We folks sail on/at/near/around the US-Canada border all the time. Following
is a letter to our House Representive Candice Miller from the DRYA. Ms.
Miller is a sailor and has sailed the Port Huron to Mackinac Island race
several times.

The mentioned I-68 forms cost $18.00 plus three passport type photos plus
waiting in line at the INS line. All have to be present at the INS with
photo ID. And they are good for only one year.

My boat is on Lake St. Clair - 216nm as the crow flies to Mackinac Island
(from the GPS) and 8 hours upstream to Port Huron (these locations are
mentioned in the letter).
Just to let you know our problems. Any political help you can give is
appreciated...
---------------------------------------------------------
April 28, 2004

Honorable Candice S. Miller
House of Representatives
10th Michigan Congressional District
508 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Ms. Miller:
I am writing you on behalf of the Lake St. Clair based sailing fraternity
and in particular as a representative of the Detroit Regional Yacht-Racing
Association (DRYA). As you know, DRYA is a regional yachting association
which administers competitive sailing under the auspices of United States
Sailing Association, the national yacht racing authority. DRYA is comprised
of several hundred members, thousands of member club boaters, and is in many
circumstances the voice of sailing in southeastern Michigan.

Over the last several years and in particular since September 11, 2001 our
flag officers and administrators have met with various representatives of
the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Department of Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS), United States Customs and the Detroit Port
Authority. We have been advised of certain initiatives as a result of
Homeland Security measures. In the spring of 2002, the epartment of
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) sent agents to several Detroit
area yacht clubs for the purpose of facilitating the issuance of CANADIAN
BORDER BOAT LANDING PERMITS, commonly known as I-68. Hundreds of local
sailors applied for and received the I-68 cards. At that time there was
significant confusion and misunderstanding regarding who actually had to
have an I-68 card. We were never given a clear definition as to what
"landing" in Canada actually is. We obtained conflicting answers and the net
result was that we should all have I-68 cards. Apparently INS has a
different set of rules than does Customs. The Coast Guard could not answer
what should have been simple questions. The 2002 sailing season passed
without any incident and I do not know of any local sailors who were boarded
or otherwise inspected for I-68 cards. During 2003 there was little talk of
I-68 and again no enforcement action was experienced.

We have recently met again with representatives of INS, USCG and the Port
Authority. They have told us the following:

o boats will be boarded frequently

o all persons on board must have an I-68 card if they have "been in Canada"

o the burden of "not being in Canada" will be on the skipper and crew

o being in Canada might include sailing in Canadian waters and certainly
includes anchoring in Canadian waters and/or touching Canadian soil

o if all persons aboard any vessel do not have I-68 cards the vessel may be
impounded and/or fines may be levied

As you may know there is no practical way to "check in" on the American side
of Lake St. Clair or the Detroit River. There is no official "entry point"
except at the Detroit - Windsor Ambassador Bridge and there are no
facilities for landing a vessel at the bridge. The closest "check in" venue
is on Mackinac Island or maybe Port Huron. It is impossible to "phone" in as
the INS and Customs do not have personnel to visit the hundreds of vessels
which might venture into Canadian waters on any given summer day.

Canadian officials have devised a simple, logical and easy to use call in
system to land their American friends. It is difficult to understand why we
do not have a system that works so boaters can comply with reasonable rules
and regulations. While we all appreciate the need for HOMELAND SECURITY we
have been unable to identify the real purpose of an I-68 card, other than to
raise revenue. I-68 cards are very inconvenient to obtain and it is
impossible for us to make certain that all of our crew and guests have I-68
cards. The way we understand potential enforcement, I will be unable to
invite a neighbor to dinner on my boat unless they have an I-68 card. It is
impossible to know who has been in Canada or not and as the burden is
apparently on the skipper, the situation becomes dogmatic.

We fail to understand the purpose of the I-68 card. It seems a passport or
other positive ID would serve the same purpose. Why do we need something
different than what is required to cross the boarder by automobile?
Last year there was virtually no enforcement action. This year we have been
TOLD that there will be very active enforcement and everyone is being warned
to have everyone on board to have a card or they will be detained and the
boat impounded.

