T&T: Alameda to Vancouver BC - Passport needed?

[John Peters]

Interesting discussion on passport requirements - -

In 2005 and 2006 we had jumped thru all the hoops and obtained our
I-68 documents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  For us,
because we only make one entry into the US each year on our boat, it
was not worth either the expense or the hassle.

Therefore, this year we did not apply for an I-68.
That meant that we would have to stop at a US Customs Port of Entry
upon our return.  I have played that game a zillion times and don't
view it as any great imposition.

So - a couple of weeks ago we returned to Washington from a couple
months in Northern BC waters.
As we crossed the Strait of Juan de Fuca, my wife phoned the Customs
agent in Port Townsend to let him know we would be arriving and
requested that he come down and clear us - or whatever.

He said he was busy at the airport and mildly admonished her for not
knowing that his office had changed to an appointment only basis.
He also admonished her for not buying anything in Canada, as that is
what women were expected to do.
She gave him the vital statistics for the boat and ourselves.
He requested our I-68 number - which she explained that we did not have.
But she gave him last year's numbers.
He then requested our passport numbers.
She said the passports were in the stateroom and it would take her a
minute to retrieve them.
He said "don't bother" and cleared us to enter. And that was it.

I would not dare speculate on what might happen the next time we enter
the US at Port Townsend or elsewhere, but this event indicates to me
that there may be a lot of individual discretion or latitude allowed.

In 2006 we obtained our I-68 documents from the same agent in Port
Townsend and he seemed to be a nice and personable guy.  But - don't
interpret that to mean that he is a pushover - NO customs agent is.

Incidentally - he told us that the big smuggling activity these days
is "designer dogs" from Mexico.

Someone had posted earlier that they hated to go all the way to
Ketchikan to clear US Customs because there was so much to see south
of KTN.

On previous trips to Southeastern, I corresponded with the Customs
agent in KTN and explained what we wanted to do.  I requested and was
granted a variance.  Worked out just fine for us.

There is a lot of small boat traffic into SE AK and apparently a lot
of contraband comes in that way.  So one doesn't want to play any
silly games with these folks.  As my Pappy said  - "There are two
people you don't want to lie to - IRS and Customs."  Good advice - I
think.

Incidentally, this year a Canadian vessel that we had met on a
previous trip came up to Winship as we were anchored in a cove.
I had gone around the corner in my rubber boat to retrieve some crab
pots and he came alongside Winship and reminisced with my wife.
Said he had a new job now - as a volunteer RCMP and he was assigned to
this particular area.
His job was to enforce fishing and customs regulations and he had the
authority to ticket violators.
When I returned, he said that I had just saved $250 because I was wearing a PFD.

He also said that he tickets a fair number of US boats who try to
sneak down the outer BC coast from AK to WA without clearing Canadian
Customs.  Said that they apparently think they can get away with it by
anchoring up in some of the remote bays.  I don't know the price of
those tickets.

Incidentally (again) I really hate to say this but we like Northern BC
as much or better than SE Alaska.

To paraphrase what Wayne would say - - - Take care and be good.

Best,
John Peters - Winship