CBP adds Lake Erie to regions reporting by phone app

Apr 23, 2018 by Triton Staff

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has added the Buffalo (New York) Field Office to the list of locations now using the new Reporting Offsite Arrival-Mobile (ROAM) application for small boat reporting.

The app replaces the system of Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS). Small boaters in the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence regions will now be able to complete their inspection with a CBP officer through an app on a smartphone, or at one of the new ROAM reporting locations, which will have the reporting app loaded on an iPad.

The ROAM app enables a video conference with CBP officers at the Ogdensburg (New York) port of entry.

“This technology is a step in the right direction for the boating community as well as for our officers processing these types of arrivals,” said Alexandria Bay Area Port Director Timothy Walker. “Having the clarity of high definition video, coupled with the traveler’s information from the application, is strengthening border security while facilitating legitimate travel and commerce.”

Small boaters can construct a profile within the app, and submit their information for a CBP video conference when crossing the U.S. border. Traveler information can be saved with the app, or recreated for future crossings.

For questions about reporting an arrival to CBP, contact the local port of entry or call 1-800-827-2851.

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