Great Lakes vessels and tugboats arriving in the United States from Canada; special procedures.
8 C.F.R. § 252.3
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01(a) United States vessels and tugboats. An immigration examination shall not be required of any crewman aboard a Great Lakes vessel of United States registry or a tugboat of United States registry arriving from Canada at a port of the United States who has been examined and admitted by an immigration officer as a member of the crew of the same vessel or tugboat or of any other vessel or tugboat of the same company during the current calendar year.
(b) Canadian or British vessels or tugboats. An alien crewman need not be presented for inspection if the alien crewman:
(1) Serves aboard a Great Lakes vessel of Canadian or British registry or aboard a tugboat of Canadian or British registry arriving at a United States port-of-entry from Canada;
(2) Seeks admission for a period of less than 29 days;
(3) Has, during the current calendar year, been inspected and admitted by an immigration officer as a member of the crew of the same vessel or tugboat, or of any other vessel or tugboat of the same company;
(4) Is either a British or Canadian citizen or is in possession of a valid Form I-95 previously issued to him or her as a member of the crew of the same vessel or tugboat, or of any other vessel or tugboat of the same company;
(5) Does not request or require landing privileges in the United States beyond the time the vessel or tugboat will be in port; and,
(6) Will depart to Canada with the vessel or tugboat.
Source: eCFRURL: https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2024-07-01/title-8.xmlFetched: 7/26/2026