Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.

Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Trip Paperwork
Transit Visa - Proof you are leaving the USA Transit Visa - Proof you are leaving the USA
Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 9 Apr 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 19
Transit Visa - Proof you are leaving the USA
Hi,

My husband and I are from the UK and are planning to drive across Canada (East to West), into Alaska, back into Canada, down through the USA and into Mexico next year. We will then be heading down to Argentina and onto Australia etc.

We are expecting to be in the USA, Canada and Mexico for more than 90 days so understand that we can't use the visa waiver program. However a transit visa requires proof that you "possess a common carrier ticket or other evidence of transportation arrangements to your destination".

How do we prove this when we are on a motorbike and won't be leaving by air?

Thanks,

Rainbow66
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10 Apr 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: in our 10th year on the road-only half way- now in Australia
Posts: 257
C1-Transit visa
umm..hate to upset your plans but I dont think the transit visa is the visa you need.
this visa - C1- Transit visa - enables an immigration officer to admit the person holding this visa for a maximum of 29 days. and you must pass within the USA during that period of time and you must leave on the proposed flight/ship etc that you provided when applying for this visa.

as you intend to be in the USA for longer than 90 days I really think you need to apply for a B2 tourist visa this is even if your country is included in the Visa Waiver Program. on this type of visa you are usually allowed to stay for up to 6 months. however, the immigration officer may issue a shorter stay on arrival...just because he can! but you can then apply for an extension if this is the case.

As you will need to apply for this visa prior to entry I suggest that you contact the USA embassy in London and ask the procedure as when we applied (it was a long time ago and things may have changed since) there was a long waiting list for applications and the associated interviews.

have fun with the officials in the USA embassy in London!
__________________
Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11 Apr 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 19
Transit Visa
Hi Lisa,

Thanks for clarifying that. I got myself in a bit of a muddle.

Cheers,

Amanda
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11 Apr 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Between London & Singapore
Posts: 155
Hi Amanda,

We're in the process of organising the bikes and ourselves to ship to north America in the next month. Lisa is right, I'm afraid - it's the B2 tourist visa you need which will set you back about $140 each. A bit of a bummer given that the waiver is free but it doesn't require you to have a fixed exit point/date other than the expiry date of the visa itself.

You'll also need to get some papers from the US Dept of Transport (DoT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), namely a DoT from HS-7 which you'll need to print, fill out and present at the border and the EPA letter of exemption for each bike for which you'll need to write to EPA giving certain details of your bike. The EPA will in return send you a form which you'll need to print, sign, scan and email back to them. They'll then end you the letter of exemption which you'll need to have when you arrive at the border.
__________________
www.motoventurers.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 6 May 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 19
B2 Visa
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobduro View Post
Hi Amanda,

We're in the process of organising the bikes and ourselves to ship to north America in the next month. Lisa is right, I'm afraid - it's the B2 tourist visa you need which will set you back about $140 each. A bit of a bummer given that the waiver is free but it doesn't require you to have a fixed exit point/date other than the expiry date of the visa itself.

You'll also need to get some papers from the US Dept of Transport (DoT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), namely a DoT from HS-7 which you'll need to print, fill out and present at the border and the EPA letter of exemption for each bike for which you'll need to write to EPA giving certain details of your bike. The EPA will in return send you a form which you'll need to print, sign, scan and email back to them. They'll then end you the letter of exemption which you'll need to have when you arrive at the border.

Ohhhh! Thanks for the extra information on DoT and EPA. We had no idea. Did someone in the "know" advise you?


Can you tell me how far in advance you applied for the B2 visa? We don't leave until May 2012 so it is about 1 year to go.

Also is there anything specific that you have to take with you to the visa meeting regarding your travel plans. We haven't booked the flight to Canada for either ourselves or the bike and have nothing to show that we intend to travel out of Canada, USA and Mexico except a file of research that we have carried out on countires to visit etc.

Many thanks,

Amanda
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10 Sep 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4
Hi Amanda,

I am from Germany and currently travelling though the US, we started in April 2011 and applied for the B2 Visa in early November 2010. Once we had all the online paperwork filled out and the appointment set, we received our passports back (with the Visa) within 4 days.

For the interview itself we took just our bank statements with us (and all the other required paperwork). Just check out the US embassy homepage, they give all the details.

Good luck

Nini :-)

nini und katja on tour
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11 Sep 2011
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 80
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainbow66 View Post
Can you tell me how far in advance you applied for the B2 visa? We don't leave until May 2012 so it is about 1 year to go.
Depends on where you apply. Wait and processing times can be found here: Visa Wait Times - for Interview Appointments and Processing

Wouldn't cut it too close though.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11 Sep 2011
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 288
On mine and my wifes proposed world (2013ish) trip we envisage spending 6 months in the states however we would not have much of an Idea when we would be arriving in the states as it would be around 12 months after we left home.

When you apply for the B2 visa do you have to know when you intend on entering the states??

If not how long does the Visa last for before you enter the USA??

Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 8 Oct 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 19
Smile USA visa
Quote:
Originally Posted by nini-el View Post
Hi Amanda,

I am from Germany and currently travelling though the US, we started in April 2011 and applied for the B2 Visa in early November 2010. Once we had all the online paperwork filled out and the appointment set, we received our passports back (with the Visa) within 4 days.

For the interview itself we took just our bank statements with us (and all the other required paperwork). Just check out the US embassy homepage, they give all the details.

Good luck

Nini :-)

nini und katja on tour
Thank you for the information. We now have our US visas and it was a lot easier than I expected to get them. We took all the required paperwork and other than the Confirmation letters, receipts and appointment letters they didn't ask to see anything else. However, I am still glad that we took everything stated on their website. (Bank statements, payslips etc).

Cheers,

Amanda
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 8 Oct 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 19
Smile
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fantastic Mister Fox View Post
On mine and my wifes proposed world (2013ish) trip we envisage spending 6 months in the states however we would not have much of an Idea when we would be arriving in the states as it would be around 12 months after we left home.

When you apply for the B2 visa do you have to know when you intend on entering the states??

If not how long does the Visa last for before you enter the USA??

Thanks
Hi,

When we completed the web form we gave a rough date of when we would be entering the US. The form itself states that the date does not have to exact.

The B2 visa is a multi entry visa that lasts for 10 years so (if I understand this properly) if you give them a date that is before you expect to be in the US you will be covered for entering after that date. For example putting the 1st October 2013 but not entering until 24th November 2013 should be okay.

(If I am wrong hopefully another Hubber will let us know!)

Regards,

Amanda
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Turkmenistan transit visa tatters Trip Paperwork 13 19 Mar 2009 15:27
Egpyt visa needed to obtain transit visa for Libya Moggy 1 Trip Paperwork 0 5 Apr 2008 19:16
Bug proof, rain proof small 1 man tent - Recommends ?? *Touring Ted* Camping Equipment and all Clothing 21 22 May 2007 06:15
Iran transit visa? Mombassa Trip Paperwork 0 24 Feb 2006 01:08
UAE Transit Visa ozhanu Trip Paperwork 0 9 Aug 2005 18:01


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:39.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top