nickrj
regular
Reged: 21/07/2006
Posts: 352
Loc: Long Island, New York
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I was rather astonished yesterday, when the customs official requested 100BBD (50USD) to leave the country... For those interested in visiting Barbados, be aware, that the price has risen from 8BBD to 100BBD since mid last year. This is regardless of tonnage, and will be charged to boats 150ft or less - Any bigger and it's 250BBD.
I met several people that lamented the days of the cruising community choosing Barbados as their first port of call - One particular chap remembers being a teenager and swimming out to the Hiscocks as they anchored in front of the cruising club. There used to be days when those crossing the Atlantic were heralded as heroes apparently - Personally, I got kicked out of the BB Yacht club for trying to buy a beer.
For those who want to get a US visa, it is possible from the embassy, and if you can prove you're on a private vessel, you do not need to make an appointment. Times for the large queue (get there at least an hour early if you don't want to spend many hours there) are 0800, 1030 and 1330. Cost is 265BBD ($131USD) plus a mandatory 38BBD ($20USD) for the courier service. They will retain your passport, you can have it sent on if you can get into the country it's being sent to without a passport... Luckily I have two - Mine was forwarded on to St Lucia.
Anyway, this post I guess is for people searching for info in the future. Noonsite doesn't help much, and still has the $25 info up on their site (for boats over 5tons) which isn't applicable.
nick
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My Blog, singlehanded from Europe to Australia http://www.bigoceans.com
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tcm
regular
Reged: 11/01/2002
Posts: 20718
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Effectively a penalty for visiting the country, and about the same price as a parking ticket too. Ok, point taken, I promise not to do that.
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KellysEye
regular
Reged: 23/07/2006
Posts: 682
Loc: Curacao
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Out of interest a South African boat got US visas at the US embassy in Trinidad a few weeks ago. Technically they don't do visas but...
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nickrj
regular
Reged: 21/07/2006
Posts: 352
Loc: Long Island, New York
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I failed to mention - Don't have items forwarded to a Barbados address. I was charged 20% duty, even though the package was clearly labeled Yacht in Transit. They even opened the item and googled it to find a retail value...
Good news on Trinidad - Still a bit risky trying to get Visa's from US embassys that don't usually allow it - The Americans love their rules... It might work for some, but not others... Barbados definitely does tourist visas.
n.
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Foxy
regular
Reged: 08/03/2006
Posts: 118
Loc: Cruising
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shame martin (bajan sailor) isnt there, he can usually sort such things out. Might be worth seeing if he can do it in retrospect.
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AndrewB
regular
Reged: 07/06/2001
Posts: 3455
Loc: California dreamin'
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Pass this onto Noonsite, they are good at putting latest info up.
Another time, go to Martinique direct from Barbados. Then, if you are an EU citizen, as you don't need clearance papers to enter Martinique, you don't need to clear out of Barbados. Martinique will issue clearance papers free for Trinidad. Another possibility ... you can show up without clearance papers in Trinidad if you claim to have come direct from the Canaries. Officials know that many yachties leaving Europe don't realise they need them, or at least, that used to be the case. A token fine is levied, I was fined 7 Trinidad dollars (about £2) for turning up without proper papers.
Getting a US visa is a real pain in the butt wherever you are.
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Troutbridge
regular
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 333
Loc: Cruising, mon, cruising
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How long does it take to process the Visa? Cojuld you stay in Barbados for a couple of weeks and get it done whilst you are 'in country'?
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Some see the glass as half full, some see it as half empty. I see it as too damn small.
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Bob
regular
Reged: 05/06/2001
Posts: 168
Loc: South of Durban
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Quote:
you can show up without clearance papers in Trinidad if you claim to have come direct from the Canaries.
This is not good practice. Depending on how long you stayed in Barbados you may find that you would have some explaining to do about the length of time taken from the Canaries. You may also find that your future visits to Barbados may be curtailed.
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nickrj
regular
Reged: 21/07/2006
Posts: 352
Loc: Long Island, New York
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Ok, I'm in St Lucia! So, I did meet Martin! He was preparing a boat to sail to the UK, and left a day or two later - He was very nice though, and it was great to meet another forumite. I doubt he could have wavered the customs charge... But, you never know!
I didn't realise that about the clear out and going into Martinique... Funnily enough, they asked for it here in St Lucia, but I couldn't find it - I left it on the boat! He said 'doesn't matter' ... Ha!! And in fact, I have two passports, and could have easily claimed I just arrived from the Canaries... But I don't know how the system works enough to start flashing around multiple passports and claiming other stories.
As for the US visa - If you think you can land in St Lucia without a passport, you can have your Visa and passport forwarded via DHL so you don't have to wait the 5-7 working days for them to process it. Probably not a good idea... I have two, so it was no problem - My visa should arrive at the DHL office in Castries early next week. Otherwise, you have two options: Get it posted to the DHL office in Barbados (they don't allow you to physically pick it up) OR, from Antigua or somewhere, send your passport and a special ticket back with your passport to Barbados with a return courier bill, and it will be sent back... in 5 to 7 days. All very annoying, but there you have it. Hope that helps!
Info forwarded to Noonsite!
nick.
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My Blog, singlehanded from Europe to Australia http://www.bigoceans.com
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Captainslarty
regular
Reged: 12/08/2007
Posts: 2012
Loc: Currently La Coruna Spain
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hiya you little world traveller you 
Molly sends a big kiss and a bite.
J J & M
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PM me for info re SSB's etc. Bought, sold, repaired, fitted and optimised.
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