USA Visa Arrangements

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

Is it posible to stay for the 90 day validity of a USA ESTA Visa and then fly to a country outside of the USA for a few days or a week and then return to the USA for another 90 days? Can this go on and on?

novelty-socks

I'm no expert, so I can't tell you whether this is technically permitted or not. But I can imagine that the agent at passport control might have some awkward questions for you when you re-enter the country. And if you get away with it once, I imagine you'll have much greater difficulty the second or third time.

Source: I've travelled to the US about once a month for work this year and my experiences at passport control seem to get increasingly awkward every time!

jackieblack

My understanding is that it, firstly, it depends on which other country (definitely not Canada or Mexico) and, secondly, the immigration officer will want to know your reason for re-entering the USA so soon/without returning home first. If they think that the reason is to circumnavigate the system simply to get another 90 days then you would probably be refused entry.

If you are denied entry by US Immigration, the airline is responsible to fly you back to wherever your arriving flight came from.

richardw

Will you have full medical insurance for each 90 day period?

EssexExile

A friend went to the States for an extended period, he tried before going to sort out a visa for longer than the 90 days but to no avail. On arrival in the States he spoke to immigration who gave him a form which he duly filled in & sent off with a fee but never heard anything. Getting towards the end of the first 90 days he drove up to Toronto for a baseball game, on the way back the next day he thought he'd give it one more try & asked the immigration guy about extending his stay. The guy said "What's the problem, you've only just arrived you've got another 90 days". So it works once but as others have said repeating the trick may cause problems.

jackieblack

EssexExile wrote: »

A friend went to the States for an extended period, he tried before going to sort out a visa for longer than the 90 days but to no avail. On arrival in the States he spoke to immigration who gave him a form which he duly filled in & sent off with a fee but never heard anything. Getting towards the end of the first 90 days he drove up to Toronto for a baseball game, on the way back the next day he thought he'd give it one more try & asked the immigration guy about extending his stay. The guy said "What's the problem, you've only just arrived you've got another 90 days". So it works once but as others have said repeating the trick may cause problems.

That really surprises me.
Unless they've changed the rules it always used to be the case, when entering the USA under the VWP that trips into Canada/Mexico didn't count as leaving and had to be included in the 90 days.

An alternative experience
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-couple-thrown-in-texas-jail-for-five-weeks-after-visa-blunder-1-1701429

shaun_from_Africa

jackieblack wrote: »

An alternative experience
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-couple-thrown-in-texas-jail-for-five-weeks-after-visa-blunder-1-1701429

Not quite the same thing as the couple in question left the US and didn't get their passport stamped when entering Canada so there was no record of them leaving the country at the end of the initial 90 day period.

jackieblack

Am trying to find a link, but I saved a screenshot of this when I was planning one of my trips a few years ago.
"If you are admitted to the United States under the VWP, you may take a short trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island and generally be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the remainder of the original 90 days granted upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less."

jackieblack

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Not quite the same thing as the couple in question left the US and didn't get their passport stamped when entering Canada so there was no record of them leaving the country at the end of the initial 90 day period.

Yeah, I don't remember that point being reported at the time the story was in the headlines though :think:

danielthmark

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

Is it posible to stay for the 90 day validity of a USA ESTA Visa and then fly to a country outside of the USA for a few days or a week and then return to the USA for another 90 days? Can this go on and on?

Is is possible, yes. Is it going to happen, no.

Leaving for Mexico, Canada or "adjacent Islands" doesn't reset the 90 days anyways. This little loop-hole was shut down years ago.

PompeyPete

I found the answer out with a quick Google search.

Type in 'USA visa waiver. How much time does there need to be between 90 day visits?'

Plenty of results and comment, with a fair share of muddy water.