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Re: Overnight at Lameshur or Salt Pond.
[Re: cyclingdoc]
#220253
03/10/2020 09:09 PM
03/10/2020 09:09 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
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Regarding ROAM check in. I’ve used it many times. Sometimes it takes 3 minutes to be cleared and other times it has taken 3 hours. Only once I was asked to do an “interview” over the phone. It was voice only, no video.
I’m curious as to other peoples’ experiences. I have used it now several times. Oh how I wish they would improve it just ever so slightly. If you would have some clue as to when it would get processed you could chill out. But not knowing the status is aggravating. My wait time has been closer to an hour each time. One time I nearly gave up and gave them a call. Then got blasted by a very nasty agent that explained to me that they were "busy" and would get to the request soon. I have learned two things (the hard way): 1. They don't open until 10:00. I have tried in the past to submit before they open but that seems to be a bad idea, i.e., seems like it takes much longer to get a response back. I now only submit after they are open. 2. Do not submit anywhere close to the border. Make sure you are well inside US waters. I submitted once when I was barely inside (according to both my chart plotter and my Navionics app) and ended up waiting an hour before they told me I had submitted outside US waters and was thus rejected. Now I make sure I'm well inside before I hit the send button. One other thing I have learned. It's really hard to hold the camera still over the passport to scan the information if the boat (my case a monohull) is rocking. You are better off scanning all of the passports from a quite anchorage.
Life's short - sail more!
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Re: Overnight at Lameshur or Salt Pond.
[Re: Shifty]
#220442
03/12/2020 02:53 PM
03/12/2020 02:53 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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I wait until we anchor to submit. The longest it took us to get a confirmation was about 8 days. We usually get the confirmation same day. I've stopped worrying about it. We've used ROAM a dozen times. The only time we had a live conversation was checking in to PR from DR. It helps that my crew all have trusted traveler numbers.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: Overnight at Lameshur or Salt Pond.
[Re: RickG]
#220491
03/12/2020 09:38 PM
03/12/2020 09:38 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347 USVI
LocalSailor
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
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The longest it took us to get a confirmation was about 8 days. I've stopped worrying about it.
Cheers, RickG After 8 days I imagine worrying about it might not really matter!
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Re: Overnight at Lameshur or Salt Pond.
[Re: Shifty]
#220649
03/14/2020 09:53 AM
03/14/2020 09:53 AM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
cyclingdoc
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
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We have used it several times.
1. Once we tried to use it coming across from JVD to Maho and we knew the cell reception was better in the open water then in Maho so we tried halfway across and got rejected immediately due to being outside US waters. Definitely wait as mentioned above.
2. One morning we initiated at 8:03am, phone interview at 8:05am and cleared in 2 minutes. Only time out of 5-10 times that we were interviewed.
3. Other times it has been from 10 minutes to the more typical 2-3 hours. It’s problematic because it you can’t clear in then you have to commit to changing plans and heading to a customs office, which at 5 knots can significantly alter plans when you “anticipate it working.” Example. Sailing from JVD to Maho and spending the day and night at Maho. If it doesn’t work then you have to head to Cruz Bay to clear in and back which is a 2-3 hour commitment.
4. Once we were cleared in 5 days later. Already went to Cruz bay and cleared in person.
5. Another time our friends needed to catch a taxi from Maho to Cruz, then ferry from Cruz to Charlotte Amalie. We tried for 2 hours in Maho. They separated from us, risky I know, and when they got to Charlotte Amalie customs they explained the situation and the nice agents immediately cleared us all via ROAM. Completely unexpected outcome. They said they were busy.
6. I was under the impression it goes to some regional or national office, but the local agents said they process the local requests. Not sure I can confirm this.
Overall I very happy the option exists. Isn’t everything a work in progress?
Last edited by cyclingdoc; 03/14/2020 09:53 AM.
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Re: Overnight at Lameshur or Salt Pond.
[Re: cyclingdoc]
#220708
03/14/2020 03:22 PM
03/14/2020 03:22 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
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We have used it several times.
It’s problematic because it you can’t clear in then you have to commit to changing plans and heading to a customs office, which at 5 knots can significantly alter plans when you “anticipate it working.”
I agree. This is exactly the issue with the process. If you got some sort of estimate right away when someone was going to process the submission you would know better what to do. If I arrived at Maho and was told it was going to be 4 hours I would probably head in to the CBP office in Cruz Bay to make sure I could get through the process that day. The concept is great and I really like it. I just wish for a small tweak to make it really work.
Life's short - sail more!
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