Goat Haunt entry for non-citizens

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NDjason
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Goat Haunt entry for non-citizens

Post by NDjason »

So we have a permit entering/exiting from Goat Haunt in August. One of the members of our group is an Australian citizen and will be travelling under an Australian passport. Since getting the permit, I received a notice that they're handling customs a little differently this year:

For those who have an existing advanced backcountry permit reservation entering at Wateron Townsite and/or Goat
Haunt trailhead, the border crossing procedures have changed.

Essentially, they will be phasing out any permanent customs agents at Goat Haunt and the new system will require
checking in through a digital portal called CBP-ROAM. There will be 2-4 stationary ipads at the boat dock in
Waterton at which anyone traveling in to the U.S. through Goat Haunt will have to register.

Basically you'll sign in, register, state the intent of your trip, and then connect to a live video chat with a customs
agent. As of now, the only hours the kiosks are up and running are 9:30 am-7:30 pm (in correlation to the tour boat
schedule), and have customs agents on site to help explain the new system. They say that within a week or so the
ipad stations will be usable 24 hours a day and the agents will be on site only periodically.

Another option hikers have is to download the CBP-ROAM app to their phone and then check in with customs via
their own cell phone before they leave Waterton using the same portal accessed through the ipads. The entire
townsite of Waterton does provide free wi-fi, but in my experience it is slow at best, and usually experiencing some
kind of technical difficulties, so plan accordingly.
Doing some research to make sure this would not affect our friend, I'm displeased to find that the backcountry site has recently updated their page to say (Taken from https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goathaunt.htm):
Visitors to Goat Haunt will need to bring ID if they wish to hike further south into Glacier National Park. At this time, only citizens of the United States and Canada are permitted access to the U.S. through this limited port of entry. Citizens of other countries may feel free to leave the boat and take the short 1/4 mile (0.4 km) hike from the boat dock to the ranger station, but may not travel further south. There are no other facilities or services available inside the park in this area. All services are available in Waterton Townsite. Come prepared! Learn more about entry and exit information for Goat Haunt.
However, another page, still on the backcountry site says (taken from https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... UMP_850499) says:
Border Crossing
Southbound travel from Waterton Townsite (Canada) to the Goat Haunt Ranger Station (USA) requires an official government issued photo identification card for U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents. All others must carry a valid passport. Visitors seeking to travel beyond the Goat Haunt Ranger Station into the United States must present documents that are Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliant. Learn more on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
Furthermore, at yet another site https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... eports.htm, it says
Goat Haunt is a United States Class B Port of Entry open from 11:15 AM to 5:00 PM each day. All travelers crossing the border at Goat Haunt must present documents that are Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

Necessary Identification

U.S. Citizens must present a U.S. Passport, Enhanced Drivers License, U.S. Passport Card, or NEXUS Card.
U.S. Resident Aliens must present a U.S. Resident Alien Card.
Canadian citizens must present a Canadian Passport, Enhanced Drivers License, or NEXUS Card.
Citizens from countries other than Canada or the United States must present a valid passport and a current I-94 or an I-94W. I-94 forms are available at the U.S. Class A Port of Entries for $6.00 U.S. currency. Canadian currency is not accepted.
For additional information please visit the Department of Homeland Security site.

Arrival by Foot or by Boat

Travel between Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada and the Goat Haunt Ranger Station, U.S. will require an official government issued photo identification card for U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents; all others must carry a valid passport. Persons seeking to travel beyond the Goat Haunt Ranger Station into the United States must present documents that are WHTI compliant. (See the list above). Any person arriving at Goat Haunt, who does not present documents that are WHTI compliant will be denied entry and immediately sent back to Canada.
Can anyone verify what is actually happening at Goat Haunt?
~ jason
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Re: Goat Haunt entry for non-citizens

Post by jillian138 »

A friend and I have a backcountry permit for early September, and we will be starting out of Goat Haunt. In June we received the following message regarding current changes for crossing the boarder. Maybe with the limited/remote verification they are only allowing US and Canadian residents entrance? Would love to hear from anyone who has already gone through the process!

"For those who have an existing advanced backcountry permit reservation entering at Wateron Townsite and/or Goat
Haunt trailhead, the border crossing procedures have changed.

Essentially, they will be phasing out any permanent customs agents at Goat Haunt and the new system will require
checking in through a digital portal called CBP-ROAM. There will be 2-4 stationary ipads at the boat dock in
Waterton at which anyone traveling in to the U.S. through Goat Haunt will have to register.

Basically you'll sign in, register, state the intent of your trip, and then connect to a live video chat with a customs
agent. As of now, the only hours the kiosks are up and running are 9:30 am-7:30 pm (in correlation to the tour boat
schedule), and have customs agents on site to help explain the new system. They say that within a week or so the
ipad stations will be usable 24 hours a day and the agents will be on site only periodically.

Another option hikers have is to download the CBP-ROAM app to their phone and then check in with customs via
their own cell phone before they leave Waterton using the same portal accessed through the ipads. The entire
townsite of Waterton does provide free wi-fi, but in my experience it is slow at best, and usually experiencing some
kind of technical difficulties, so plan accordingly.

More information on the customs border crossing can be found at the link below:
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-medi ... ional-park "


Hope this information helps!
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