Recently took our boat from the BVI to St Croix. Not done the trip between BVI and USVI before because I was concerned that you waste too much time in the checkout/check in process. Also - as we often have mixed nationalities onboard I was concerned about the rules of arriving in the USVI with UK passport holders on ESTAs as opposed to Visas... as well as US Citizens and Green Card holders...however we went for it

I blogged a piece about the experience - bottom line it was pretty straightforward. I thought the blog maybe useful for people contemplating the same. I struggled to find much informative detail online before I went, but lots of people told me it would be complicated and may mean a visit to the airport in St Croix to visit CBP in person. Happy to report that wasn't needed.

Linked here for info.


https://graemem.substack.com/p/passage-to-st-croix-immigration-management

Thank you for the info!

There are some hoops that need to be jumped through in order for a UK citizen to enter the USA, by pleasure vessel, using an ESTA. You MUST have first entered the USA by commercial carrier (plane or ship) within the last 90 days and your entire time in the USA must be no more than 90 days. For example, you CANNOT fly from the UK to, say, SXM, then fly on to the BVI and then take a pleasure boat to USVI on an ESTA. You CAN fly UK to STT or Puerto Rico, fly on to BVI, pickup a pleasure boat and then sail to USVI using an ESTA.

Most of this is explained in mcevog's linked info, above, but thought I'd put this clarification right here where it is more easily available. And of course you should always check the latest situation as things change sometimes without warning!

Thats right - the blog explains that but the 2 UK passport holders onboard that were traveling on ESTA had arrived in the mainland US, then connected to the BVI via San Juan. So the sailing arrival in St Croix was within the period of their active ESTA. There was no problem for the UK passport holder with a B2 visa - that was simple.

When we sailed from USVI to Culebra we had 2 UK citizens on board with ESTA. We used CBRoam but had to visit the airport in Culebra to clear in the 2 Uk citizens. I think it all depends on who at US customs reviews the application.

On a more recent trip into Cruz Bay our CBroam application (with 2 UK. Citizens ) was denied !! We visited the Cruz Bay office …had to fill in a new app for the US Citizens, UK citizens processed separately.
I asked why the denial … basically the answer was it depends on the customs officer reviewing the application.

I prefer checking out of BVI at West end or Josh, Less likely to get caught up in ferry traffic.

Bob

Yes, west end might be preferable unless the ferry dock is within walking distance of the boat.