head again? Oh there it is. Please someone hand it back to me so I can stitch it back on.

busyengineer.... we all suffer from "rock (island)fever"
don't take it personal.... we simply have been away from society for a "touch too long"

Some people live in a black hole and will drag into that hole whomever they can. Misery loves company!

Allrighty then. I think this thread has nowhere further to go than down.