Entering US via car/land border on 90 day ESTA, exiting after 90 days via air/plane, re-entering via land to begin another 90 days [duplicate]

We bought a van in Canada to roadtrip the US for 6 months. We are planning on two 90 day stints in the US so as to comply with the ESTA requirements. It is looking more likely it will be easier to fly Mexico rather than re-enter Canada via land. Will customs have an issue with us leaving and re-entering the US via air if we originally entered via land border? We have done the west coast and want to now travel the East coast. Thanks.

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Best Answer

The simple fact is, you're very likely to have problems.

What you are describing is very clearly a "Visa Run", and even if it's technically within the rules of what is allowed under the VWP (and whether it is or not will depend on the exact details, many of which you haven't provided), there is a very real chance that you will NOT be allowed re-enter the US on your second attempt if the immigration official decides that you are doing a Visa Run.

Instead you should likely apply for a US B-2 visa which will allow you to stay in the US for up to 6 months at a time.

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Can I leave and come back after 90 days on ESTA?

There is no limit on the number of times you may enter the U.S. under either ESTA of a visa. However, if reentering the U.S. using ESTA soon after staying for nearly 90 days, you can expect to be questioned in detail by the immigration officer about the purpose of your visit.

How do I reset my ESTA 90 days?

Where must you travel to in order to before returning on an ESTA to get a new 90 days? You must leave the whole North American region completely to reset this. You can't just pop to Canada or Mexico to try and reset the 90-day counter.

How long do you have to leave the US before returning on an ESTA?

Exceed the 90 days provided by ESTA For travelers looking to stay in the United States for this period of time, it is easy to interpret the 90 days as approximately 3 months; this causes some people to book the return flight exactly 3 months after the outbound flight.

How many times can I enter USA?

The B visa is a multiple entry visa, which means you can use it to enter the United States more than once. There is no limit on the number of times you can enter the U.S. on your B visa, as long as you keep the information we discuss below in mind.

ESTA for Transit Purposes

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