Heya Ken and Carol

Thanks for the info etc, we won't be down there by then unfortunately.

We just got back from the US Embassy in Auckland NZ (5 day trip for us) and our VISAs have been approved, we got B1/B2 so we are good to go.

Good new as that was the last major other than travel insurance which we have just started on now ... input on that will be a huge help too if anyone has some good places to go to.

No long now 6.5 weeks to go :D

Red-tape
 

In 2007 my wife and flew into LAX from Europe but our departure ticket was from Miami to Barbados in the Caribbean.

Although we had no difficulty entering the USA, departure was to be another matter: Shock, horror, a one-way ticket out of the USA, we must be terrorists hell-bent on blowing up the plane, come this way with us so that we can thoroughly search you and your carry-on luggage, and which they did.

Finding nothing, they then ushered us out of security and in their haste (relief?) they forgot to remove the little green pieces of cardboard that had been stapled into our passports when we entered.

Uh-oh, the next time we try to enter the USA their computers will indicate we never left so we'd cop the "please come with us while we give you the third degree" routine.

Except we're not so silly as to not anticipate that, and after weeks of correspondence and submitting proof that we were, in fact, back living in Switzerland (bank statements, payslips, utility receipts blah, blah, blah) they accepted that their Immigration Security fell down on the job. An amazing bureaucracy.

We had $60.00 worth of photos they were not interested in, all our back up and support letters, our rating notice for our property, bank account showing our trip funds, employer letters, etc etc.

Dude behind the counter didn't even know where Ushuaia was or Patagonia!!!, he asked why we wanted a B2, we replied well we will be more than three months but probably less than six months, his reply was owuh :confused1:.

Then he said well what are you gonna do with your house?, we said rent it to help pay for our trip, he said ... good idea! :rolleyes2:

Then that was it, we now have a 10 year VISA which is great, hopefully we get to enjoy the USA as part of our trip.

I am sure we don't look like badasses either but we have been made to feel like a threat to the USA. :thumbdown:

Anyway the USA loses out now as it cost us $3600.00 NZD for the application, flights, rental car, photos, time off work etc so that will NOT be spent in the USA now as we don't have an unlimited budget.

A little frustrating to have to spend so much time and money when we are seriously not in the bad queue.

For insurance, follow the links on HU to Motorcycle Express, send an email and Gail will get back to you.

Thanks for that, Insurance for the bikes is covered, we are wanting travel insurance for Ellen and I, any good suggestions?, many thanks.

Sea yuo in flagstaf
 

also going to flagstaf whil sea yuo thear whear are yuo now maybea see yuo one the roade to arizona

twomotokiwis
 

The red tape to get visas is always difficult. We refer to them as "Border Gods" and we do not complain too much about other countries as we know our own laws make life hell for travellers and imigrants. We were hoping to get a year for the USA but they offered us 5 ... WOW!!!!... To get 10 you must be surely blessed!!!!!!!!! He he he he.

"Border Gods" where the visa is issued at the border can also test ones patience. Keep smiling it usually helps. We have routines that tend to work but things can always change to upset us.

We just took out a 12 month Policy with World Nomads if that is any help. This is Carol's domain and spends hours researching reading the fine print.

bad babba.... Flying to Phoenix on the 19th March then riding East to Texas and Georgia then back to Colorado and Arizona by the 18th May... Then its North to Alaska... very slowly!!!! K & C

Whoever you call for quotes, always make sure you mention you will be traveling on motorbikes. They usually class this as "Overland" travel and a lot of policies exclude it. We went with American Express last time (9 month "gap" insurance) that included overland travel. Do not be tempted to cut corners and go cheap, you will be in the USA, the home of litigation. It only takes one momentary lapse to ruin everything .

Qantas do a fully refundable ticket. Just get a full refund when you arrive in the US.

B2 Visas

Due impending family commitments we maybe having to change our planned intierary for our trip.

This currently means we're planning for two starting options for our travels. The altenative to our plan of riding accross russia from the UK means starting in the US going up in canada for 12 months then coming back south through the states heading towards mexico.

My assumption is that we will need 2 separate B2 visas for this. Am I right??

It's obviously best to check with the US embassy, however as a B2 visa is valid for 10 years, you should be able to just have the one (each :-) )

Mine is valid for 6 months entry to the US per visit. I don't believe it has the same restrictions as the 90 day "must leave the continent, not just pop to Canada or Mexico and back" limit.

As long as you make sure they record you have gone into Canada, and don't take the piss by re-entering a few days later, I doubt that you would have a problem.

But ask the US Embassy

I am pretty sure you will have to leave the country, and it has to be to another country WITHOUT a labd border, maybe a two round trip to Hawii may be in order :)

"Plus, your only allowed 90 days on a tourist visa so your '4 or so months' may be compromised..! "

Sorry to pick you up on this point but a UK citizen can enter the US for up to 90 days WITHOUT a visa. 91 days or more and a visa is definitely required. I almost got caught out with this on my last US trip when my "roughly 90 days" was actually 94 days so it was all a last minute panicky rush which involved a personal visit to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, in London. The visa arrived by post three days before my flight.

We are two Australians that are also planning on entering the USA to buy bikes and then ride to South America. What is the best way to go about entering the USA on a one way ticket?

USA entry
 

Greetings grug... from the USA.

The previous contributions to this thread have probably covered most of the options. The question is what are you restrictions? Time, money or both?

If you plan to spend some time in North America get a Visa. One way air fare issues disappear then. This costs money though but so does a return air ticket.

We chose the visa. More flexible plus we were blessed with a 5 year multiple entry and we are using it. There is a lot to see and enjoy.

There is another option. Fly into Canada but then we have no idea how Canadians treat one way ticket entry into their country. We are mates in the Commonwealth though!!! Some research here would be an idea.

Crossing into the USA from Canada via a small border crossing should bring few problems and your bike purchase and journey could start as planned. Then the other issue is you will only get 90 days. Buying, registering and setting a bike up for long distance travel is time consuming plus what if you have the pleasure of a breakdown.. Andi and Ellen had two new motorcycles purchased in Alaska and experienced issues with the bikes, all covered under warranty, but this takes time.

To us the the Visa option was the best.

Cheers Ken & Carol