The visa thing continues (for us anyway!)
Hi Tony
As you are already aware there are loads of threads dealing with this subject but none that seem to have a definitive answer. Sue and I are flying into Anchorage in June and heading for Tierra del Fuego, we don't want to apply for a B2 tourist visa for two reasons 1) cost and expense of travelling down to London to get them, and 2) we need to get from Alaska through Canada and into Mexico within a couple of months so well within the 90 days allowed under the visa waiver programme. I rang the US Embassy in London the other day to get answers to the following questions, and this is what we were told:
Q1)Do we need a return ticket if we are exiting the US at a different point (Mexico), to point of entry?
A) Yes
Q2) What happens when we leave Alaska and travel through Canada and enter the US again (Montana) on our way South?
A) You can leave the US to visit bordering countries as many times as you like and re enter the US but the total time visiting those countries and the rest of your stay in the US should not exceed the length of your visa (90 days).
When you re enter the US from Canada you will be issued with an I-94 form which basically allows you the same travel rights as your initial VWP access, but most importantly when you leave through Mexico you must hand in the I-94 form to show you are leaving the country.
We will be buying return air tickets to Anchorage as they are cheaper than single fares (as far as I can see) and obviously ditching the return part. If I were you I would give the US Embassy a ring to confirm these details, Embassy of the U.S. London: Visa Services: Contact Info
Hope this has been of some use, like I said earlier I trawled through loads of posts on this subject but will, if we ever get to Mexico, post a HOW TO on the whole procedure. By the way if anyone is reading this and knows the steps required or has done it please reply. In closing, no ammount of browsing the HU or similar sites can replace self research, but it's a great way to idle away a few hours!!!
Ride Safe, as in life Stay Upright!
Graham and Sue
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