Crossing into the USA from Canada with a UK passport. Easy ?????

[*Touring Ted*]

I'm 80% certain that I'm doing a trip from Canada into Alaska this summer..

As a UK passport holder, I can just fly to Canada and stay six months... No problem.

I want to cross into the USA from Canada though. Into Alaska.

Apart from the electronic application thingy, do I need to do anything else ???

Do I need a barcode on my ass, a letter from the Queen and an Eagle tattooed on my arm before they let me in ???

Is there anything else I can do to improve my chances of an easy entry ??


I've got LOADS of potentially dodgy stamps in my passport from the middle East and Africa.. Will they get their rubber gloves out ? Last time I was in the US in 2003, they scanned my retina, took my finger prints and questioned me for 15 minutes.. I was only in New York for a week at Christmas too. JEEEEEZ

[docsherlock]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

I'm 80% certain that I'm doing a trip from Canada into Alaska this summer..

As a UK passport holder, I can just fly to Canada and stay six months... No problem.

I want to cross into the USA from Canada though. Into Alaska.

Apart from the electronic application thingy, do I need to do anything else ???

Do I need a barcode on my ass, a letter from the Queen and an Eagle tattooed on my arm before they let me in ???

Is there anything else I can do to improve my chances of an easy entry ??


I've got LOADS of potentially dodgy stamps in my passport from the middle East and Africa.. Will they get their rubber gloves out ? Last time I was in the US in 2003, they scanned my retina, took my finger prints and questioned me for 15 minutes.. I was only in New York for a week at Christmas too. JEEEEEZ

That's all Standard Ted.
You should not have a problem at all under the visa waiver program; I have crossed into the US from BC on my UK passport and didn't even do anything, just turned up and paid my six bucks.
They will likely ask you about your travels - just answer them honestly - it's not like you were out there training AQ.........were you??

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by Docsherlock

That's all Standard Ted.
You should not have a problem at all under the visa waiver program; I have crossed into the US from BC on my UK passport and didn't even do anything, just turned up and paid my six bucks.
They will likely ask you about your travels - just answer them honestly - it's not like you were out there training AQ.........were you??

Cheers. That's reassuring.

I just remember more than a few posts on here about people being denied entry to the US from Canada for absolutely no reason.

They were financially solvent and just travelling through..

[markharf]

Mostly they care about whether they think you're adequately rooted back home so that you won't be tempted to stay and work. Show them job, responsibilities, sick relatives to take care of, pet goldfish, whatever.

On the other hand, there's an article in the New York Times today which claims to be based on articles in the British tabloid press, describing Homeland Security bots searching the internet for suspect statements by ferriners like yourself, who are then added to lists for further questioning or refusal at borders. Here's a quote:

As American security agencies increasingly take to Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites in search of potential threats, two European travelers say the system lacks one important quality: a sense of humor.


The travelers, Leigh Van Bryan and Emily Bunting, said they were detained overnight after arriving in Los Angeles International Airport last Monday, questioned by agents from the Department of Homeland Security, and then sent back on a return flight to Europe. All because Mr. Bryan joked on Twitter that he was going to “destroy America” during his trip — an apparent reference to partying — as well as dig up the grave of Marylin Monroe — a joke.
“The Homeland Security agents were treating me like some kind of terrorist,” Mr. Bryan, a 26-year-old Irish citizen, said in an interview published in the British tabloid The Daily Mail.
“‘You’ve really messed up with that tweet, boy,’” Mr. Bryan remembered one agent saying, using a more profane expression for messed up.

So.....think carefully about what you write here about BMW, armoured riding gear, motorcycle mechanics, transient girlfriends, and especially tire choice.

Mark

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by markharf

Mostly they care about whether they think you're adequately rooted back home so that you won't be tempted to stay and work. Show them job, responsibilities, sick relatives to take care of, pet goldfish, whatever.

On the other hand, there's an article in the New York Times today which claims to be based on articles in the British tabloid press, describing Homeland Security bots searching the internet for suspect statements by ferriners like yourself, who are then added to lists for further questioning or refusal at borders. Here's a quote:

As American security agencies increasingly take to Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites in search of potential threats, two European travelers say the system lacks one important quality: a sense of humor.


The travelers, Leigh Van Bryan and Emily Bunting, said they were detained overnight after arriving in Los Angeles International Airport last Monday, questioned by agents from the Department of Homeland Security, and then sent back on a return flight to Europe. All because Mr. Bryan joked on Twitter that he was going to “destroy America” during his trip — an apparent reference to partying — as well as dig up the grave of Marylin Monroe — a joke.
“The Homeland Security agents were treating me like some kind of terrorist,” Mr. Bryan, a 26-year-old Irish citizen, said in an interview published in the British tabloid The Daily Mail.
“‘You’ve really messed up with that tweet, boy,’” Mr. Bryan remembered one agent saying, using a more profane expression for messed up.

So.....think carefully about what you write here about BMW, armoured riding gear, motorcycle mechanics, transient girlfriends, and especially tire choice.

Mark

All I can say to that is GOD BLESS AMERICA and I pledge my allegiance to the flag etc etc...

