When going to the BVI's from St John you have to check in at Customs - you can do this on Jost or Tortola.

Pia

You do NOT need a passport to enter or leave the BVI. They still accept birth certificates for entry. The problem arises upon your departure from the BVI and your return to St. John/St. Thomas. This is where we are required to have passports ONLY to re-enter the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, a passport is NOT required to fly into the USVI yet, IF, you are flying in from the U.S. or a U.S. Territory/Possession.
In addition, a passport is NOT required to depart the USVI, yet. If you do not receive your passport prior to your scheduled departure, the only limitation you will have is the inability to visit the BVI.

The Westin has charter boats, bareboats(powerboats) and captains available for rental right at their dock. They have day trips with a group to the BVI, including Jost Van Dyke, usually one day a week on a catamaran. You can also arrange for a bareboat and captain through their watersports desk. and make your own itinerary to the Baths with a stop for lunch at the Willy T, Cooper Island or the Soggy Dollar on the return, The captain will have all the information about customs and will lead you through the process. Going to the Baths is a long and tricky trip to do on your own in a powerboat if you are unfamiliar with ocean waters, but the watersports desk does have maps and charts and information on where to clear customs on any given day for each trip.
If you contact the Westin St John directly in advance of your trip, you can ask to be put through to the Watersports desk and they will advise you what they have available for your time period. We were staying at a villa and were able to make an advance reservation for a 21 ft powerboat for a few days. My sons who are avid boaters in the Florida Keys made a few of these trips to the BVI but admitted the trip to the Baths was challenging in the 21 ft boat.
Hope you enjoy your vacation..

Bob Richardson & Ambassador:

The passport/birth certificate question has come up several times recently and is very confusing.

We just visited the USVIs and BVIs last month (April). While we have passports our friends only had an official birth certificate (raised seal) and a (photo) drivers license. Unitl January 2008 a U.S. citizen can still travel to/from the BVIs via boat (NOT air) with a birth certificate and other government issued I.D. (drivers license). We used Smith's Ferry Service from STT to Tortola.

We checked this out, prior to our trip, with Smith's Ferry Service, since they would be the people who really know the requirement (they deal with this problem daily).

However, if you're going to use a private "captained" boat from St. John then I suggest that you contact the company prior to your arrival for the appropriate details.

Have a great trip.

F.I.

The following quote from the U.S. CBP official website: Yes, they were allowing other documents prior to 01 january 2008 ("may be required") BUT sooner if they could. Well, guess what. It is the local CBP office decision and St. John, VI is now only accepting passports. This is reinforced with telephone inquiries to CBP, local ferry companies, SMITH FERRIES, INTER-ISLAND TRANSPORT and NATIVE SON.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons*, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.