US Canadian custom crossing with Nexus

[OlygirlNav]

On recent cruise to Canada found out some changes when clearing customs.

1. Make sure NEXUS profile information is current.
2. Boats under 30 ft do not require a cruise license to enter USA
3. Once completing ARRIVE CAN app then proceed to slip in custom approved marinas (Ganges on Salt Spring is one of many) then call Nexus Canada to get entry clearance and number
4. Entering USA use the CBP ROAM app, download before you leave home as doing on the water is intermittent (same login as used for NEXUS login). Make sure your connection is good as it takes a long time. I timed out at least three times with 2 bars.

It appears USA customs is no longer on the dock, they too are using a phone on dock to clear customs. Over 1 hour wait with only two boats ahead. Calling the NEXUS USA number was not useful as the customs official insisted we use CBP ROAM app and ultimately refused to clear us and directed to enter via Friday Harbor. Frustrating lesson.

 

[scross]

We had the same experience as OlygirlNav getting into Canada in June. Canada wants you on the dock at a Nexus approved port before calling in.
Coming back into US we stopped at Roche. No custom agent at Roche. Black phone at Customs shack got us to Customs agent at Friday Harbor. He told us we had to use the CPB ROAM app.

 

[Red Raven]

We just crossed back into the US with Nexus on 6/29/22. We did not use CBP Roam because we found this excerpt from a press release from CBP dated May 5, 20222.

…
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

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 from prior trips. Our partner boat cleared through CBP Roam (no Nexus) but were delayed about 30 minutes because the Port of Entry not selected as Friday Harbor and the App got hung up.

On the way up to Canada we had the same experience as stated above. They would not take take a call on the Nexus line without being at the dock at an open designated port (we were at Bedwell Harbor). Arrive Canada App info was required. No advantage for having Nexus that I could tell.

Curt

 

[scross]

Curt,
Interesting your experience with the new call in number. I had a very different experience with my call to the regular Nexus call in number. I called 800-562-5943 at Roche after finding the Customs shack deserted and were told by a brusque officer that we had to just wait at the customs dock for a CBP officer to show up. Apparently he had no idea that there wasn’t going to be anyone from CBP there that entire day.
Oh, and yes, we both have BR numbers. The 800 number telephone guy didn’t care.
After 30 minutes waiting I used the black phone at the Customs shack connected with the nice and helpful agent at Friday Harbor who literally walked me through the ROAM call while he followed my ROAM entries in real time on his computer.
Cheers to the CBP agent at Friday Harbor, a pox on the guy who answered the 1-800-562-5943 number.

 

[dbsea]

We called in at the customs dock at port Sidney. It was a 5 minute exercise, and we both have nexus and has completed the arrivecan app. We’re heading to Stuart island tomorrow and I’ve completed our CBP roam info and because we have nexus and global entry we don’t even have to do the FaceTime…

 

[SJI Sailor]

Our recent experience was same as Dave's. We have Nexus and used CBP Roam. Got a phone call and they cleared us with no video required.

One minor point is to use CBP Roam only *after* crossing into US waters. One time I did it about 1/4 mile before crossing the water border and they made me call back later (and then of course I lost signal for 30 minutes).

Agreed that Nexus seemed to make no difference in Canada AFAICT. They even boarded us in Sydney and checked boat papers, IDs, etc. Apparently that was just because we were there, because we were on hold for the phone center. Were very nice, though.

 

[dbsea]

We were pursued and boarded just outside Sidney spit by the customs boat on the way in to Sidney. Little alarming but no problem. They checked our nexus cards and documentation and sent us on our way.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Answer re: NEXUS advantages: the way it was explained to me there are several more NEXUS sites than regular telephone reporting sites for non-NEXUS holders. Depending on your itinerary, NEXUS could be much more convenient.

For example, if your final destination is Port Browning, without NEXUS you have to first clear in Bedwell Harbor but with Nexus you can proceed directly to Port Browning and call from there. Another NEXUS-only station is at Ganges Harbor, which really simplifies life for boaters whose first port of call is Saltspring (no detour to Bedwell or Canoe Cove). Cabbage Island is another great example that is NEXUS (and CANPASS) only and super-convenient for boaters trying to make it to the Sunshine Coast in one leg.

Here's the website to lookup stations to clear in Canada, you can see which ones list NEXUS AND are Telephone Reporting Sites and which ones are NEXUS only:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/servi ... e-eng.html

We were pursued and boarded just outside Sidney spit by the customs boat on the way in to Sidney. Little alarming but no problem. They checked our nexus cards and documentation and sent us on our way.

This is a good reason to fly the yellow Q flag. Customs boats will often spot them and make your life more convenient, even if you haven't called in, etc.

 

[dbsea]

Answer re: NEXUS advantages: the way it was explained to me there are several more NEXUS sites than regular telephone reporting sites for non-NEXUS holders. Depending on your itinerary, NEXUS could be much more convenient.

For example, if your final destination is Port Browning, without NEXUS you have to first clear in Bedwell Harbor but with Nexus you can proceed directly to Port Browning and call from there. Another NEXUS-only station is at Ganges Harbor, which really simplifies life for boaters whose first port of call is Saltspring (no detour to Bedwell or Canoe Cove). Cabbage Island is another great example that is NEXUS (and CANPASS) only and super-convenient for boaters trying to make it to the Sunshine Coast in one leg.

Here's the website to lookup stations to clear in Canada, you can see which ones list NEXUS AND are Telephone Reporting Sites and which ones are NEXUS only:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/servi ... e-eng.html

We were pursued and boarded just outside Sidney spit by the customs boat on the way in to Sidney. Little alarming but no problem. They checked our nexus cards and documentation and sent us on our way.

This is a good reason to fly the yellow Q flag. Customs boats will often spot them and make your life more convenient, even if you haven't called in, etc.

The quarantine flag? Not following.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Red Raven]

Answer re: NEXUS advantages: the way it was explained to me there are several more NEXUS sites than regular telephone reporting sites for non-NEXUS holders. Depending on your itinerary, NEXUS could be much more convenient...

Yes, we have taken advantage of the Nexus reporting sites in the past. However, when we transited in early June the Nexus reporting sites were still temporally closed due to Covid. We had to go to Bedwell and clear from the dock. It appears (from the the website referenced) that they opened the Nexus reporting sites now. Yay!

Curt

 

[FlyMeAway]

The quarantine flag? Not following.

It’s customary to fly the Q flag between crossing an international boundary / into territorial waters and clearing customs. After you clear, you hoist the courtesy flag of the foreign country in place of the Q flag (you are not supposed to fly the courtesy flag before clearing). If you’re returning to the US (not from international waters), you take down the courtesy flag of the country you are leaving and hoist the Q flag until clearing US customs, or if returning from international waters you hoist the Q flag upon crossing the territorial boundary..

Flying Q flag serves several purposes. First, it signals to customs boats that you haven’t cleared yet — sometimes they are on the lookout (this is more in Canada, Mexico, and other places than when re-entering the US at least in the PNW; I’ve never seen a customs boat here but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist!). Second, it *theoretically* could help avoid a charge of smuggling. I’ve never heard of this happening in North America (thought doesn’t mean that it hasn’t), but in other parts of the world I’ve heard from sailors that hoisting the Q flag can deter quite a bit of confusion/misunderstanding with customs officials. Third, it’s just good seapersonship!