| If it’s the first time you’ve traveled on a | | | | processing. And many boaters have been showing |
| Bahamas Yacht Charter or you haven’t | | | | birth certificates to authorities to obtain boater |
| chartered within the last five years than you may | | | | numbers for re-entry. |
| want to know that a few of the customs rules have | | | | Chris Oswell, captain of the Lady Nancy, a 112-foot |
| changed. Whether you are traveling by yacht or car | | | | private yacht that frequently visits South Florida, said |
| outside of the United States you will need to present | | | | he has operated for several years on the premise |
| additional paperwork when returning from nearby | | | | that no one comes aboard for a trip to the United |
| countries. | | | | States without a passport or green card. He has |
| Both Adults and children who are U.S. citizens will be | | | | mentioned that those who cannot provide the |
| required to show "proof of citizenship," such as a | | | | documentation will have to be turned away. Most |
| birth certificate, naturalization certificate or a U.S. | | | | charterers are notified in advance by their charter |
| passport to enter the country, even if your charter | | | | agent as to what the preparation requirements are |
| disembarked from a U.S. port such as Miami or Fort | | | | for their voyage. |
| Lauderdale. Adults also will need to show government | | | | The Lady Nancy arrives like many yacht charters do |
| IDs, such as a driver's license. | | | | from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale and clear |
| There will be some leniency for airline travelers | | | | customs by phoning an 800 number and giving |
| coming into South Florida. U.S. citizens coming in from | | | | Homeland Security the passengers' names, passport |
| Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or some Caribbean | | | | numbers, dates of birth and addresses. The captain |
| countries will not have to provide a passport when | | | | gets a clearance number in return. Guests then have |
| returning. | | | | 24 hours to go to an Eller Drive office at Port |
| The majority of marinas where charters disembark | | | | Everglades and show their passports and clearance |
| from typically do require proof of citizenship already | | | | numbers. |
| from all of the passengers coming and disembarking. | | | | Travelers shouldn't find it hard to comply with new |
| Since the protocols for the marinas haven’t | | | | requirements. Proof of citizenship can even include a |
| changed much, U.S. officials expect smooth sailing | | | | U.S. passport that has expired, said Zachary Mann, |
| because most U.S. travelers already show proof of | | | | special agent and spokesman for U.S. Customs and |
| citizenship for re-entry by sea as well. Recently the | | | | Border Protection. |
| Fort Lauderdale mayor and U.S. coast guard met with | | | | "We don't expect extensive lines [in South Florida] |
| Caribbean officials in St. Maarten to see how they | | | | because of this rule," Mann said. "And if you don't |
| can optimize the customs process for the yachting | | | | have the right documents, and you're a U.S. citizen |
| community. | | | | returning, we're not going to keep you out. The |
| While some business groups worry that the strict | | | | processing time for you to enter will just take |
| rules may disrupt commerce and travel across the | | | | longer." |
| U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders for travelers | | | | A smooth transition will be greatly welcomed in |
| coming into the states by car, the yachting industry | | | | comparison to the law change implemented a few |
| does not anticipate being heavily affected. | | | | years ago requiring a passport for U.S. citizens flying |
| The Travel Industry Association and Travel Business | | | | back from Western Hemisphere countries. So many |
| Roundtable have asked the government to have | | | | millions of citizens requested passports that passport |
| expressed some concerns about travelers having to | | | | offices were overwhelmed. The government had to |
| provide actual birth certificates and have requested | | | | suspend the rule to clear the backlog before |
| to delay the "proof of citizenship" rule, until it has | | | | reinstating it. |
| been modified. The groups have asked that U.S. | | | | The passport rule also took a toll on the Caribbean, |
| citizens be required to show only a | | | | the world's most tourism-dependent region. Some |
| government-issued ID to re-enter by land or sea. | | | | Americans skipped Caribbean vacations to avert the |
| These new rules are part of the country’s plan | | | | hassle and cost of obtaining passports. The |
| to implement tighter border security since September | | | | economies of countries including the Bahamas and |
| 11, 2001 and the recent Presidential race has made it | | | | Jamaica, who didn’t require a U.S. passport for |
| known that the new President Elect in November of | | | | entry in the past, suffered. |
| 2008 will have to make the issue a top priority. South | | | | Even Caribbean islands that are part of the United |
| Florida marine leaders have forecasted that they | | | | States and excluded from the passport rule, including |
| don’t see any problems in the future because | | | | the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, felt some of |
| they have been getting the word out to the mariner | | | | the effects, but U.S. travel to the Caribbean is |
| community for months through Web sites, travel | | | | bouncing back this year. |
| agents and other channels to those entering the | | | | The current processing time for a U.S. passport |
| United States by sea. | | | | application is four to six weeks, down from roughly |
| Many cruise companies, including Miami-based Carnival | | | | 12 weeks in mid-2007. Passports may still be |
| Cruise Lines, the world's largest, had been requiring | | | | expedited for an additional premium or under certain |
| their clients to show proof of citizenship to speed | | | | sets of circumstances. |