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Anyone use the ROAM Customs app?

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Date/Time: 04/29/2024 11:39AM

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Anyone use the ROAM Customs app?

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
timatkn	03/22/2020 10:26AM billconner: "Is the kiosk open 24/7?" I am sorry I don’t know. The front door was open, all of the other doors were locked. It would make sense if it was open 24/7. I meant to check that but in the hurry to check in I didn’t see anything about hours. We went in during normal hours. Hopefully someone else has seen the hours or remembers. T
billconner	03/17/2020 03:47AM Is the kiosk open 24/7?
timatkn	03/16/2020 09:51PM The iPAD at the office is easy. Didn’t download the app. I guess if I had to I’d download it for the trip, use it, then delete it. T
Jackfish	03/12/2020 08:52PM TominMpls: "Oh man, I was thinking I might want to use this app when we come out, but I went to download it and saw all the permissions it requests. It requires full access to not just the obvious things - audio and video for video chatting - but also GPS and other location services, your call history, read/write access to your files, etc. Essentially, DHS wants to have complete, unfettered access to everything on your phone including history. I think I'll stop in the office in Ely instead." Thought I'd bump this back to the top. The information that Tom mentions above concerns me. Has anyone else had experience with the ROAM app? How about the iPad at the Customs office kiosk?
timatkn	07/20/2019 11:10PM Just got back, yep the office wasn’t manned, checked my whole family/group in all at once on the app/kiosk. Took maybe 10 minutes for four people? Pretty simple to do. T
bassman	07/17/2019 07:18AM timatkn: "goblu79: "I was told last year, that the CBP office in Ely was going to be closed, and that a kiosk would be used to check in. Or you could use the App. " Is the office closed now in Ely and they just have the Kiosk? Did you stop by or just use the App? For the App can I just use the App for my entire family wife, 2 boys 9 and 12 or does my wife need a separate app downloaded on her phone? T" Last month when we came back from the Q, we stopped at the CBP office and used the kiosk there. It wasn't difficult at all, although it did take a little bit of time. Not a lot by any means. As I recall one of us had to go through a little video teleconference interview with an agent then the rest of us got through without it. As long as the kiosk is always accessible I don't see why you would jam up your phone with the app. I don't know the hours that door is open though.
timatkn	07/11/2019 10:16PM Thanks! I totally forgot my passport expired, just renewed 5 weeks ago and got notification I was approved but would arrive after my trip. The ROAM option would still keep me legal, since I wouldn’t have to show it but they could check and confirm mine was up to date. I just didn’t want to show up to do the kiosk and the all of a sudden an agent walks out :) Luckily our passports arrived today so doesn’t matter. I’ll stop in the station and report back in a week or so to the board. T
goblu79	07/10/2019 08:25PM I haven't been on my trip yet, but from what I understand, the CBP office in Ely is closed. You can access a terminal to check in inside the building, but I don't think there are any officers manning it now. Last year, all six of us checked in via one persons App. You can have separate Apps if you want, but we only had the one at the time. I believe they wanted email addresses and maybe SSN for check in, but I might be wrong on that.
timatkn	07/10/2019 06:14PM goblu79: "I was told last year, that the CBP office in Ely was going to be closed, and that a kiosk would be used to check in. Or you could use the App. " Is the office closed now in Ely and they just have the Kiosk? Did you stop by or just use the App? For the App can I just use the App for my entire family wife, 2 boys 9 and 12 or does my wife need a separate app downloaded on her phone? T
goblu79	06/18/2019 02:03PM I was told last year, that the CBP office in Ely was going to be closed, and that a kiosk would be used to check in. Or you could use the App.
goblu79	06/18/2019 07:05AM All six of us checked in with it while in Ely.
moosedoggie	06/18/2019 06:37AM billconner: "moosedoggie: "BUMP We're going over toward Ranger Bay in July. Three boats, six people. Has anyone used this yet with a smart phone?" No responses. I would expect you would check in when out of wilderness, not from Ranger Bay where I'm guessing you are re-entering US? So others indicate yes to smart phones but clearly not for sure. Some can't. And most cant get cell service on Ranger Bay relaibly. (In fact, i did years ago, with an early Nokia on analog cell service. Seemed to get across basswood in evening. No luck with newer phones.) Help at all? " I would expect to use it to check in once we got back near ELY. (Getting a tow to Lincoln Island) The information on this thread from last year seemed to indicate that you would only be able to check back in with the app. Is that really the case or can you still go by the office in ELY.
billconner	06/17/2019 03:44PM moosedoggie: "BUMP We're going over toward Ranger Bay in July. Three boats, six people. Has anyone used this yet with a smart phone?" No responses. I would expect you would check in when out of wilderness, not from Ranger Bay where I'm guessing you are re-entering US? So others indicate yes to smart phones but clearly not for sure. Some can't. And most cant get cell service on Ranger Bay relaibly. (In fact, i did years ago, with an early Nokia on analog cell service. Seemed to get across basswood in evening. No luck with newer phones.) Help at all?
GraniteCliffs	06/17/2019 02:47PM Tried the app on a smart phone in early June. Could not make it work. My buddy is in IT and is way smarter than I am. He tried with no success.
goblu79	06/17/2019 07:16AM My group and I used the App last year to check in. Very, very nice. We had in fact, forgotten to check in and they directed us to use the App. We've all got it on our phones now.