The boating community needs your help. The laws and regulations together
with enforcement procedures need to be changed. The law is not practicable
or understood.
I would appreciate hearing from you so we might further discuss this issue.
Additionally, we would be pleased to provide you with a forum to address
this issue publicly. The boating community from the GREAT LAKES STATE will
appreciate your efforts.
Best regards,
John S. Barbour

--
Tom Weyand - War Chant - Sail No. 25468 - Lake St Clair

More info. Today I went to the Detroit tunnel INS to get our I-68s. After we
had purchased them ($16 ea), the agent made us aware that there was now a
"new" option.

This is the NEXUS card. Basically it was originally used for quick bridge
and tunnel passage (casino users and commuters), but since a few months ago,
boats and airplanes can use it instead of the I-68s. It's $50 for 5 years.
It looks like the Canadians got it going first for their people since the
web site is a .ca but INS has all the forms, etc.

So, if you're going to the INS get your I-68s, ask to see if I got the right
poop and maybe things are turning around.

--
Tom Weyand - War Chant - Sail No. 25468 - Lake St Clair

"WaIIy" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 21 May 2004 01:09:34 GMT, "Tom Weyand"
wrote:

We folks sail on/at/near/around the US-Canada border all the time.
Following
is a letter to our House Representive Candice Miller from the DRYA. Ms.
Miller is a sailor and has sailed the Port Huron to Mackinac Island race
several times.

The mentioned I-68 forms cost $18.00 plus three passport type photos plus
waiting in line at the INS line. All have to be present at the INS with
photo ID. And they are good for only one year.

snip

Excellent post. I boat out of Huron, Ohio and we are supposed to go to
the video phone check-in at Cedar Point upon a return from Canada.
Few people actually do it.

You're right, there is no mention of boats at the Web site or in the
literature but all the people working for INS at the Detroit tunnel said
this was a new ruling??? So, as I suggested, when you go to get your I-68s,
ask.

Now in today's Detroit Free Press, they only mentioned I-68s - no mention of
the NEXUS card???

--
War Chant - Sail No. 25468 - Lake St Clair

"WaIIy" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 28 May 2004 20:00:34 GMT, "Tom Weyand"
wrote:

More info. Today I went to the Detroit tunnel INS to get our I-68s. After
we
had purchased them ($16 ea), the agent made us aware that there was now a
"new" option.

This is the NEXUS card. Basically it was originally used for quick bridge
and tunnel passage (casino users and commuters), but since a few months
ago,
boats and airplanes can use it instead of the I-68s. It's $50 for 5
years.
It looks like the Canadians got it going first for their people since the
web site is a .ca but INS has all the forms, etc.

So, if you're going to the INS get your I-68s, ask to see if I got the
right
poop and maybe things are turning around.

I found this, but no mention of boats.


http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cg...ents/nexus.xml

We had heard about the Nexus card being available for boating use some months
ago, and just obtained ours last week. Really the only downside to the Nexus
program for boaters is that it can take months to get the card. You send in
your application, and 8 to 12 weeks later they send you a reply saying that you
may come in for an interview, with your documents, to be fingerprinted and
photographed. The I-68 is available immediately, but costs more, and must be
renewed each year. If you have the time it is certainly the way to go.

Steve Christensen


In article , Tom Weyand says...

You're right, there is no mention of boats at the Web site or in the
literature but all the people working for INS at the Detroit tunnel said
this was a new ruling??? So, as I suggested, when you go to get your I-68s,
ask.

Now in today's Detroit Free Press, they only mentioned I-68s - no mention of
the NEXUS card???

--
War Chant - Sail No. 25468 - Lake St Clair

"WaIIy" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 28 May 2004 20:00:34 GMT, "Tom Weyand"
wrote:

More info. Today I went to the Detroit tunnel INS to get our I-68s. After
we
had purchased them ($16 ea), the agent made us aware that there was now a
"new" option.

This is the NEXUS card. Basically it was originally used for quick bridge
and tunnel passage (casino users and commuters), but since a few months
ago,
boats and airplanes can use it instead of the I-68s. It's $50 for 5
years.
It looks like the Canadians got it going first for their people since the
web site is a .ca but INS has all the forms, etc.

