Wednesday, 04 February 2009 09:28

Issue: starting last summer (2008), Customs and Border Protection began requiring passports or other approved citizenship documentation and identification for U.S. citizens traveling between America and foreign locations in the western hemisphere. These requirements affect passengers who arrive by air, sea or land. The wording of the regulations left many OMSA members confused over whether passports would be required for trips to and from the OCS. OMSA requested a clarification from CBP on the passport requirements for personnel who travel offshore to vessels in support of OCS activities.

Status: OMSA requested an interpretation of the rules for crew on vessels. It does not appear that offshore workers will need passports to transit from U.S. Ports to offshore locations in the Gulf of Mexico. Guidance from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comes at the request of OMSA and should clear up confusion over the new rules. For vessel crew, in response to OMSA’s request CBP responded:

“A departure solely to the OCS is not a departure from the U.S. for immigration purposes. In response to the scenarios that you present in your letter, the U.S. citizen does not make a meaningful departure from the U.S. and is not subject to an immigration inspection upon arrival; passports would not be required upon arrival at the U.S. port.”

OMSA members should be advised that the passport clarification does not change the requirement to file APIS and cargo information when leaving offshore locations that are not considered a “point” under U.S. law.