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Port of Arrival: St. Thomas
For marine vessels, customs and immigration clearances are conducted at adjoining
offices located on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront (Edward Wilmoth Blyden Marine
Terminal); offices are open during posted business office hours, 7 days a week,
365 days a year. Overtime charges, however, will be applied to clearances on
Sundays and applicable holidays.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office hours of
operation are 8 am - 12 am and 1 pm - 4:30 pm AST. Contact the local Customs
Service/Marine Terminal Supervisory Inspector in St. Thomas at (340) 774-6755.
For additional information regarding CBP regulation and related questions,
dial (281) 230-4642.
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U.S. Immigration officials maintain office hours from 8 am - 12 am and 1 pm - 5
pm AST and may be contacted locally by phone at (340) 774-2378. U.S. citizens
are required to present proof of citizenship to enter the
U.S. Virgin Islands. Foreign visitors need a passport and a U.S. visa to enter
the USVI (Canadians do not currently need a visa.) Immigration officials will
make no exception to this rule.
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U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Requirements:
Notice of Arrival/Departure (NOA/D)
As of March 2003, the United States Coast Guard reports directly to the Secretary
of the Department of Homeland Security. Best known to mariners for its role in
saving life at sea, today’s USCG is tasked with protecting the public, the
environment, and U.S. economic interests — in the nation’s ports and
waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region
as required to support national security.
Per the Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard, 33 CFR Part
160, all vessels over 300 ton gross weight, and any vessel carrying paying
passengers in and out of U.S. waters, are required to submit an advance
Notice of Arrival/Departure (NOA/D) to the U.S. Coast
Guard before calling at or departing from U.S. ports. Vessels carrying paid
crew, but no passengers, entering or leaving U.S. ports for the purpose of
picking up charter guests, must file. Day charters and term yacht charters
must file as well.
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