Land crossing to America from Mexico with ESTA - 90 days reset?

Land crossing to America from Mexico with ESTA - 90 days reset? - Crossed American flags on fence

I am planning on transiting to Los Angeles on an ESTA (I will be in the USA for maybe 2-3 weeks) from there I want to cycle into Mexico and the rest of Central America. 5-6 months later I would like to cross back into USA from Mexico at a land crossing and cycle north to Canada. Will I be able to get 90 days at the border going into USA or will my time in Mexico reduce the days?

I have an Australian passport.



Best Answer

The VWP component (90 day period) doesn't reset if you go to Mexico or Canada, you have to leave farther afield for it to reset again.

So 90 days from your first entrance into the US, you cannot be in the US any more, unless you went, say, to Guatemala.

If you do that, the counter resets again. Entering Mexico does not start it again, as you've not arrived in the US. It'd restart once more when you cross the border into the US.

Note that on this second trip, entering Canada, your 90 days continues. This is fine, but if you want to fly out to somewhere else - transiting in the US could potentially be an issue.




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When can you visit the US again after 90 days?

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.

Does going to Mexico reset ESTA?

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.

Can I stay more than 90 days with ESTA?

If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must obtain a visa at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you obtain a new passport or change your name, gender or country of citizenship, you will be required to apply for a new travel authorization.

Can I travel from Mexico to USA with ESTA?

While direct flights are available to and from Mexico, traveling to Mexico via the United States remains popular. Neither a visa nor ESTA is required when traveling directly to Mexico for a stay of up to 180 days. However, if entering Mexico via the U.S., your stay may not exceed 90 days.



How Migrants Cross US/Mexico Border (Unbelievable Journey) 🇺🇸 🇲🇽




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