Hi all:

OK so I want to stay in the US for my trip (next summer 2010) for longer than the 90 days so I'm going to apply for the Non-Immigration B2 Tourist Visa. Has anyone here got one of these? What was you experience like in getting it? Is this the same as the one you have Phil?

Steve
xXx

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www.AdventureVagabond.com Mongolia & Siberia 2012: Adventure Moto Madness

You'll be fine. Just apply at local consulate or even via the internet. You wont have any issues getting it unless you've travelled to the middle east (pkstn, afgh, iran) or libya which means you may be asked to an interview.

They are unlikely to refuse it. Make sure you ask for multi-entry/exit capability.

Ask for 1 year, then you are clear. Safe travels.

Cw

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shambolista.squarespace.com
Wingin' it.

I read somewhere that my tempory importation of my bike may not be for more than 3 months is that correct?

HI there
I shipped my British bike by boat into LA last month and I have been given temporary importation permission for up to 12 months - talk to the guys in customs about how long you want. They didn't ask about my visa status and seemed very reasonable.

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

Yup - I went to the US embassy in London and it was all fairly painless. Just smile and talk nicely and it should all be OK. Having said that I haven't entered the US with it yet.... let you know in 3 weeks.

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Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Hi:

Sweet, keep us informed of progress. You gonna be keeping and publishing a ride report on the ADV forum? Also what sort of questions did they ask you at the interview? Did they ask for evidence of funds for the duration of your trip and or an itinerary?

I obviously want to apply as early as possible for the B2 but I am still saving up for my July 1st launch date. I have about £3k tied up in minor assets that I'll sell prior to the trip, which will be added to the bit I've saved so far. The bulk of my funds will actually come from savings from now until D-Day.

However, I'm concerned that if I apply too early, whilst savings are modest, they may say that it's insufficient for my intended length of stay (3-4 months). Therefore I'm thinking that the longer I can leave it the more funds I'll have available for them to examine when I do apply. Or if I apply now will they recognise that I still have 6 months of saving left before D-Day?

The truth is I plan to stealth camp in National Forests (I know this is perfectly legal for US citizens but not sure if they know this, or whether it applies to non-US citizens and or whether I should even be telling them that this is my plan). I also intend to hostel and sofa surf where possible, only using regular camp sites and motels where absolutely necessary so the daily budget will be as low as possible.

As you can see I'm a bit paranoid and I'm probably over analysing it all but I like to know what to expect. Any info would be much appreciated.

So what are your plans? Are you shipping, hiring, or buying a bike out there? I plan to buy a used bike out there (probably a DL1000) and then sell it before I leave. I want to be good to go within a couple of days of arriving so I'll shortlist a selection in California before I arrive. I considered shipping but its just too expensive for a shortish 4month trip. If I was doing a RTW or extended stay then I think I might ship my own bike.

Steve
xXx

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www.AdventureVagabond.com Mongolia & Siberia 2012: Adventure Moto Madness

Hi Steve
I started in Argentina 15 months ago - HU blog thing on the link at the end.
They didn't ask much - I told em I was going on a bike trip and needed more than 3 months to see all the sights etc, and that seemed to be cool. I actually can't remember if they wanted to see actual evidence of funds - have a vague recollection of taking a bank statement but not sure if they wanted to see it. (Sorry - a lot of Mezcal under the bridge since then. A fair proportion of it last night.)

I shipped a 1998 Africa Twin to B Aires. I'm going to see if I can marry it in Vegas.

Cheers

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Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

I'm now in Texas. Crossed at Brownsville/Matamoros; there were a few questions to which the answers were fairly obvious, like "how are you going to support yourself while you're in the US", to which the answer is "with my own money": no problems.
Yee-haw! etc.

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Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Steve,

I applied for the B2 tourist 10 year visa, when I was still in England before I left.
Probably due to the countries I've visited before, I was asked to come in for an interview. The paperwork I was given indicated I needed to have all kinds of evidence prepared for this interview.

This included evidence of finances for the trip, evidence of social and family ties (that would prove beyond reasonable doubt that I would come back home to the UK), and various other tripe.
So I worried a bit, got all this stuff together and went for the interview, expecting cavity searches, polygraph etc.

The guy interviewing us was nice as pie. I figure I'm put in their low risk category, young, white, employed etc.
So they didn't even look at half this stuff, asked what bike I was going to ride, and stamped the bits of paper.

So I would say just apply now and get it done. You might not even be called for interview, and if you are it'll be a lot lot easier and simpler than you're probably expecting.

Plus, I know of at least one person that got the 90 day visa, then rode into Mexico for 4 hours, and came back with another 90 day stamp. This was about 3 weeks ago. In theory this isn't allowed, but he had no worries at all.
I really think for most of us it's very easy, and they're not going to class us as high risk, and they're not going to give us a hard time.

I got an extended visa before arriving last year. This meant for me a large cost because I had to go for a personal interview 2000km away, so add airfares, hotel and booze cost etc.

The information they want is extensive if you are between the ages of 14 and 45, because that is your normal age for an active bad boy I guess.

A VWP for 90 days should not be an issue, but you WILL have to fly to Hawiai or somewhere else if you need to renew it. I would not trust the fact that others have been let in again after passing a land border, I would plan on the worst situation, not the best.

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www.travellingstrom.com