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It is clearly detailed on the State Dept./Homeland Security website that you do not need a passport to travel from USVI to BVI (& back) via sea. The relevant issue at hand is: do any carriers honor the birth certificate/photo i.d method? If yes, then who?
Your best bet is to ask, as it varies so widely it's hard to document. It does lean more on the side of leniency until the deadline of Jan 1 2008 per the WHTI. Better safe than sorry!
There is no comprehensive list - just let that be the first thing you ask before you reserve.
I would call Smith's Ferry in STT. They should know. They are the ones that clear people when they take them to the BVI's. You clear thru customs in West End or Road Town - so I imagine ( and hope since I'm going this weekend) that they take the birth certificates - have to.
Hey TACMAN, I polled the ferry companies, and the only one that requires it regardless is Transportation Services... the others will accept birth certificate + government photo ID although 2 preferred the passport.
Transportation Services: PASSPORT REQUIRED
Tortola Fast Ferry: WILL ACCEPT BIRTH CERT. + PHOTO ID
Smith's Ferry: PASSPORT PREFERRED
Native Son: WILL ACCEPT BIRTH CERT. + PHOTO ID
Inter Island Boat Services: PASSPORT PREFERRED
See this thread: https://www.vinow.com/wwwtalk/read.php?4,67773,page=1
They have changed the schedule quite a bit as various parties have weighed in since it was first promoted, so keep your eyes on the travel.state.gov web site whenever in doubt!
In my email box, I have a mailer from the eTurboNews web site that says it was supposed to be air and sea travel as of January 2007, but it was changed since then. The bottom line? Always check with your carrier.
Having just returned a couple of days ago I thought I'd let you know what we experienced. We got on the ferry in Red Hook, switched in St. John and headed to Great Harbour in Jost (a BVI). While on the ferry we had to fill out a customs form which asked for your passport # etc. Once off the ferry the customs agent met us at the end of the pier and we HAD to show them our valid passports. Someone behind us only had a birth cert. and picture I.D. and they were put to the back of the line of those that had their passports. We waited at the dock for probably 30 minutes for our rental car and it didn't appear that they were going to be able to stay on Jost. I didn't actually hear or see the ending result but the customs agent at one point said "You MUST have a passport to enter!". Returning on the ferry a week later we had to fill out the same customs form and we entered onto St. John through the customs agent and everybody there had passports so I'm not sure what would happen if you didn't.
That's what we experienced last week going to and from the USVI and the BVI!
Jill
you will need a passport to fly by 2010 any where so why not get one now?......friends of mine spent the extra $60 last month for the quick processing and received their passports in 6 days and they live here on STX...........
Interesting. I emailed Cruz Bay water sports with the same question. They okayed us for the trip to BVI with the birth cert./id method.
You wouldn't think they would let you reserve if Customs are rejecting folks (despite the rules).
Flounder, no time to get passports. We are leaving next month. Although, we have been going to Vancouver every so often & will need to have them anyway...
