Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS)

by Dave Jones

From a US Customs and Border Patrol web page.

"As part of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comprehensive effort to improve the security of our nation’s borders while enhancing legitimate travel specifically for small boaters, CBP has implemented the Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS). This page contains an overview of the system, how it works, and who can enroll.

Overview

SVRS enables boaters to report quickly and easily to CBP their arrival from foreign waters.

It is a free, easy-to-use, voluntary program that you enroll for online.

Eligibility

SVRS is available to all U.S. citizens, nationals and lawful permanent residents; Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada who are nationals of a Visa Waiver Program country.

Current Local Boater Option participants, Trusted Traveler Program members and current holders of an I-68 (Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit) must apply for enrollment in SVRS on-line in order to participate, but tt you enroll for online".

The primary advantage of the SVRS program to us appeared to be its potential to avoid the need to physically check in with CBP at Drummond Island when crossing back from Canada so we went to the website for the program at the following link - https://svrs.cbp.dhs.gov/. it is a good idea to download the Enrollment Form listed as it is a good tool to make sure you have all of the required documents available.

After selecting the "Application for SVRS Participation" circle and pressing "Start" you will taken through a series of screens requestings data about you and your boat. Only the "master" needs to enter boat info. NOTE: You only have 20 minutes before the site times out so have your paperwork ready! Your prospective passengers also need to complete their information.

When you have enrolled, you will have to schedule an interview appointment at the Preferred Administrative Office you identified at the start of the enrollment process. This is easily done online and you can schedule the appointment to fit your needs not the government's.

The interview was not what I would term an "interview" but more a confirmation of our submitted information and a review of our passports and boat documentation. The Master and passengers who want to enroll in the system need an interview. After the interview, we were both given "BR numbers" which were also emailed to us with instructions for creating our own passwords online.

It was not clear from the instructions given, whether there is a need for a Float Plan or not.