Hi all,

As some of you know, we were meant to cross the Canada-USA border yesterday. After a 12-hour exhausting day driving and sitting in border agencies, we were thrown away from the USA, twice!

The main issue seems to be that we don't have a return ticket and we don't have jobs. Now of course, we had to leave our jobs in the first place to have enough time ahead of us to cross the Americas. The return ticket (back to the UK) is also impossible as we don't have a specific location (Chile, Argentina, or before if we get sick?) or date of leaving.

They do not understand what a temporary import of a vehicle is (which we had to do in Canada when we shipped our car from London as a proof that the vehicle would leave the country with us), they do not want to believe we are doing a private expedition for tourism purposes, and are obviously concerned of us staying in the US. They are worried of us being illegal immigrants because we don't have return tickets, nor jobs, and the car is loaded with stuff. They asked us about our bank account details, our money. We told them we had enough savings, but they obviously thought it mean't we would have enough to start a new life in the US.

When we were received entry in the first border, we were so shocked, we didn't see it coming at all. The officer dealing with our case even kindly suggested that we tried a different border (or even come back within a few hours) where somebody perhaps would understand better. To our horror, at the second border, we were horribly treated and threatened. We were shouted at, saying that this was our second warning (was there ever a first one?) and that if we tried this again without proof of empolyment and return tickets (+ financial proofs), they would confiscate the car and deport us back to the UK, and bar us from the US!!! They registered us in the US Justice Dptmt system, asked for our addresses, DOB, parents' addresses and DOB, old jobs' details, fingerprints, photos, ect. I was so shocked I could only cry on my chair, realising that this was over before it had even started; meanwhile, they were entering our details in their database and checking I would not move.

So after all this, we are back at my parents house in Montreal, and our question is: how is it possible that so many other overlanders have done the Americas and not reported this problem, did we miss something in our extensive research?

We have a family wedding in Texas (and John was supposed to meet his sister from the UK there in a few days, and she was bringin extra filters for the car). We have spent nearly a year planning, preparing, saving for this trip. We have quit our jobs and spent money on our car and expedition equipment. We have put so much efforts into realising our dream. I am Canadian and French, my husband is British and Filipino. We have lived and worked together in London UK for our respective governments for the past 5 years, and have spent the last three months in Montreal with my family to kit up the car and prepare for the adventure down south. Obviously, they don't care about this and don't want to know. We had so many documents that they did not even want to see (travel inventory, 1yr tax return form UK, marriage certificate, worlwide travel insurance, inoculations, bank statements, proof of house in the UK. ect). Now, John and the UK registered car only have 6 months in Canada, only 3 left.

Any advice asap would be appreciated because we are now in limbo.
We cannot believe the dream ends here. It would be ridiculous to ship the car to Chile to be told the same thing again on our way up. I will try to contact officials today to get a clear picture.
I hope some of you can help out. This forum has been amazing for us throughout our preps and I'm sure someone out there must know something. Thanks in advance.

John and Isabelle

Buy a full price ticket to anywhere out of the US and present it at the border then cancel the ticket once you are in or possibly once you get into Mexico (that's why it needs to be a full price one rather than a no money back cheapy) Hope this works. Ride safe and cheer up.

__________________
Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Hi Cruz,

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. You posted a question to Axel on a similar thread. After they were turned back they made an appointment to go through the visa process and had to wait a week or so. The appointment was last week, and I haven't heard any updates so I assume that they got their visa. You may want make an appointment as soon as you can. If Montreal has a long wait, then perhaps Toronto or Ottawa would be shorter wait. You may want to have your story and supporting details alll worked out before hand. Good luck.

Thanks guys.

Unfort., a return ticket is not enough. They need proof of employment (which is not possible obviously as we quit our jobs to make the travelling possible). I have spoken to many people this morning, may have indeed to go down the visa route, but even this is unsure as we have all our details in their system... We can't believe this and are still shocked. Will try to get in touch with Axel.

Thanks so much Caminando. It's very kind of you and it helps us not to feel so isolated and keep hoping.

I was on the phone with the US consulate.They understand the situation perfectly but cannot decide for the Homeland Security Dptmt (borders). We have been advised to write to the consulate's non-immigration visa dptmt explaining the whole issue to see what can be done. See if at least a visa would be receivable.

We are also trying to see if someone can sponsor/commission our expedition to prove that we are not staying in the UK. We are willing and happy to write articles in Fr or Eng, or for the matter anything to allow us to pursue, or at least start living the dream. Thanks

Just for the record, our local MP will try and see what can be done with the embassy. We are preparing files with our story - if we are more ready and calm to speak to the media. We are waiting to hear from the US consulate and other friends trying to help in and out of the US.

Please let us know if any advice or help. Thanks