Thanks to the ROAM App, checking into the US got much simpler in 2018! Among other things, the new system is available for all nationalities, not just US citizens. Further, you do NOT have to go anywhere to set it up.
The CBP ROAM app is what they call the new system. We’ve used it twice, coming back from the Bahamas.
ROAM App Basics
Three things to know:
- This is available everywhere in the US (including territories) now. CBP prefers that you use the app rather than show up in person.
- You do not need to be a US citizen or even a green card holder. Any nationality or mix of nationalities may use the ROAM app.
- The boat does not have to be US owned. You may register or document it in any country.
You only need to have the ROAM app on one electronic device for everyone on the boat. That is, each person does NOT need a separate account. And if you travel on more than one boat (say go to the Bahamas first on your boat, then two months later go on a friend’s boat), you may appear on more than one device.
Allow about 10 minutes per person to initially register plus 10 minutes for the boat. It’s likely to go faster.
Setting up the ROAM APP
- Download the app to a smartphone (iPhone or Android), iPad or Android tablet; there is not a Windows version yet. NOTE that you have to search on CBP ROAM and not simply “ROAM.”
- When you first open the app, it will prompt you to go to login.gov. If you already have a login.gov account, you can just login).
- Fill out your information at login.gov from within the app. You’ll need access to your email account.
- When asked for your phone number, use one that you can access from wherever you are completing the online forms. You will receive several verification numbers by text or phone call. Unfortunately, if you do not have some “phone number” (international is okay), you cannot set it up.
- VERY IMPORTANT: Save that “personal key” that they give you. They make a big deal about you printing it or writing it down — you won’t miss it). You’ll need this if your phone number changes. Remember, this can happen if you initially register with a phone number from another country and then need to check in using a phone with a US phone number.
- Collect the info you’ll need to register with the ROAM app:
- Everyone’s passport. You’ll have to take a photo of the passport page, so you need the passport and not just the number).
- If individuals have Trusted Traveler, SVRS or LBO numbers, it’s good but not required to enter them.
- Boat name, make/model/length, state of registration, state registration number or CG documentation number, and DTOPS sticker number (if you do not have a DTOPS sticker — aka “user fee decal” which is required for any type of customs check-in, even in-person. You can purchase it with a credit card from within the ROAM app, so you may need your credit card).
- Login to the ROAM app (the option comes up automatically after completing the login.gov stuff).
- Travelers: enter the info for each person who you expect to have on board when you enter the US. It’s okay to have people listed who may not be on the trip (say from past or future trips) as you select who is on a particular entry to the US later in the “Trip” info.
- Modes of Travel. Fill in your boat info (and if you do any other forms of non-commercial cross-border travel, you can enter those conveyances too). Buy your DTOPS sticker if you don’t already have a valid one.
- Create Trip: Do this after you have arrived back in US waters and are ready to check in. Apparently, if you do it before leaving another country the app will simply crash and not even give you an error message. Select all travelers who are aboard. Add anyone you didn’t add in Step 8, select the vessel, and fill in the rest of the details. IMPORTANT: You need to have at least a couple of bars of cell signal as you are going to have to have a video conference.
- If you used a phone number that is not good in the US (that is, is not a US number and one which does not allow you to get a call in the US) to set up your ROAM account, you’ll first have to go to “login.gov/manage account” and change the phone number to a number that can receive calls and texts in the US. When you try to login to do so, you won’t be able to get a text for the two-factor authentication.Sso you’ll have to login with your “personal key” from step 2. Then go into the account settings and change the phone number to your US one. While on that screen, get a new personal key and write it down!
- At the end of the “Create Trip” process, you’ll get a screen that says your information is being submitted and will tell you to wait for an agent. Just hang on. People are reporting that it takes anywhere from “just a couple of minutes” to “about 10 minutes.” And then a CBP agent comes on with a video chat. Everyone on board needs to be available to be seen on screen and will have to answer a few questions. Boats are reporting that it’s fast and painless.
- You’ll get a text on the phone saying that you and the boat are cleared in. Obviously if there is any problem or question, you may be required to appear in person. Keep this in case anyone questions you!
Updated ROAM App Experience
Note that I wrote the post when ROAM was new. They were still working out glitches. But since then, it has greatly improved. Recent cruisers have reported that checking in has three possible results:
- You get a welcome to the US message and you’re done, with follow up email.
- Video call from CBP officer and then cleared.
- Requirement for in-person interview. In most of the US, “in-person” means CBP comes to you. In Florida you have to go to an airport or other CBP facility which can be inconvenient.
If you have questions, the best way to get answers is the toll-free CBP check-in number: 800-827-2851.
Welcome to the US!
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Carolyn Shearlock says
No, you just fill out the trip info once you’re in US waters and ready to check in. Very simple!
Carolyn Shearlock says
No, the boat does NOT have to be American according to both CPB agents I spoke with. And if your Canadian cell phone can receive a call in the US, it’s fine too. So as a Canadian on a Canadian boat, you’re fine as long as you have a phone you can get a call on.
