Hi,

Been on the road for 2 1/2 years and currently in Peru. I'd like to go to the US & Canada, but heard various stories about some people having been refused entry to the US. Some of them had a valid 6-month visa, others tried it on a 3-month visa waiver.

Are these stories of 'refused entry' the exception for long-term travellers? I mean, the only two reasons for a refused entry I can think of are:
1) you've been to the 'wrong' countries earlier during a RTW trip
2) the border guys can't quite comprehend how someone can support themselves without working, so maybe they think "you want to work illegaly in my country, hence you're not gonna cross this border"

On my current passport I've been to Iran & Pakistan (about 2 years ago now). I can prove a legal income from my home country, which supports my trip – so I hope at least point 2 won't be an issue.

Anyway... IF I get into the US on a 3 month visa waiver, I'd then like to leave the bike with my cousin in California, fly back to Europe for 2-3 months and then get a 6-month visa for the US & fly back to the US to continue my trip.

Any long-term(!) traveller had any problems with getting into the US?
How long can I leave the bike in the US? (With or without Carnet)

Thanks a bunch!

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http://www.panomoto.com

Try contacting HU members EmandHame and ask them for their take. They were travelling, I believe, on British passports, with a Malaysian registered bike when they came to the US from Mexico a couple years ago. I think with a European passport (I'm only assuming, with a name like Bjorn) you won't have any trouble getting into the USA. As you say, the border guards are more concerned with Latin Americans coming in to work.

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Andy Tiegs
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/ts...lsouth-america

Not sure about entry into the USA. But if you got your Visa at a US embassy should be OK. But with these current "no fly" lists and "watch lists" it's hard to say what kind of mischief all these private contractors are up to. Most all this sort of data mining is now out sourced to Israeli companies and other contractors who get billions to "protect" us.

It's possible just visiting Pakistan and Iran could make you suspect. (Bjorn, these dudes are crazy paranoid!) Problem is, you can't ask any US official if you are on a "no fly" or "watch" list. They won't tell you. So it will either be Yes or No. Just show up and give it a shot.

As far as the bike goes, no problems. No such thing as Carnet in the USA for vehicles. There will not be any paperwork or forms to fill in, no temporary vehicle import permit. Does not exist in USA. Nothing. Leave bike as long as you like. (but it can never be registered on a local plate)

But you will need some sort of US insurance cover. (easier said than done)
And you should have your home plate/registration up to date and current.
(many don't do this and aren't bothered) Neither insurance nor registration will be checked at the border. They will only be concerned about YOU, not the Bike! (although the Dogs may Bomb/Drug sniff it)

With this done you are good to go .... only limiting factor being your Visa time limit. The bike won't be noted in your passport, so you can fly out and fly back no problem if you get a new Visa.

Good luck!

Well – Simon & Lisa Thomas, I heard, had problems on the border coming in from Canada. Both have a EU passport, they're married – and one got in, the other didn't. Two bikes, same nationality, same bike paperwork, same day, same queue.
Don't know any further details/reasons why, but that's what I was told.

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http://www.panomoto.com

Thanks for the reply, Mickey. Good info re: bike storage. I guess I´ll give it a shot then.

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http://www.panomoto.com

Hi Bjorn,

I'm currently in Mazatlan, Mexico, going to cross to Baja and go north back into the USA.

Whereabouts are you now? Nigel would love it if we could catch up.
I'm his sister, travelling on my Beemer on the way back to Australia.

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Ajaxer(Back in the fold)
BMW R1200RT

Bjorn

I make the trip 6 times a year back and forth, for the last 10 years from Honduras to the USA and the USA border crossing is a pain and is completely different as if you would have entered by plane, what is hassle free.
Being in a similar situation as you, being a Dutch National living in Honduras , they do not even accept my Honduran residence cart as proof I am living in Honduras. Border agents have a check list of what you have to present to let you in with ridiculous demands.
Bassicly you are quilty till you proof different of not living and working in the USA
I my case I have to show hard evidence from the last 6 months that I do not live in the US by showing all the crab such as phone/water/electricity bills
creditcard/bank statements ( Not copies or online statements) property, scool etc. and they usually ask for something what I do not have and that give them then the agrument to drill you more, but all the 50 times I crossed on the end ( sometimes 4 to 6 hours, they let me in ( I always carry a briefcase full with papers to proof my innocense and just like you enter with a waiver initially and changed later to a US visa for 6 months, but still have the same problems and sometimes it is the same officer over and over every 2 months, but they just smile and say "every time you come you have to convince me"
Just be polite and show no frustration and say yes and no sir and it will work
Border agents totally do not care if your motorcycle has different plates from other countries and if you have insurance yes or no
In my case I have Honduran plates and can not , I say can not buy liability insurance on the border and tried many, many times.
If you need additional info for that part of the world with border crossings, I consider myself an expert incl. Quatemala and Mexico crossings

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Ronald Janssen
http://utilamoto.blogspot.com/

Hi Bjorn,
Passed today from Canada to US at Niagara Falls on our BMW 1150 GSA with a dutch licenceplate. No problems. within half hour we past. We had the visa waiver but the official told us that one is only valid when you enter by plane. We filled in a form( did you-- no.no.no.no ) got our fingers printed and a photos taken. A few question about our plans and our funds. No interest at all for the bike. So nobody knows official about our bike.
We are under way via east coast, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Houston to Mexico and on to Panama.
Last few years travelled Inidia and South East Asia. This is different.
Menno and Stammes two up