So, if you're going to the INS get your I-68s, ask to see if I got the
right
poop and maybe things are turning around.

I found this, but no mention of boats.


http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cg...ents/nexus.xml

On Fri, 21 May 2004 01:09:34 GMT, "Tom Weyand"
wrote (with possible editing):

We folks sail on/at/near/around the US-Canada border all the time. Following
is a letter to our House Representive Candice Miller from the DRYA. Ms.
Miller is a sailor and has sailed the Port Huron to Mackinac Island race
several times.

The mentioned I-68 forms cost $18.00 plus three passport type photos plus
waiting in line at the INS line. All have to be present at the INS with
photo ID. And they are good for only one year.

My boat is on Lake St. Clair - 216nm as the crow flies to Mackinac Island
(from the GPS) and 8 hours upstream to Port Huron (these locations are
mentioned in the letter).
Just to let you know our problems. Any political help you can give is
appreciated...

Wow, talk about FUD - fear, uncertainty & doubt. Our government is at
it again. I live in northern NH and want to spend a bit of time this
summer on Lake Memphramagog. That lake is partly in Vermont and
mostly in Canada. To be sure I was doing the right thing, I asked a
friend who is a semi-retired customs officer. He told me that all
that is necessary was to call the Canadian authorities (dock phones
available) before leaving Newport, VT and calling US Border stations
when returning. This is the first I've heard of an I-68, NEXUS, or
other such nonsense. I'll check again with one of our border stations
to see if they've even heard of this.

FWIW, when crossing the border by automobile, you don't even need a
passport here - a simple driver's license will do....
--

Larry
Email to rapp at lmr dot com

In article , WaIIy says...

On 29 May 2004 17:21:25 -0700, Steve Christensen
wrote:

We had heard about the Nexus card being available for boating use some months
ago, and just obtained ours last week. Really the only downside to the Nexus
program for boaters is that it can take months to get the card. You send in
your application, and 8 to 12 weeks later they send you a reply saying that you
may come in for an interview, with your documents, to be fingerprinted and
photographed. The I-68 is available immediately, but costs more, and must be
renewed each year. If you have the time it is certainly the way to go.

Steve Christensen

I'm glad you have your NEXUS card, but where did you "hear" about it's
use for boating?

I still haven't found, nor has anyone offered anything concrete so far.

I do know more than a few boaters who go over to Canada and don't do
anything when they return except go back to their dock.

Heck, the jails in Ohio couldn't hold all the people who do this.


I can't remember for sure, but I think I may have been calling US Customs asking
about the upcomming availability of I-68 forms, and someone there suggested that
I apply for the Nexus card instead. Which surprised me, since I too had never
heard that it was for boaters. But the day we went to Port Huron to get our
cards just about all of the folks waiting there seemed to be boaters, most of
them Canadians.

As for crossing over to Canada and not reporting in when you return to the
states, I would have to admit that more than a few sailors from my area have
been known to do that as well. But the attitude I saw at US Customs last week
would suggest that while you might get away with it (after all the US Coast
Guard is spread pretty thin on the Great Lakes) if you get caught you would
probably have your boat impounded.

They are installing an automated call-in service that will for the first time
give you a reporting in number when you call in with a I-68 or Nexus card. It
was even suggested that if we call in and get an officer instead of the system
that we note down his name and the time of the call in our logbook as proof of
the call.

It's up to you of course, but from what I've seen I would not mess around with
US Homeland Security just now.

Steve Christensen

On Mon, 31 May 2004 15:23:47 GMT, WaIIy
wrote (with possible editing):

....snip

Larry, there is a difference between FUD and Ignorance.

Just because *you* haven't heard of something doesn't mean it doesn't
exist outside of your head.

I think you misunderstood - my point wasn't that *I* hadn't heard of
it (that is possible and even likely), but that our LOCAL US BORDER
CROSSINGS haven't heard of it. Now if THEY don't know about this law,
how can I reasonably be expected to comply with it?
--

Larry
Email to rapp at lmr dot com