Visum or ESTA for US and Canada
 

Hi,

We are from Belgium and are planning a trip to the US in 2018 (start February). First plan is to stay around 10 months in the US (+Alaska) and Canada with our motorbikes. Shipment of the bikes to the US won't be so easy, Canda would be easier due to the rules. (As far as I can find information on the Web).
Concerning the Visa it seems to be even more complicated. Can anyone provide me somemore information (or has experience) with the easiest way. What I understand is that with a ESTA you can stay no longer than 90 days in the country. If you want to stay longer you can aply for a Visum but this is more complicated.
Any information customs is also welcome of course.

Thanks,

David

Esta or not to Esta....
 

Hi David,

Am planning a trip through America & Canada beginning in May 2017. Flying the bike out to Anchorage, Alaska & driving down to Mexico, gonna take 6 months to do this.:scooter:

I have a 6 month visa for America. An ESTA is only valid for 90 days & non extendable :oops2:.

Visa is complicated but not impossible. :helpsmilie: You have to prove that you can support yourself & that you will exit America. This would be like having something important to go back home for eg. owning your own house, business, kids or whatever. The Americans are really scared that people will stay & work in the country. If you want to work you have to apply for a different type of visa & not a tourist visa.

Go onto the American government site and familiarize yourself with the requirements.

Visa application is online then an interview. It is important to have everything ready & in order.

I was also dead nervous about my application, even though I have traveled a lot & had loads of experience applying for visas, but it all worked out in the end.

Good luck, I hope it all works out okay bier

Vince

Hi Vince,

Thank you for the information. The limited time of an ESTA is the reason why Iw ould aply for a Visa but I hear all kind of stories.
One last question, maybe you can confirm this, is it correct that the duration of the Visa is given when you enter the country and not of front (if so this is a bit hard to plan your trip upfront).

David

visum blues
 

Hi David

The visa is valid for 10 years from date of issue. I have a B1/B2. I think that when I arrive the border security person will ask me how long I want to stay. They may also ask for proof of income to support your stay for that time. I think that if you meet all the criteria it should not be a problem. I also believe that the visa is extendable. I told them 6 months in the embassy.

Once the embassy approves your application for a visa you should be okay. The embassy in Amsterdam did ask me for proof of income, but didn't want to see copies of my bank account. They also check you out for criminal activity :oops2:

Make sure that you have no stamps from countries that are enemies (axes of evil thing) of the states in your passport :innocent:

Because I am entering Canada from a land border I don't need a Canadian ESTA. But in your case, shipping to Canada, check out what you need & if it is multiple entry...... up to Alaska & back down again.

Where are you exiting the states??? Mexico?? or shipping back to Belgium?? If you are shipping back out to Belgium then being able to show the security the ticket should be enough.

Yes I know that it's nerve wrecking trying to sort this out. The embassy in Amsterdam don't have just an info counter, it's all online. Does the USA Belgium one have an info counter with a real person??? or a tel. number?? If so get in contact with them.

Make sure that you have all the criteria & can prove it. Dave, just take a deep breath, jump in, swim but go with the flow .... :D:cowboy:

If I can help anymore let me know.... :thumbup1:

Vince

Hi Vince,

I have done some more reading and you are correct. Six months for the visum.
First we planned to ship to Canada but now we would like to ship to the states and drive via Canada towards Alaska and back. Will see...
I did find a tel number for Belgium but this was only to plan the interview. First step now will be to make the shippment more or less concrete. I'm still trying to find a contact number, if I could manage to have somebody on the phone I will be more than happy to share my information.
This is part of the trip I suppose :thumbup1: :scooter:

Keep you updated

Vi(u)sa
 

Hi Dave,

By the way .... firstly :welcome: just seen that you are new on the HUB bier.

I agree with you, get your shipment sorted out first, also your travel budget. Then apply for the visa.

