Hello everyone - new member here, been reading a while and thought it was time to join up!

So I have been working towards a rtw bike trip starting in the spring of '13 when my bills are squared away. My plan is to cut ties, sell my stuff, quit my job and get on the move for several years... really the plan is just to leave and let the rest fall where and how it doe.

The trip will originate in Eastern Canada and I am having a tough time deciding on a route.

The more reaserch I do, the more I worry about the issue of paperwork.

The two questions that really get to me are:

- how to get all of the visas, ins, licences, etc all lined up when alot of them require passports, pictures, and forms to be mailed off and some have time restrictions as to how early you can apply? I plan to be on the road for four-ten years....

- considering that, does this or will this restrict where I can go and dictate my schedule (along with the seasons of course)?


The original plan was to cross Canada from east to west, then north to Alaska then hopefully to Russia although I know bike transport is very expensive/near impossible now. So I am working on what the best plan B would be but need to determine what my guiding factors are.

Thanks for any links or insight.

Jonathan

be carful as your friend who is in the army WILL NOT be allowed to enter these counties for about 10 years after he leaves the armed forces.

Russia
Any of the stans
mongolia
laos
cambodia
south Korea
vietnam
Iran
Iraq
China
The above countries will not give him permission to enter or a Visa. The Mod will need to be contacted and permission asked.( Always denied due to him becoming a security risk.)
I know this as I had to get permission to visit the above countries when I went RTW 6 YEARS AGO.( I was refused permission.) I applied for the visa, I had to be escorted and was given a very strict route that avoided military areas and some of the best coutryside.
I have now been out of the armed forces for 12 years so am now planning RTW again and this time I am have no problems and no escorts. Russia is now letting me go anywhere. My RTW trip starts in 2011 but going to russia next month in a 4x4 to check some of the route and to test sleeping equipment. tent. and to do the trans sib railway to Vlad.
The bike I'm taking is a Honda Goldwing 1800 model year 2009.

TRY NOT TO MENTION THAT YOUR FRIEND IS OR HAS SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCE AS THIS IS A RED FLAG ON ANY VISA APPLICATION...THIS IS MORE SO EVEN FOR FRIENDLY NATION VISA ( USA) its amazing what info they hold about every one of us..

Hope this helps

Oneword Biker
spend it now as you can't take it with you.

After reading the post again I think i have answered the wrong post as it involved a serving serviceman who retires in a couple of years. trip starts same place.. IF so sorry.

Paper work and visas sould be done about 3 months before you plan to leave.

Thanks for the note and welcome - that is some info that could definitely alter our route!

Is your friend british or Canadian military? As I know for British service men its 10 years. Not sure on time Scale for Canadian service men.

Canadian - he's going to check out the details to see the restrictions

good luck and I hope everything goes the right way for you.

Will be in Canada later this year to go around the lakes and vist friends in battle.

I hate being trapped in doors looking after the kids and hving to play in the snow. Should be out on the bike having fun

Wow...this opened up a can of worms that I didn't even know existed.

I'm currently in the US Army and planned on taking about 2 years off after I separate to do a rtw. I had no idea that I would be barred from entering certain countries...That might be a major downer.

__________________
West Virginia University 2006
Beta Theta Pi - Beta Psi
Ride Report: TAT...and Beyond

Sorry for putting in the can of worms.. U.S service personel suffer the same as U.K service personel due to our commitments around the world. I have been checking with the Russian consulate in the Uk and they may allow you to transit as long asa you accept a guide or a restricted route, But the ukrain is a deffinet No No same as the stans. what I did to get around some of the security was to check my passport to make sure it had nothing military on it, even got new passport with civilian job on it.. it always pays to check with your own security service.

One thing I found when I entered the U.S and this was b4 9/11 was the questions I was asked. this one made me laugh :-

why do you want to enter the US ?
MY RESPONCE WAS... why not. (strike 1)
We see you were a british soldier. When did you leave?
MY RESPONCE... sorry can't give you that information. (strike 2)
sorry you can't enter the US I have to pass you on to my supervisor.. Have a nice day..
after speeking to his supervisor I was allowed to enter the US. the supervisor was an ex service man and knew the rules. I still get asked these questions and still get the red flag and refered to supervisors.

I happened upon this thread again...

Oneworldbiker, are you saying that one should lie or leave blank the sections on (for instance) the Russian Visa application that asks about military service and participating in an armed Conflict?

If one is denied a Visa, then the next course of action is to request special permission?

__________________
West Virginia University 2006
Beta Theta Pi - Beta Psi
Ride Report: TAT...and Beyond

Hi

I stumbled on this thread and being ex forces was starting to get worried about my RTW in 2012.

However today I have spoke to the FCO, Russian embassy in London and the MOD. They all stated it shouldnt be a problem and can find no reference to this matter.

Im hoping oneworldbiker will visit this thread again and point me to some official info on this matter

Cheers
Geordie

Hope you got my pm today. I,m still planning new route for the wing and self for next year

So much for supporting the US in its military adventures.......