[Matt Cartney]

Ted,

I went to Belize last year via the states. I had Iran and Pakistan Visas in my passport and I thought "I can't be bothered with the inevitable strip search" (and possible stay at Guatanamo!) and got a new passport from the Passport Agency. Just snipped off a corner and sent it back. OK, this costs money, but I reckoned it was worth it. The old one would have expired in a couple of years anyway.

My experience of US customs was time consuming and boring, but not bad otherwise.

Matt

PS - When I entered Belize I handed over my passport with about $200 tucked in the cover by mistake!

Fortunately the customs officer realised it was an accident and I didn't end up in the jug!

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by Matt Cartney

PS - When I entered Belize I handed over my passport with about $200 tucked in the cover by mistake!

Fortunately the customs officer realised it was an accident and I didn't end up in the jug!

hahah Brilliant......

[MountainMan]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

I've got LOADS of potentially dodgy stamps in my passport from the middle East and Africa.. Will they get their rubber gloves out ? Last time I was in the US in 2003, they scanned my retina, took my finger prints and questioned me for 15 minutes.. I was only in New York for a week at Christmas too. JEEEEEZ

It's largely a matter of luck, but I've crossed in and out of the US (land and air) with a passport full of stamps quite a few times and had no problems. The occasional keener will ask why all the travel, hoping to uncover some nefarious activity, but a straightforward answer regarding riding across/around the world seems to suit them just fine.

More than a couple of times the border guard has professed to being a biker and even a member of advrider or other user sites.

You might get a hairy eyeball about a stamp from a country on their bad people list, such as Syria, Libya, Nigeria, etc. but in general a straightforward comment that you have to go through some of those places to get to where you are going seems to appease them. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Dazzerrtw]

Hi Ted .
Here is what it says if you try to fill in the on line ESTA form.


How do you intend to enter the USA?
As you are entering the US via land vehicle, you do not need a visa and will be required to fill out an "Arrival-Departure Record, CBP Form I-94W (green form)" with US Customs prior to being admitted into the country.

Dazzer

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by Dazzerrtw

Hi Ted .
Here is what it says if you try to fill in the on line ESTA form.


How do you intend to enter the USA?
As you are entering the US via land vehicle, you do not need a visa and will be required to fill out an "Arrival-Departure Record, CBP Form I-94W (green form)" with US Customs prior to being admitted into the country.

Dazzer

Cheers Dazza. I think I actually cross the border on the river and then have to find the border post.. Maybe.... I'm not too sure yet.

I guess a canoe counts as land vehicle.. kinda

[Dazzerrtw]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

Cheers Dazza. I think I actually cross the border on the river and then have to find the border post.. Maybe.... I'm not too sure yet.

I guess a canoe counts as land vehicle.. kinda

Ted have you seen the Movie " Into the wild " ?

[McCrankpin]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

I'm 80% certain that I'm doing a trip from Canada into Alaska this summer..

As a UK passport holder, I can just fly to Canada and stay six months... No problem.

I want to cross into the USA from Canada though. Into Alaska.

Apart from the electronic application thingy, do I need to do anything else ???

Hi Ted,
Are you flying directly from UK to Canada? If you are don't read anymore.

Or are you landing in US (just to change planes/flights) before continuing to Canada? And then entering US later.

I did the second option about 11 years ago and it made a big difference to entering US from Canada later on that trip.
Your 'visa waiver' clock starts at your first touchdown in US so you could find all the time used up (is it still 90 days?) by the time you enter US from Canada.

In those days there was a special procedure for visa-waiver passengers called "Transit without visa" or TWOV, so your ticket and passport were handled in a special way at your first touchdown in the US. Then your 90 days starts when you go back to US from Canada.

I've since heard that TWOV isn't available anymore.

I also have a funny feeling it would be worth trawling the visa waiver website to make sure any time spent in Canada doesn't come off your 90 days when you enter US. I remember there were all sorts of different rules for visa waiver travellers if they entered US from either Canada or Mexico.
It will all have changed by now I'm sure, maybe even more complicated, but I'd check.

Or maybe someone else (UK passport) who's done that route recently (air to Canada, overland into US on visa waiver) can confirm.

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by Dazzerrtw

Ted have you seen the Movie " Into the wild " ?

Sure have... Great film. I don't intend to end it all in a trailer though

This is also worth watching..

The Other Side - 4oD - Channel 4

Originally Posted by McCrankpin

Hi Ted,
Are you flying directly from UK to Canada? If you are don't read anymore.

The plan is to fly direct to Canada. Thanks for the info all the same.

[Burning Rubber]

I'm doing a 6 mth ride around the USA and Canada from 16th July and you're right with Canada. I thought about the 3 month ESTA for the USA and apparently you can go across the border into Canada and then get it reset when you cross back into the USA.

Although I didn't really want the possibility of not being allowed back in, so I applied and got a 6 month visitors visa.

Still working through paperwork for USA, applying for an exmeption from the EPA for the bike. Shipping to Vancouver as less hassle than LA

I used my UK passport for the visa and although coming from NZ, will be using my UK passport when crossing the border. Watch this space for when I cross the border as will advise how it goes, or you can follow me on FB and website

2002 GSA 1150