Upcoming Customs Changes?

mixman

mixman

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We checked back in at Ft. Pierce Airport the other day and the officer (very nice man, actually) informed us of some upcoming changes for recreational boaters. He said that LBO (Local Boater Option) will be required in FL, and will go national soon. Boaters will also have to mirror what pilots of aircraft have to do such as file full float plans with both USGC and Customs. He said the plans will have to detail departure date, port, as well as return date and port. Has anyone heard of such? How the heck does one pinpoint the return date on a recreational boat (especially a small one)? This sounds like government yet again out of control and without a clue to me.
 
Not a thing. We checked in with LBO and heard nothing from the officer that managed our case. BUT-

Here is a link with some detail. I saw something about this just prior to our return and almost enrolled a second time. Hopefully it will work when I try it again soon.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/05262010_2.xml

I'm not sure I like the automated system having the opportunity to refer me to a site for interview....
 
I tried to register for a password using the link on the announcement and it could not locate me, but we checked in fine with the numbers. I dunno about this new system...
 
Sounds like BS to me. But you never know. The problem is you get different stories from different agents and agencies.

If you read the press release, there appears to be nothing mandatory about it.

"The program is designed to provide LBO participants an easy-to-use, web-based tool to record and update their intended international travel on a private vessel by filing a float plan."
 
LOL... if the online LBO system was designed by the same geniuses who designed the decal website, good luck! the decal renewal system is the worst website i've ever seen!
 
Pascal I agree! I was thoroughly confused by that site, walked away from it, and came back a couple of times before I bought a decal. This last year I actually got one that did the trick for our itinerary. Hopefully they didn't change it out from under us!
 
Let's hope the office was misinformed. That certainly happens often enough. But according to Dan's link, it seems like at least some of what I was told might be coming true:

The program is designed to provide LBO participants an easy-to-use, web-based tool to record and update their intended international travel on a private vessel by filing a float plan.

Float plans consist of biographical information of all persons intending on traveling, vessel registration information and itinerary information. Once a float plan is entered and activated, SVRS will issue a float plan number.

Upon return to the U.S., the LBO participant will contact a fully automated phone system and enter their float plan number. The automated system will ask a series of customs-related questions and provide the participant with their arrival number or refer the participant to a predetermined inspection site for a CBP inspection. Persons traveling who are not LBO members must report to their nearest CBP office for immigration processing within 24 hours of arrival.
 
I had an itchy trigger finger and accidentally created a duplicate thread of this topic. I've asked Les to delete/merge it. Here's Pascal's initial reply from the duplicate:

quote:
Posted - Jun 06 2010 : 10:44:19

havent' heard that one before... unless things have changed in the past few years, private planes are required to file a advanced notice of arrival with customs but you do that before coming back in, not before leaving the US. pretty easy now with modern communications but back when this came into effect (mid 80s, at the peak of the drug war) it was nearly impossible to call US customs from teh islands. major headache.

FAA handles flight plans, but USCG doens't handle float plans... i doubt that's going to change any time soon. foreign flag vessels of certain tonnage have to advise customs/USCG before coming in, i doubt that's going to be extended to US flag.

LBO is a time saver if you go back and forth with the same crew, otherwise it's useless since your pax still have to go to immigration in person...

I can't imagine customs requiring advanced notice and float plan while still allowing you to clear by phone, doens't make any sense.

Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
2007 Sandbarhopper 13

Homeport: Miami, FL

Click to expand...
 
Well, I used the LBO last summer and it worked like a charm. As we entered Jupiter Inlet I called the "800", answered a few questions and that was it. Both my wife and I have a LBO card so we were both covered.

Plus, you do not have to be a FL resident to participate. My friend, lives in SC, and I are leaving later this week to the Bahamas. I took him to the CBP office at Daytona airport and they did a LBO card for him right on the spot.

I've only actively used it once but found it to be very convenient.

Bob
 
Daytona does it? I asked at Fort Pierce Airport and they claimed only West Palm and Miami did it. I've been wanting to go LBO for years but I'm never near either of those offices to apply.
 
We applied before we left last year. I called for an appointment knowing when we were going to be in Riviera Beach. They gave me one pretty much when I expected and we got our cards on the spot. And it also worked like a charm when we came back this Spring. And we are NY'ers (but we shower with Tomato juice just prior to crossing the Mason Dixon line. If it wasn't for the port of call on the transom we'd pass 80% of the time.

Edit:
Just got off the phone with them and it looks like a supervisor is going to examine this and send us a password. It didn't work for the officer either.
 
Dan, you got LBO via Riviera Beach? Somethings tells me the officer at Fort Pierce just didn't want to bother with us.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

Daytona does it? I asked at Fort Pierce Airport and they claimed only West Palm and Miami did it. I've been wanting to go LBO for years but I'm never near either of those offices to apply.

Click to expand...


As far as I know any CBP office in Florida can issue the LBO cards. I did mine and my wife's plus my friend's, all at Daytona Airport. I down loaded the application and took them, plus passport and boat document to the Daytona Airport CBP office and 15 minutes later I had the cards in my hand.

Bob
 
Kurt yes. We walked in with passports, and vessel dox. Walked out with LBO cards.

NOTE:

You may still be directed to an interview/inspection upon return in spite of having the card.
 
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