Entering Canada (Toronto Harbor) from United States CBP ROAM app

[Tri County Trail]

Planning to head over to Toronto From US home port (Wilson). Wondering what the new procedure is with the CBP ROAM app. Looking for any tips what not to bring or issues people may have. Also looking for transient dock we used to stay on Toronto island and take the ferry, 40' vessel. Thanks.

 

[Timeflys]

Roam app is only for entering the US….there are several Canadian Border Protection check in points in Toronto where you dock, phone in and answer some questions…CBP may or may not tell you to stay onboard til an officer visits (unlikely) most likely they will clear you over the phone.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/trsm-sdtm-eng.html

Use the filter on the website for “Toronto”.

Docking may be at a premium in the Toronto area because the Ontario government closed docking at Ontario Place for ongoing construction.

One big tip is to leave any firearms at home…guns are for criminal use only…..it’s Canada, eh!
Also, be sure to bring passports or Nexus.

 

[Blueone]

There is a number of ways of doing it …typical government. If you have Nexus or some other easy entry there is one way…… just a citizen another way…… Your best bet is to call them and ask the simplest way of reporting in and when do you report.

we always stayed on the island and took a taxi across or dinghy or the ferry….. good luck

 

[The Bill Collector]

If you are a regular traveler it's definitely worth it to get the Nexus pass and it's also good for TSA precheck.

 

[Tri County Trail]

Roam app is only for entering the US….there are several Canadian Border Protection check in points in Toronto where you dock, phone in and answer some questions…CBP may or may not tell you to stay onboard til an officer visits (unlikely) most likely they will clear you over the phone.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/trsm-sdtm-eng.html

Use the filter on the website for “Toronto”.

Docking may be at a premium in the Toronto area because the Ontario government closed docking at Ontario Place for ongoing construction.

One big tip is to leave any firearms at home…guns are for criminal use only…..it’s Canada, eh!
Also, be sure to bring passports or Nexus.

I thought the roam app can be used both ways. I will have o do a little more research.
Also has anyone went thru the Wellend Canal between Lake ontario and Lake Erie?

 

[Sgrochow]

Roam is only for the return to US. If you are over 30’ you’ll also need a DTOPS decal.

I go to Canada all of the time. I simply call 1-888-CAN-PASS and answer their questions. The marinas I visit are on the approved list that @Timeflys posted above. They will either send someone to visit or give you a clearance number which you post in the window. Once you have that, you’re free to move anywhere. If it’s your 1st time, takes longer because they have to enter all of your information in the system. If it’s your first time, have all of your documents at the ready before you call.

Also, best to read their rules before you do this call. If they do send someone to board, it’s not going to end well if your passengers took a walk into town!

Sometimes the check in process takes a few minutes, but I’ve been on hold for over an hour a few times. Depends on their staffing I suspect.

 

[Strecker25]

we also call in from the marina to the can-pass number.

Enjoy the island, we love that place. We used the dinghy for back and forth during the day and went with the pontoon water taxis at night. Just make sure you get there by 11PM to go back, they stop running!

 

[Tri County Trail]

Roam is only for the return to US. If you are over 30’ you’ll also need a DTOPS decal.

I go to Canada all of the time. I simply call 1-888-CAN-PASS and answer their questions. The marinas I visit are on the approved list that @Timeflys posted above. They will either send someone to visit or give you a clearance number which you post in the window. Once you have that, you’re free to move anywhere. If it’s your 1st time, takes longer because they have to enter all of your information in the system. If it’s your first time, have all of your documents at the ready before you call.

Also, best to read their rules before you do this call. If they do send someone to board, it’s not going to end well if your passengers took a walk into town!

Sometimes the check in process takes a few minutes, but I’ve been on hold for over an hour a few times. Depends on their staffing I suspect.

Also wondering about the Private Vessel Decal: (30 feet or more in length) $30.53 (U.S.) per calendar year Paid to the US Border Patrol?

Just looking for opinions Heading into Toronto next weekend from Wilson, NY and wondering if they are enforcing Recreational boaters operating a powered vessel within the Port and Harbour of Toronto must be in possession of BOTH a Powered Vessel Operator’s permit and a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
Have been there several times before Corvid and this was always a requirement.

 

[Blueone]

Also wondering about the Private Vessel Decal: (30 feet or more in length) $30.53 (U.S.) per calendar year Paid to the US Border Patrol?

Just looking for opinions Heading into Toronto next weekend from Wilson, NY and wondering if they are enforcing Recreational boaters operating a powered vessel within the Port and Harbour of Toronto must be in possession of BOTH a Powered Vessel Operator’s permit and a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
Have been there several times before Corvid and this was always a requirement.

The bullshit changes so fast call customs and ask and don’t be surprised if they don’t know

 

[Sgrochow]

Also wondering about the Private Vessel Decal: (30 feet or more in length) $30.53 (U.S.) per calendar year Paid to the US Border Patrol?

