They changed the system for the Visa Waiver there last February, and now it is as this;
From once you enter the States, you have 90 days to leave, as before. But, now you also have 90 days from your INITIAL ENTRY TO THE STATES to leave also Canada, Mexico, & the Caribbean Islands. So if you spend 80 days in the States, then go down to Mexico for 20 days, you have officially voided your visa terms and cannot get another one for I think 5 years, maybe more. That's how it is now.
Anyway, does anyone know about what you have to do before the Visa Waiver? I think I have to fill out some form or application online, but what or where I'm not sure.....

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We're here for a good time, not a long time...
Mini-on-Tour

Here is the website where you have to apply, they changed the rules a couple of months ago and there is now a fee to pay, it's $4 to apply and then another $10 if you are successful
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Travel

You need to make sure you have a passport that has the micro-chip thing, if not then you HAVE to do the 6 month visa application and go for an interview.

and be careful, as there are a lot of websites that look like they do the US electronic visa and charge you more money, as they are private companies making a profit.
good luck.

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Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

Bjorn, the visa waiver thing is easy to do online. As mentioned, make sure your passport is chipped or it won't work.

If you stay in USA, Canada, Mexico for up to 90 days, then you can fly to another country for a few days 'holiday', then come back in for another 90 days etc etc, but you have to leave the land bordered countries to reset the visa.

I bought the 6 month visa and payed a bit extra so it was valid for 5 years. This allows me as many 6 month entries as I like over a 5 year period, as long as I fly out in between.

As for the money thing, take a current photocopy of your bank statement, this shows them you will not be a burden on their system and that is all I used when I re-entered and chatted with Homeland Security.

If I was you I would go to your governments website, find the relevant section on US travel and visas etc, and follow the link from there, then you should not have any problems with applying.

Good Luck
TravellingStrom

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www.travellingstrom.com

Cheers for the link Tiffany, saves me a lot of frustrating searching and maybe getting the wrong website!

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We're here for a good time, not a long time...
Mini-on-Tour

We applied for a USA visa before leaving the UK - this was 8 years ago so things may have altered a bit.

We had to have an interview, provide proof of employment, 'proof' that we were returning as we were going to be crossing via a landborder and had no return flight - this proof was in the form of a le, letter saying that we were indispensable at work, had a house funds etc. Note: by the time we reached the USA and used the visa we had no house or job or money!

We entered via Mexico - got stamped in for 6 months no probs.
We left just before our visa term and went to Canada.
Came to re-enter the USA after a little time traveling in Canada and I was allowed in - stamped for a further 6 months...Simon was refused entry!? Same border, same paperwork, same length of time previously there and so on.
Reason?
the border guard that saw Simon was....how shall I say?....a little arrogant to say the least! Mine had been a real sweety. Despite me already being stamped in, this SOB also took my passport away and kept it!

After almost 4 hours of talking/negotiating (I had to stay well away as I was so angry) Simon was stamped in and I got my passport back.
why did all of this happen?

we were told later by immigration officers in San Francisco (we made a special appointment as we wanted to clarify the situation) that despite having applied for and been granted 6 month visa terms, we could only enter for a 6 month period ONCE during the length of time of our validity of our visa....which was valid for 10 years....?! Only 6 months in 10 years!!??? mmmmm. still not convinced this is the correct interpretation...

However, they did go on to tell us that sometimes the border guards can be a little 'over enthusiastic at their application of the regulations'. and at that point she altered our database records and allowed us for further re-entries with no problems.

Strange isnt it....after 70 countries the most difficult to enter, the first time to be refused entry and the most issues we have ever had were at this border between Canada and the USA......

however- dont be put off!!! This is just our experience and our time in the USA was really great and we are going back at the end of our trip!

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Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com

Hi Lisa,

I've looked into this "10 year, 6 month" thing. The way I see it is: With a 6-month visa, you're allowed to enter the US for 6 months, and you can do so multiple times during a 10 year period (some people 'only' get 5 years).

However, same as with a 3-month visa waiver, you're officially NOT allowed to 'renew' the 6 month period by exiting/re-entering the US on a landborder. In other words: you can fly home & come back & then get another 6 months.

About 1 week ago, I met a traveller who also had a 10year 6month visa. After 6 months, he actually flew back to Switzerland (his home country) and then 2 days later back to the USA. He was refused entry – apparently because he only went home for 2 days. So, to play it safe he should have stayed home for maybe a month or so before coming back to the USA.

I can actually understand why they do it like this – as otherwise, it'd be easy to stay in the US for 5 or 10 years if you lived close to a landborder.

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http://www.panomoto.com