Pleasure boaters returning to the territory from the British Virgin Islanders will no longer have to check in with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization in person as of July 1.
All private pleasure vessels returning form the B.V.I., unless specifically order to do so, will no longer have to be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Customs Service or the INS at the St. Thomas, St. John or St. Croix ports of entry.
Instead, the captain of the ship can fax a newly developed entry form to the agencies by the end of the next federal business day after returning to the U.S.V.I.
"I believe that this new procedure is another great example of the quality of public service that our administration in Washington, D.C., and our federal and territorial governments here in the U.S. Virgin Islands, are committed to providing the residents of our beautiful community," Ronald Parra, INS officer in charge, said in a statement earlier this week.
The new procedure only applies to U.S.V.I.-based non-commercial vessels carrying U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. It allows pleasure boaters to return from the B.V.I. after standard business hours.
All other vessels, captains, crews and passengers are still required to comply with current inspection procedures.
A captain can be assessed a fine of $3,000 per passenger for failing to report to the INS and a $5,000 fine for not reporting to the Customs Service for inspection; failure to report for inspection can also result in the seizure of a vessel.
The number to fax the entry form to upon returning to the U.S.V.I. is 777-4498.