Try looking for travel blogs from other Belgiums and ask them their experience. One blog that I was following was this one:

Wanderingsouls.be - Nomad Lifestyle

Mail them & ask for their experience on the US border.

There are or where a couple of Dutch & Belgium travelers on the HUB but they seem to be quiet at the moment, but if you see any blogs just get in contact & ask them.

Yep once everything comes together & you are on the road this stress time will be all part of the fun particularly when you meet some other travelers & are chilling & beer ......

I will be flying the bike to Anchorage using an English company, "motor freight" Begin point is London Heathrow. Exiting the states via Mexico..... love tacos :cowboy::2guns:

Have Fun ..... Vince

Hi Vince,

Did already some travel in Europe and Morocco but I had this plan already longer in my mind but it is time that this dream beomes reality. I already found some very good information on this forum. I have also contacted Mototfreight but it is a bit difficult to plan a trip if you don't know how long you can stay, 3 of 6 months or less. Things are becoming more clear with the day. Preparation is always the fun :clap: part of the trip. Thanks for all the help and information.

:thumbup1:

David

I'm Dutch and living in Calgary, AB, Canada now. Let me know how/if I can help, PM me.

US situation is not straightforward becuae they calculate time as including time spent in either Mexico or Canada as well as in the usa for calculating the 180 days or 90 days.
So enter the usa on a B1B2 visa and spend 3 months in the lower 48, then cross to Canada and spend 3 months there, then if you want to cross to Alaska or return to lower 48, you may well be refused entry and then have to fly out somwhere and return to reset the clock.

I will contact you next year ;-). Now everything is bit down due to the holidays.
Thank you for your reply.

Hi Tony,

Thanks for this information but again it isn't making things easier. We will apply for a visa
in the coming months and hope for the best. First we need to decide for a transporter and dates.

Kr,

David

Hey Jaak GS,
I'm a Belgian guy who's been for a while riding in Canada. I stay here for the winter and go up when the summer arrives. :-) Anyway, just wanted to say that if you need a Belgian shipping company to ship to Canada let me know.
I know you plan to ship to the states but just in case you change your mind.
Get back to me if you want some info, or if you want to look to my site.
Cheers,
Bossit

I`m doing nearly the same this year. It works exactly as Vince said. Last year I applied for an US visa, because I want to travel the maximum of 6 months. Because I´m actually not employed (otherwise I couldn`t do this journey) I showed a printout of my bank account to prove my ability to pay for myself. Don`t worry about the interview. End of April 2017 I´m starting in Canada in Halifax, because the paperwork for the motorcycle seems easier. It was recommended not to start earlier because winter may last longer up there.

Hoping for the best is not an option with the USA. Sure, some get away with roaming around north america but some come a major cropper. Hasta Alaska (I think it was) was a case in point. Spent years getting from Ushuaia to North America, got through maniland USA and then Canada and then was refused entry to Alaska, so that was the end of a several-year-long dream. He did eventually go back home and establish a normal life and then did return to pick up his dog and his Kombi and finish the journey.
Extreme case but the rules are clearly stated and especially nowadays there isn't a lot of good will at any border and especially not at US borders. If you plan on spending more than 6 months in North America before heading into mexico and then further south, then I suggest allowing for the fact that you might have to fly out to a non-contiguous country to reset the clock.

US Government does have a very responsive email contact so you might want to run your plans and intinerary past them (use a friends email address perhaps) to see what the official position uis



from https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...-b1-or-b2-visa

However, there seems to be a bit of an escape clause that if you go in to Canada for considerably longer than the 30 days quoted, they are likely to regard your return as a new visit. Possibly - but of course the officer at the gate can tell you to get lost just because of the colour of your sneakers and there is little you can do about it.

Hi Tony,

With this I mean I will apply for the tourist visum (instead of ESTA) and I hope nothing "bad" will come up. The Belgium website of the embassy is very clear on how to apply. So I don't expect anything negative would happen but never say never.

Thank you for the additional information, we are looking really forward to our trip and going back to the US.

David