Just looking for opinions Heading into Toronto next weekend from Wilson, NY and wondering if they are enforcing Recreational boaters operating a powered vessel within the Port and Harbour of Toronto must be in possession of BOTH a Powered Vessel Operator’s permit and a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
Have been there several times before Corvid and this was always a requirement.

The private vessel decal is the DTOPS sticker. You’ll need it for the return to US (30 + feet) it’s a US thing only. “Program” has been around quite a few years. You can buy it here:https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/main/

Can’t speak to the Toronto permit, only been to Toronto Harbor once via boat circa 2006. If they had the requirements back then, I didn’t know about it.

My wife is Canadian, thus, back and forth quite often, just not to Toronto because Niagara Falls gets in the way!

 

[Tri County Trail]

Not sure about DTOPS sticker think I will pass if I only need it to check in back to us.
Is the any advantage of using the Roam app?

 

[Sgrochow]

Not sure about DTOPS sticker think I will pass if I only need it to check in back to us.
Is the any advantage of using the Roam app?

if you or any of your passengers set foot on Canadian soil, and return to the U.S., the captain is required to report into the U.S. on return. Since I don’t have a NEXUS pass, I find the easiest way is to use the ROAM app.

The ROAM app has a field for the DTOPS sticker number.

 

[electricaldoctor]

if you or any of your passengers set foot on Canadian soil, and return to the U.S., the captain is required to report into the U.S. on return. Since I don’t have a NEXUS pass, I find the easiest way is to use the ROAM app.

The ROAM app has a field for the DTOPS sticker number.

The DTOPS sticker is a USA cash grab. Other than that, it serves no real purpose. I think that it is for air craft as well.

 

[Timeflys]

“if you or any of your passengers set foot on Canadian soil, and return to the U.S., the captain is required to report into the U.S. on return”

For boaters cruising in the Thousand Islands, beware that anchoring in other countries waters is considered “landed” thereby requiring a check in with customs.

 

[spikedaddy99]

We also were told to fly a small yellow quarantine flag until registered with Canada border control, then change it to a small Canadian flag as a courtesy/let them know we are registered. We planned on going 2 weeks ago, but smoke hindered that plan. So next summer it is. Also, figure out rules about alcohol. If asked, we were told to announce we had "normal ships stores" aboard. This is from a very experienced Captain who has also done the loop.

 

[Avenger]

Just returned from a 10 day trip in the North Channel from Charlevoix, Mi. Our Canadian port of entry was Gore Bay and we were told to call from our cell phones to Canadian customs(no more phone booth). Had to declare everyone on board and give passport details for each person. General questions on how long and why we were there, firearms, food, alcohol, and cash. All was pleasant and we were given a visitor number. Once checked in we flew a small courtesy Canadian flag on our hard top mastlight while flying our large American flag on the stern.

Upon check in to the US we used the roam app. It is important to have everything loaded into the app before attempting to obtain permission for entry. Once I pressed the button for permission, shortly after a facetime call was initiated with a US CBP agent. He asked a few questions and each one of us had to pass the phone and hold our passports near our face for verification. I also had to give my DTOPS sticker number and we were cleared for entry. We attempted to obtain permission for entry before crossing into US waters and were promptly denied and told to try again once we crossed over the border. It was a painless process that took less than 5 minutes.

Don't let this process deter you from visiting Canadian waters, it is extremely easy assuming you have your ducks in a row. I had anxiety about the process as it was my first time but turned out to be very easy.

 

[spikedaddy99]

Just returned from a 10 day trip in the North Channel from Charlevoix, Mi. Our Canadian port of entry was Gore Bay and we were told to call from our cell phones to Canadian customs(no more phone booth). Had to declare everyone on board and give passport details for each person. General questions on how long and why we were there, firearms, food, alcohol, and cash. All was pleasant and we were given a visitor number. Once checked in we flew a small courtesy Canadian flag on our hard top mastlight while flying our large American flag on the stern.

Upon check in to the US we used the roam app. It is important to have everything loaded into the app before attempting to obtain permission for entry. Once I pressed the button for permission, shortly after a facetime call was initiated with a US CBP agent. He asked a few questions and each one of us had to pass the phone and hold our passports near our face for verification. I also had to give my DTOPS sticker number and we were cleared for entry. We attempted to obtain permission for entry before crossing into US waters and were promptly denied and told to try again once we crossed over the border. It was a painless process that took less than 5 minutes.

Don't let this process deter you from visiting Canadian waters, it is extremely easy assuming you have your ducks in a row. I had anxiety about the process as it was my first time but turned out to be very easy.

How was the smoke?

 

[Avenger]

How was the smoke?

It was nonexistent. We considered canceling because of the smoke but really glad we didn't. Amazing trip, put almost 700 miles on the old girl.

 

[spikedaddy99]

Crap. We cancelled our trip July 16-30. Well, we are doing it next year now. M

 

[Sgrochow]

“if you or any of your passengers set foot on Canadian soil, and return to the U.S., the captain is required to report into the U.S. on return”

For boaters cruising in the Thousand Islands, beware that anchoring in other countries waters is considered “landed” thereby requiring a check in with customs.

Yes for sure. My post that you replied to was about returning to the U.S.