U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s San Juan Field Office issued a reminder about the reporting requirements under federal law for small pleasure boaters navigating between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, ahead of the Vieques Music Festival that is scheduled for June 22.
The Vieques Music Festival will produce significant small vessel traffic from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Operators of small pleasure vessels arriving into Puerto Rico and USVI are required by law to report their arrival to CBP immediately. Once the master of the vessel reports the arrival, CBP Officers provide further guidance regarding the next step in the inspection.
CBP has issued 12 penalties totaling $60,000 since January 2026 for vessel operators that failed to report their arrival.
“Failure to comply with federal reporting requirements when entering Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands can result in significant penalties and enforcement actions,” said Director of Field Operations Roberto Vaquero. “All small pleasure boaters must understand that proper reporting is not just a recommendation—it is a legal obligation under federal law. Non-compliance undermines our border security efforts and may jeopardize the safety of our communities and maritime operations.”
The CBP Reporting Offsite Arrival – Mobile app, also known as “ROAM,” is a free mobile application that provides an option for pleasure boaters to report their U.S. entry to CBP via their personal smart phone. Soon, local marinas will also be collaborating with CBP to make ROAM available to their clients via a tablet located at their business site.
The ROAM app satisfies the boat operator’s legal requirement to report for face-to-face inspection with some exceptions. Travelers requiring an I-94, cruising license or that must pay duties will need to report in person to the nearest CBP facility.
To use the ROAM app, travelers input their biographic, conveyance, and trip details and submit their trip for CBP Officer review. The CBPO may initiate a video chat to further interview travelers. Once the CBPO reviews the trip, travelers will receive a push notification and an email with their clearance status and next steps, if applicable.
Getting Started
Travelers should download the ROAM app on their web-enabled smart device. Note that a free login.gov account is required to use the ROAM app. After opening the ROAM app, tap “Sign In.”
- Travelers who do not have a login.gov account should “Create an account” and follow the instructions
- Travelers who already have a login.gov account should sign into their existing account, and will be redirected back to the ROAM app
After signing in to the ROAM app, users can create and save traveler and conveyance profiles. These profiles can be reused for repeat entry into the United States.
Availability
To use ROAM on your mobile device, download the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. In certain locations, the ROAM app can also be accessed on tablets at partner locations.
For any questions or concerns about the ROAM app, please email us at cbproam@cbp.dhs.gov.
Telephone numbers will continue to be available for reporting entry arrival during ROAM deployment. If you encounter any issue with ROAM please contact your nearest Port of Entry:
- Puerto Rico (877) 529-6840
- St. Thomas (877) 305-8774
- St. John (877) 305-8773
- St. Croix 1 (340) 719-2857
