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New Small Boat Reporting Procedures Now In Effect

Release Date
Fri, 04/13/2018

CBP Introduces a New Smart Phone App for Small Boat Reporting in the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River from Buffalo to Ogdensburg

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

CBP Air and Marine Operations vessel on Great Lakes patrol
CBP Air and Marine Operations vessel
on Great Lakes patrol

The new app replaces the system of Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS), which were outdated and challenging to access. 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 smart phone device, or at one of the new ROAM reporting locations, which will have the reporting app loaded on an iPad.

The ROAM app allows small boaters the flexibility of either reporting their arrival into the U.S. from any location. The ROAM app is available in the Apple and Android stores. The ROAM app enables a video conference with CBP officers located at the Ogdensburg 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 application, and submit their information for a CBP video conference when crossing the U.S. border. Traveler information can be easily saved with the app, or recreated for future crossings.

CBP encourages boaters to take advantage of the ROAM app on their smart phone devices.

Travelers in possession of a Nexus Card or I-68 can still report their arrival by calling 1-800-827-2851 – or use the new ROAM app.

If travelers arriving by boat have any questions about reporting their arrival to CBP, contact the local port of entry or call 1-800-827-2851.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021