U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is announcing clearance procedures for pleasure boats arriving in the United States from Canada.  The pleasure boat clearance procedures are part of CBP's comprehensive efforts to improve security at our nation's borders while facilitating legitimate travel.
 
Boaters, family members and all guests entering the United States must report for inspection immediately upon arrival. Arrival of a vessel is defined as the time when the vessel first comes to rest in U.S. waters, whether at anchor or at dock. CBP clearance may be obtained by one of the three following methods:

• Report for inspection at the nearest open marina Port of Entry (presently Thousand Islands and Lake Champlain areas only).
• Utilize a CBP videophone station located at: Dunkirk, Erie Basin Marina (Buffalo), North Tonawanda, Youngstown, Wilson, Olcott, Point Breeze, Rochester, Sodus Point, Oswego, Sackets Harbor, Clayton, Alexandria Bay, Morristown, Ogdensburg and Waddington. Please note: Videophones located in N.Y. State Parks have not been affected by any of the parks selected for closure.
• Be in possession of a pre-approved Form I-68 or NEXUS member proximity card and call 1-800-827-2851 to report your arrival. 

Small boats travel document requirements:

• As required by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), U.S. and Canadian citizens must present a WHTI-compliant travel document for entry into the United States by land and sea.  For complete WHTI information, please visit www.cbp.gov 
• Boaters who have an I-68 form will need to follow the new travel document requirements. Ensuring that you have a WHTI-compliant document (U.S. Passport Card, Enhanced Driver's License/Enhanced Identification Card, I-551 card or Passport) will enable you to continue to utilize telephonic clearance procedures currently in place for I-68 holders.
• An I-68 form is not considered an identity document or a travel document.

To help facilitate your inspection, pleasure boaters should have the below-listed information available at the time of inspection:

• Name, Date of Birth and Citizenship of all persons on board
• Name of the boat and/or Boat Registration Number
• U.S. Decal Number (if 30 feet or longer) - Read more here...
• Home Port and Current Location

Pleasure boaters and frequent cross-border travelers are encouraged to participate in the NEXUS alternative inspection program. NEXUS members will enjoy a simplified entry process while traveling across the United States-Canada border by motor vehicle or pleasure boat.  Application forms are available on the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) website at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.  For NEXUS toll free information, (U.S. and Canadian), call 1-866-NEXUS 26 (1-866-639-8726).
 
Failure to report can result in civil penalties and fines up to $10,000 as defined in Title 19, U.S. Code, Section 1436.
 
For other U.S. reporting information, call 1-800-827-2851 or visit www.cbp.gov.  To report suspicious activity, boaters are encouraged to call 1-800-331-0353 for Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Niagara River, or 1-800-247-2434 for the St Lawrence River and Lake Champlain.