Really True

Etienne · 05-11-07, 09:15 PM

Yes, it's a bit silly, but it is something of a US INS requirement.

I had to join a ship outside of the country for the first time last year. Now, the ship was in Europe, but is owned by a company that mostly trades in the US - Beside, like most shipping companies, their travel and documentation policy is geared solely at meeting US requirement, since they're essentially the strictest (And most annoying) in the world.

Anyhow, they sent me a word document of a letter stating who I was, why I was travelling through the country, which ship I was joining, and giving a guarantee that the company would pay for my repatriation.

Via email. I had to print it out, and the logo didn't even come out. I could have changed the name and date in seconds on that thing... Yet it worked.

That, and my discharge book, got me through customs faster than I've ever gone through any custom... But it wasn't in the US, admittedly.

Now, when the ship got to the US, that's when the major immigration crap went down. Only time in my life I've actually been fingerprinted. I still wonder if that was legal.

Anyway, back on topic, it's alway good to have some document stating why you are travelling, where you will be staying (Hotel reservation, etc.), and YOUR RETURN TICKET! I can't believe it when people don't have that handy when they go through customs...

05-11-07, 09:15 PM	#4
Etienne Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Yes, it's a bit silly, but it is something of a US INS requirement. I had to join a ship outside of the country for the first time last year. Now, the ship was in Europe, but is owned by a company that mostly trades in the US - Beside, like most shipping companies, their travel and documentation policy is geared solely at meeting US requirement, since they're essentially the strictest (And most annoying) in the world. Anyhow, they sent me a word document of a letter stating who I was, why I was travelling through the country, which ship I was joining, and giving a guarantee that the company would pay for my repatriation. Via email. I had to print it out, and the logo didn't even come out. I could have changed the name and date in seconds on that thing... Yet it worked. That, and my discharge book, got me through customs faster than I've ever gone through any custom... But it wasn't in the US, admittedly. Now, when the ship got to the US, that's when the major immigration crap went down. Only time in my life I've actually been fingerprinted. I still wonder if that was legal. Anyway, back on topic, it's alway good to have some document stating why you are travelling, where you will be staying (Hotel reservation, etc.), and YOUR RETURN TICKET! I can't believe it when people don't have that handy when they go through customs...