Australian living in Canada, USA Visa Waiver Program?
I am an Australian citizen currently in the US on the VWP. My girlfriend (also an Australian citizen) and I are living in Canada on working holiday visas. We have been in the US for nearly 10 weeks, our VWP expires on the 1st of September. We have purchased a car and wish to drive to Mexico for four weeks and then back through the US to Canada. We have read that leaving the US to Mexico does not stop or reset out Visa Waiver Program time limit.
Does this mean that on our return to the US we will not be able to cross the border?
Best Answer
According to the US Department of State, Bureau of Counsular Affairs,
Trips to Canada, Mexico, or nearby Islands
If you are admitted to the United States under the VWP, you may take a short trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island and generally be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the remainder of the original 90 days granted upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less. See the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.
The last sentence is a link to the Customs and Border Patrol website, but it discusses what they call Closed-Loop Voyages. C-L V's are, for instance, where tourists from Europe may fly into Miami and board a cruise ship going to some Carribean Islands and returning to Miami. The rules allow for this. What you are discussing is a personal trip, at your own convenience and itinerary, and using a vehicle operated by you. In that case, you are taking yourself out of the US to another country, not as part of an organized group or tour. If your trip to Mexico takes you beyond the allowed 90-days, yes, you will not be allowed back into the US, without applying for and being granted a new visa. I do not believe you would be elligible for a second waived visa/second 90-day period.
Pictures about "Australian living in Canada, USA Visa Waiver Program?"
Does Canada have a visa waiver agreement with US?
Visitors to Canada who wish to travel on to the United States, and who are citizens of countries included in the program are eligible for visa-free entry to the United States.How do I get a waiver to enter the U.S. from Canada?
The process for a criminally inadmissible individual to travel to the United States is quite simple. A lawyer prepares and submits a US Waiver form to the Government on their behalf, they are issued a Waiver for US entry, and then they are allowed to cross the border without issues.Who is eligible for US Visa Waiver Program?
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries* to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.Is Australia part of the Visa Waiver Program?
Currently, 37 countries participate in the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San ...About Visa Waiver Program | How to travel in US without a visa | Visa Waiver Program USA 2021 | DHS
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Life Matters, Life Matters, Life Matters, Life Matters