Hi guys...me and the missus are gutted..we went to USA embassy in London this morning asking for a 6 month visa to visit the US...the idea was to ship the bike across and go exploring. Although both of us are born and bred in England and demonstrated UK owned property / cash / children / parents etc etc ..all the things that bind one to ones home country...we were knocked back and the visa was refused. The interviewer thought 90 days was quite sufficient to make such a trip. Theres no appeal and short of another application as far as the US embassy is concerned thats the end of it.

So...we can only do a 90 day trip under the provision of VWP...soo frustrating. Does anyone have any legal ideas on how we can extend? If we ship the bike over and leave it there while we bob off out of the US for a few days are we taking a big risk on not being allowed back in? Does going in/out via Canada offer us any alternatives??

A drink or 3 at Silverton for anyone with ideas on how we can rescue our big trip.....!!!

Steve

It's not very friendly is it, we let them come here for 6 months. After the 3 months is up how soon can you return?

6 months? We get the standard 90 days in UK as well, the only difference the US is one of the few places that has extended tourist visas, something I didn't have the option for in Europe. Why you got denied is a mystery though. That kind of sucks. Unfortunately you need to be out of the states for 90 days to reset the 90 day limit. Same as Europe.

I would reapply with a different Embassy. The judgment you received was unjust and needs to be reevaluated by a different consul, perhaps one without a stick up his arse.

The other alternative is to ignore the 90 day limit and finish your trip on your own schedule. It's not all that unlikely. There is a ten year ban, but not really sure how up holdable it is. But even so, if you have no major plans of returning immediately then you'll be fine.

Hi as an ex brit living in usa i can only tell you that since 911 it is very difficult now to get into usa.they have an agreement with uk to allow visitors without visa up to 90 days after that you have to leave for 1 month before return.Gone are the days of nipping into canada or mexico for a day and coming back.My friend overstayed his visa and is banned for 10yrs they will pursue it.My only suggestion would be plan a trip to canada or mexico on the bike for at least 1 month that may work.You could also do 3 months leave the bike in usa and come back later.I have room in my garage in atlabta if you need somewhere to keep it.

Consider what I did/am doing as an alternative: Last summer I spent 90 days (June to September) exploring Canada & the USA going east ~~> to west, covering 14,000 miles from Halifax NS to San Francisco, CA. See my second blog-link below for a map of the ground I covered (top of home page).

My bike's been in hibernation since last September, stored in a friend's secure, dry barn for the last six months. I fly back to San Fran this coming Sunday, March-16, to start a 10-week - c. 10,000-mile - ride east and south back ultimately to New York City (Newark) from where we'll ship and fly home to the UK in late May.

So why not think about breaking your adventure into two separate rides? It's working for me ..

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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Right Way Round ...

Sorry to hear about your problem. As an American citizen, nothing I've ever encountered is as capricious, arbitrary, frustrating, and opaque as the processes by which foreigners obtain (or don't obtain) US visas. It's an embarassment and a great discredit to our country.

Anyway, IF you can reset the 90 day clock with a one month departure from the US (don't know about this), I'm sure you could have a great time in Canada or Mexico for that period, so I wouldn't view that as a major problem. Or, as someone else suggested, try to reapply at a different consulate--the system is so capricious that you might well obtain one. Might not hurt to bring maps, guidebooks, itineraries, or whatever to show that 90 days is just not enough time for such a trip.

Best of luck to you, and whatever you do have a great time.

First up, bummer !

We did a 3 month trip last year, East->West and back again, map at Home of YTC#1 and trip report due soon.

Because we suspected we would exceed 3 months if any flight issues arose we applied for a 6 month visa in Jan 2007 and got a 10 year one.

I can only assume what swung it was we both had letters from our employers stating we would still have jobs when we get back.

I don't think apply to another Embassy will help, they have computers :-)

Going to Canada will not reset the 90 days (as already mentioned)

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I'm amazed we never saw each other as we meandered around the states. I really like your idea of leaving the bike and returning to complete the 2nd leg (not sure work would have gone for me doing it twice in 12 months :-) )

Have fun on the next leg.

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Thanks to one and all for comments made.

In retrospect the biggest mistake we made was being totally honest in declaring we were quitting our jobs without mentioning the word "sabbatical" or other such phrase which would indicate we'd be coming back to UK to resume our current jobs....i've been in mine for the past 19 years and figured i was due for a change on my return! In the end showing strong and continuous ties to the UK in the form of family / UK house deeds / healthy bank balance / etc etc counted for nought.

If anyone makes the trip across London to US embassy looking for an extended tourist visa i strongly advise to think on the above..this from someone with no record of bankrupcy / criminal record or other such black spot or misdemenour....also have never been refused entry on many previous short business / pleasure visits to the USA.

The US embassy have a very important job to do...however...why would anyone from a VWP participating country apply for an extended tourist visa if it were their intention not to return to their home country on conclusion of their trip? If such a person had no intention to return home wouldnt they simply enter the USA on a 3 month VWP ticket and disappear anyway?? I know my logic must be flawed but somehow i just cant see it today.....

Wile e
Having now applied in London i fear we are marked...if we're black balled in our home country not much chance from elsewhere

Brittman
That is such a kind offer and we thank you for it. Dont think going to Canada for a month would work...seems like we'd have to leave the continent

Keith
Thats a really good idea and one we're going to explore....btw..fantastic NZ piks

Motor
During our interview we showed route details from Cape May to Olympic Loop with all manner of stuff in between including listing details of every campsite and when we'd be there. You're right...90 days just isnt long enough.

Bruce
10yrs?? Bloody heck...that must some job you're going back to!

Steve

I think 10 years is the standard, it was noted we only wanted 6 months and that was calculated for our exit date when we got to NY.

Other things that may have helped us get the Visa

We both had letters saying our jobs would still be available when we returned.
I work for an American company
Our plan was for 3 months, the flights were booked right upto 90 days and we only wanted the visa in case of delays (which there were).

All I need to do now is work out how to transfer it to my next passport as my passport expires in 2010 :-(

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