Mocha	06/06/2019 12:21PM TominMpls: "Oh man, I was thinking I might want to use this app when we come out, but I went to download it and saw all the permissions it requests. It requires full access to not just the obvious things - audio and video for video chatting - but also GPS and other location services, your call history, read/write access to your files, etc. Essentially, DHS wants to have complete, unfettered access to everything on your phone including history. I think I'll stop in the office in Ely instead." yep, this is true of so many apps. I've really started reading before I click Accept
moosedoggie	06/04/2019 04:31PM BUMP We're going over toward Ranger Bay in July. Three boats, six people. Has anyone used this yet with a smart phone?
TominMpls	08/27/2018 07:27AM We came out Saturday in Ely and stopped in to customs there. The agent gave us a sheet about ROAM and told us the goal is that next year the Ely station won't be staffed - there will be a kiosk with an iPad in the front area of the current office instead. He indicated that Grand Marais might still be staffed, but on the west side I think this is going to be it.
poxy	08/26/2018 05:57PM I used it on Saturday and it was easy. No video conference required, just three questions about what you’re bringing in (nothing) that you answer via the app. Took less than 5 minutes to be processed on their end. It does require cell service - I couldn’t receive the text with the security code via the outfitters WiFi, so did it once I got a signal as we headed down the Gunflint Trail.
GraniteCliffs	08/19/2018 09:05PM I just got back from a trip. I went to check in when I got to Ely. Checked in and all is well. Got to chatting with the Border Patrol guy. He told me the Ely office will not be staffed as of next year. They will have the same entry way at their current location and you will be able to use an Ipad there to access the ROAM app to check in. He claimed it would not be hard. I told him I could just have someone in the car on the way home check me in. He said fine, but we had to do it basically as soon as we had cell coverage when the trip ended. He said you have to have GPS enabled on your phone when you check in and you best not be 50 miles down the road before you check in.
billconner	08/13/2018 06:48PM Or use ROAM on a tablet or computer at a business.
jcavenagh	08/13/2018 11:27AM timatkn: "GraniteCliffs: "Customs. You know. The place some people have never gone to over the years of Q travels. " I have no idea what you are talk8ng about... :) T" Nor do I. It has been some yeas since I visited the Q, but I can not recall even once speaking with customs upon my return.
TominMpls	08/09/2018 01:19PM Oh man, I was thinking I might want to use this app when we come out, but I went to download it and saw all the permissions it requests. It requires full access to not just the obvious things - audio and video for video chatting - but also GPS and other location services, your call history, read/write access to your files, etc. Essentially, DHS wants to have complete, unfettered access to everything on your phone including history. I think I'll stop in the office in Ely instead.
timatkn	08/08/2018 11:14PM GraniteCliffs: "Customs. You know. The place some people have never gone to over the years of Q travels. " I have no idea what you are talk8ng about... :) T
GraniteCliffs	08/08/2018 04:34PM Customs. You know. The place some people have never gone to over the years of Q travels.
arctic	08/08/2018 02:45PM GraniteCliffs: "What did I do when Customs was closed? Ain't sayin either. Actually I have never come through after it was closed. " What is "Customs"?
GraniteCliffs	08/02/2018 10:20AM What did I do when Customs was closed? Ain't sayin either. Actually I have never come through after it was closed.
timatkn	08/02/2018 07:52AM GraniteCliffs: "Sounds too complicated for me. The 5 minute check in might well be easier, assuming it is open when you pass through." What do ya do when customs is closed? The Grand Marais station wasn’t open the one time I went through there. I think another time the Ely station closed at 3:30 and we got held up by wind and didn’t get there until 5 pm. I am not going to say what I did in those situations... T
poxy	08/01/2018 08:37PM Setup is a one time deal if you take the same canoe each trip. Adding “crew” is easy. I rather like the idea of being able to use an outfitters WiFi to simultaneously do check-in and a celebratory beer, and not having to stop in Grand MaraIs on driving day. Ely May be a different story.
GraniteCliffs	08/01/2018 08:16PM Sounds too complicated for me. The 5 minute check in might well be easier, assuming it is open when you pass through.
poxy	08/01/2018 08:07PM Jackfish: "Poxy, can one person with the app check everyone in or would each member of the group need to have the app and check in individually?" When I set it up it asked for boat registration info. I think it’s really designed for Great Lakes and coastal cruisers. One person has to be designated master. So if you have a multi boat group it seems you would need a separate login for each boat. Once you file your return, customs follows up with a video chat. Going to try it out later this month. I’ll report back.
GraniteCliffs	08/01/2018 11:54AM It seems to have some merit once you download the app and get it set up. I am headed up again in two weeks and may give it a shot. On the other hand, stopping in Ely at Customs takes 5 minutes so may still just be easier.
billconner	08/01/2018 08:04AM The article suggests you could do this at a business with a tablet, which I though might be every outfitter. I'm impressed. Can't wait to hear a report of someone using it. Not as easy as an RABC for entering Canada but makes a border trip easier to use both sides of border if you have service. Else sat phone and I 69.
Jackfish	08/01/2018 07:55AM Poxy, can one person with the app check everyone in or would each member of the group need to have the app and check in individually?
poxy	08/01/2018 07:08AM I called CBP this morning. The agent I spoke with said the app is the preferred check-in method for people re-entering the US from Quetico.
muddyfeet	07/31/2018 04:55PM I was thinking that sometime I might 'forget' to check in with US customs on return, but now there is an app that can meet the requirements for a face-to-face interview. It seems like a reasonable solution. Has anyone used it?