Giving up US Cruising License when using ROAM

[geoffr]

We are planning on heading to the Bahamas in a couple of weeks time and would like to give up our US Cruising License.

We have been using the ROAM app and don't see a way to check out of the US (so our personal exit is logged), nor where we can give up the Cruising License (so we can renew for another year on the boat when we re-enter the US).

Does anyone know do we do this, hopefully someone who has done this.

[chris mac]

Unfortunately it's a common problem. CBP doesn't care if we leave, and has never issued us a zarpe. I'm told if you insist, they will do it but it's a fight
Same with the cruising permit. We have tried several times and had no success with canceling it.
When you come back, check in under the same cruising permit(assuming it's still valid) and request a new one once the old expires. Different offices will treat it different. Finding one that will issue a new permit is the trick. We have had good luck with the Norfolk office.

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by chris mac

Unfortunately it's a common problem. CBP doesn't care if we leave, and has never issued us a zarpe. I'm told if you insist, they will do it but it's a fight
Same with the cruising permit. We have tried several times and had no success with canceling it.
When you come back, check in under the same cruising permit(assuming it's still valid) and request a new one once the old expires. Different offices will treat it different. Finding one that will issue a new permit is the trick. We have had good luck with the Norfolk office.

We went to CBP downtown San Diego office and cancelled our cruising licence and received form indicating so... before we headed to Mexico.

[hpeer]

I am q dualie and had my Canadian registered boat in the USA for a few seasons.

I believe there are something like 13 different districts and each one interprets the regulations differently. New York region was a PITA. Baltimore completely different. I made a point of going to the office and speaking to the agents personally. I would hand in my cruising permit when I hauled the boat (in dry dock for the agents). Then when I wanted to launch I would go get another permit.

From mu experience I would find the office that covers your point of departure and go there, in person, and ask them how to do what you want. If that does not work then try an adjacent district. I will net that what you want is doable at least somewhere.

[carstenb]

A zarpe is almost impossible. At best they will give you a Form 1300 which is for the big ships.

Leave and when you come back, check in using ROAM, then enter your old license number and ask for a new one. This will usually get the officer to call you and then it goes through without issue.

Having said this - do not try this in the South Carolina district - they are so restrictive on reading the regs that the regs become almost impossible to follow

[Zanshin]

I've cleared out of the USA twice in Norfolk, VA. They had no problem issuing an exit Zarpe (I can't remember the form number, but it was for bigger vessels) and cancelling my cruising licenses both times.
The exit paperwork was accepted by Dutch Sint Maarten and Antigua - both countries known for being very picky regarding paperwork.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by chris mac

Unfortunately it's a common problem. CBP doesn't care if we leave, and has never issued us a zarpe. I'm told if you insist, they will do it but it's a fight
Same with the cruising permit. We have tried several times and had no success with canceling it.
When you come back, check in under the same cruising permit(assuming it's still valid) and request a new one once the old expires. Different offices will treat it different. Finding one that will issue a new permit is the trick. We have had good luck with the Norfolk office.

We give up ours in North Palm Beach as thats where we always make the crossing from. From the anchorage south of Peanut Island it's a five minute walk to the customs office and they will recind your current license for you.

[hpeer]

Norfolk is Baltimore District and they have been pretty reasonable.
This district by district interpretation is BS but we are stuck with it.
I BELIEVE Miami is easy to work with but have no personal experience.

[hpeer]

FYI Bahamas dose not require a ZARPE. But will give you one when you exit.
Ditto the French islands (Saint Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique).

Sint Maartin (Dutch side) DOES require a zarpe. If you come direct from the US (VI, PR, continental) you can come into the Dutch lagoon and continue to the French side. OR if staying Dutch side just dingy over to the French side to Island Water World and check in, get lunch, check out, dingy back to Dutch side and show them the French ZARPE. I even did it on a 4 day weekend and the Dutch tolerated me. Just need to give them a bean to count and they are happy, no bean, no happy.

[Zanshin]

It is well-known in the cruising community that the French islands (St. Martin, St. Barths, Guadeloupe, Martinique) are the best places to clear in "informally". This is usually done in coffee shops or other stores and it is known that outbound clearances, or "Zarpe", are not checked. All that for a government mandated fee of 5 Euros! It is really the boating equivalent of "get out of jail free"! Vive la France!

[chris mac]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

We give up ours in North Palm Beach as thats where we always make the crossing from. From the anchorage south of Peanut Island it's a five minute walk to the customs office and they will recind your current license for you.

Great info, thank you. It's too late for this year, we are approaching west palm offshore, but are continuing straight to Bahamas tonight.
I will definately check that out next year!

[SailingHarmonie]

So much misinformation in here...

You absolutely CAN get a zarpe from the US, and yes you DO use form 1300. No, it is not convenient, you have to actually physically go to a CBP office, you can not use ROAM. Yes, the form does have parts that only apply to big ships, but WHO CARES???? Just fill it out and get it stamped, and you are good to go. Put on your big boy pants and just deal.

https://fetchinketch.net/2022/05/01/...ut-of-the-usa/

If you are leaving for places other than the Bahamas, it is ALWAYS a good idea to get a zarpe from the USA. It is true the USA really doesn't care about checking out for US flagged boats, but MANY countries do. I know from personnel, first hand knowledge that Antigua, Grenada, Guatemala and Sint Maarten will make life difficult for you if you show up without a zarpa--even if you are coming from the USA. I know people who have been delayed approval, or refused entry without a zarpe in hand, and others who had to pay significant fines.

If we are leaving the USA (including PR and the USVI) we ALWAYS get a zarpe. Somehow we manage--even though there are people here who claim it is not possible.

[geoffr]

If you are going to the Bahamas (and don't need the outbound clearance) I have been told:

You should call the nearest Port of Entry and ask them to “cancel” the cruising license (CL) in their system. He said their system was recently updated and the officer will actually have to go into the “issue CL” function to add an end date for the CL.