Alan Dwan says
What if you do not have a current cell phone that works in the US?
I do have one that works in Fiji.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I told the CBP agents that this was the big problem with the way they have the 2 factor authentication set up. If you could have the sent via email, you could use WiFi from a shore business to check in. Since it is a text, it’s a problem. If you are lucky, maybe someone in the anchorage/marina would let you use their phone, but I think it’s more likely you’ll have to do a personal appearance. But it’s good feedback to give CBP. They are trying to figure out where it doesn’t work for people.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I don’t know about getting the cruising permit. The first part — setting you up on login.gov — uses a 2-factor authentication by sending to your email, so it needs your email address for that. After that, the app does its 2-factor authentication via text.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I just got off the phone (3PM EDT, 4/25/18) and got the following information for foreign nationals: Yes, you can check in with the app. If you have to have a visa stamped, the agent will explain the process and the time line in the video conference (but you’ll have more time than if you don’t check in with the app). Cruising Permits will continued to be faxed to you after you check in — either to your own fax number (get one with eFax and it’ll come to your email as a PDF) or to a marina or a UPS Store, etc.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I don’t know since I’m a US citizen. But I’ll call them again and ask that, as well as about getting the cruising permit that Wally asked about.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I just got off the phone (3PM EDT, 4/25/18) and got the following information for foreign nationals: Yes, you can check in with the app. If you have to have a visa stamped, the agent will explain the process and the time line in the video conference (but you’ll have more time than if you don’t check in with the app). Cruising Permits will continued to be faxed to you after you check in — either to your own fax number (get one with eFax and it’ll come to your email as a PDF) or to a marina or a UPS Store, etc.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I just got off the phone (3PM EDT, 4/25/18) and got the following information for foreign nationals: Yes, you can check in with the app. If you have to have a visa stamped, the agent will explain the process and the time line in the video conference (but you’ll have more time than if you don’t check in with the app). Cruising Permits will continued to be faxed to you after you check in — either to your own fax number (get one with eFax and it’ll come to your email as a PDF) or to a marina or a UPS Store, etc.
The app doesn’t really want “access” to your email, but will send the first authentication email to it, so it needs the address and you need to be where you can check your email.
The Boat Galley says
Great to hear. Thanks for the first-hand report.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I don’t know if they’ll let you call in or if you’ll have to go in person when you return. The agents that I’ve spoken to say they are still working bugs out on a daily basis, so by July they may realize that they need a way to work with people who don’t own a smartphone. Go, have fun, and call in when you get back and see what they say!
Donna says
We are on our way! Planning to be at South Riding Rocks tonight : )
Thank you for all your help and invaluable info!
Carolyn Shearlock says
That is what the CBP agents tell me. ANYWHERE in the US.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks for the real-life report.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’m told that it requires iPhone 6 or above; I don’t know what iPad. Maybe try calling the CBP number that I gave in the article — they want to know when people have problems (and they might know a work-around).
Carolyn Shearlock says
Hmm. The CBP officer said that it could, but also said things were changing daily with it as they discovered things. You might make sure it is updated to the newest version and then if it still doesn’t offer territories, call the toll free number I listed in the article.
Bob Geurts says
Doesn’t work at all. Date of issue and date of expiry not accepted. Takes a lot of time, without success.
Carolyn Shearlock says
What location were you trying from? Were you able to call in then? How did you end up checking in? And were you US citizens or foreign?
Bob Geurts says
We called in in Ft. Lauderdale, had to go to the customs office. We’re foreign.
The Boat Galley says
Okaaaay. They told me it could, but obviously that was incorrect. I’d try updating the app in a couple days and see if it’s available then.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I simply put the state that our documented boat is registered in, and then the CG doc number.
Carolyn Shearlock says
You can do up through 9 while outside the US. Boats that have tried to do #10 — Create Trip — have not been able to complete the step outside the US. The app just freezes and will not save.
You can have the cruising permit sent to any fax; I suggested eFax as you can get a short term free trial and then cancel it. I have no idea why they don’t do a PDF and email, when they told me about the fax process I asked and the CBP agent said she agreed and that she’d pass the suggestion along.
Bob Geurts says
They made the app and it is already outdated. Faxes aren’t used in Europe for the last years. They should have brought a real app and web-Designer.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Reading to the bottom of that page, they make reference to tablets with the ROAM app on them that are available at certain “partner locations” — I’d guess some local businesses. So you can use your own phone or tablet, or if you’re lucky enough to find one, a tablet at a local business.
Pam says
We just tried to use this coming back to VA from Caribbean. After watching the screen say our file was being reviewed by an agent please hold for a video call for over an hour, we finally got a text saying this service was not available in VA. I then called the number in the article above. It’s not for ROAM, it’s to the Small Vessal Reporting office in NY and that office only deals with crossings from Canada.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Hmm. When I called that number they said it was nationwide — and I talked to someone in Minnesota once and Florida another time. Seems like they are still ironing it out.