Canadian customs

S

synergy

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Apr 4, 2011
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C-248 C
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Arima Sea Ranger
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synergy
Has any one cleared into BC customs at British Columbia marine park at cabbage island using Nexus
 
Haven’t even been to Cabbage Island. That’s on the north eastern side of Saturna Island and looks pretty remote. Is it a worthwhile spot to add to a cruising list?
It’s on the Nexus reporting list so you should be fine. You need to be sure you can place a cellular call from there since the new procedure is to call on actual arrival rather than calling once in Canadian waters in route to the destination.
 
Cabbage (Tumbo) is a pretty protected anchorage, part of the Gulf Islands National Park system. There's a few mooring buoys but you can usually anchor if they are taken. Holding is good. It's one of those spots that one spends a quiet night, maybe dinghy ashore and walk around the island, do a bit of beech-combing or just enjoy the great views over the Georgia Strait. I do enjoy it as a stop in a cruise.

There's an exclusion zone at the end of Saturna. Check it out here https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mam ... s-eng.html . It means you have to stay clear of Boiling Point before heading into Tumbo Channel but it's not too difficult. It's one of the zones (the other being off Pender) that many US boaters are unaware of.
 
You should be able to call and speak to a Nexus officer from your home port before you leave. As long as everyone on board has a Nexus card. The number is 888-226–7277.
 
Elie,
Have you crossed into Canada in the past few weeks? When we crossed in June they had changed the call in procedure for 2022. Several other folks on tugnuts have reported the same change I call in for Nexus holders. Call in only after arrival at a Nexus checking point. Very different than in the past. If they have changed it again please elaborate on your recent experience. We will be crossing into Canada again this week and want to be current. Thanks!
 
+1 to scross, it has been changing. The last I've heard (and did a couple of months ago) involved using ArriveCan and calling from a specific dock. Nexus basically didn't matter except perhaps in determining their level.of concern. That may be changing now to more like the pre-Covid patterns but it seems somewhat unpredictable from reports. There is more in this thread from Trawler Forum: https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/nexus-entry-into-canada-64653.html
 
Similar question in reverse please. I expect to cross into the USA in a week. First time in 3 years. I have the CBP app and understand that process. I will enter my Nexus number etc. Can I get a cruising license through that process? Do I still need a license in an RT25SC? I also have a BR number and have previously simply called in to that number as I’ve crossed the border and been cleared that way. Is that process still available?

Any Canadians crossed recently?

Thanks
 
Hi David,

When we crossed back into the US on 6/29 we called on 1-800-562-5943 and did not use CBP Roam based on the words in the press release below.

…
If arriving in Washington and everyone onboard the vessel is a member of one of CBP’s Trusted Traveler programs (NEXUS, Global Entry, or SENTRI) the entry may be reported by calling 1-800-562-5943 and you will not need to use the CBP ROAM™ app.
…

Here is the link to the full press release.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-medi ... quirements

While CBP roam is not required( for arriving in Washington at least), others have reported using it with Nexus successfully as well so I’m not really sure of the difference.

We called and cleared through the Bellingham office into Stuart Island in 10 minutes. We did have a Boater Registration (BR) number in addition to our Nexus cards which I think speeds up the process.

It is my understanding foreign vessels still need a cruising license (to avoid the more formal reporting process) regardless of size of boat. I believe you can do this through the CPB app though I don’t have direct experience as we are a US boat and it is not required.

Curt
 
Thanks Curt. Very helpful.

Looking forward to seeing you at Roche.
 
I entered Canada at Trout River, New York, in June, I handed my passport do the Canadian Officer in charge she went into her office came back out gave me my passport back and said have a nice day. She did not stamp my passport she did not inspect the boat which I was towing behind my truck and sent me on my way. So the only record of clearing into Canada is my passport number ,recorded hopefully by the computer, there’s no indication that my truck trailer or boat has been processed. I got concerned because when you pass through locks the lock tender normally wants a lot of information. So I called customs ,after five or six different people I got one guy who said authoritatively if you cleared in with a passport you’re good to go. So I’m on my way I’ll return back to the US in October, or in some cold Canadian cell. :roll:
 
In late July, I tried calling from departure port and all was going well, except one of my passengers hadn’t activated their Nexus. So the officer said I had to call when I arrived in Canada. But, up until that point it seemed like it was going to work. Sorry I don’t have better intel for you.
 
Cleared into Canada last week on nexus phone number from us waters. Gave arrival at Montague 1300. Agent said drive by the dock and if nobody waves you in by 1301 you are free to go.

Did the same mid July for Nanaimo but the agent couldn't tell me where the customs dock was, just go to the inner basin. Found it behind the fuel dock on the north side with commercial boats rafted and no sign of customs agents. Phone agent was very clear that if we missed our eta by more than 5 minutes they could revoke our nexus status. Probably won't get fruit cup either.
 
Just adding to the conversation here from our own recent experience. We returned to the US a few days ago from a 9 week cruise in Canada. Coming back to the US, I filled out the info on the CBP ROAM app, and then found this thread with the press release referenced above by Curt/Red Ravin. We both have NEXUS cards so I called the number instead. After waiting on hold for some time, an agent responded. The first thing he asked was whether I had the CBP ROAM app. I said I did but then quoted the press release that says to phone in. He said, "we prefer you to use the app, then if you have trouble, you can call this number." I submitted our info via the app and we had our clearance about 10 minutes later, no further questions asked. I suspect the process would have been a bit longer if we had not had NEXUS. One other point which is not made clear in the app: the app sends your coordinates; if you are not in US waters when you make your request, they cannot process it.

When we entered Canada on July 6, we used the ArriveCAN app (entering our NEXUS info) and clearance was just as painless.

John
 
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