Re-entering the US on visa waiver from Mexico by car
I am Australian and planning to travel to the US in November for a month. I will be flying into the US and as part of my trip then driving to Mexico for a week and then back to the US. Can I get a visa waiver for this or because I will be entering from Mexico 'by land' do I need some other sort of visa?
Best Answer
In general the requirements for entering the US by land are different than when entering by air. An ESTA is not required, but a completed I94W form is (available at the border).
However in your case as you will be entering the US by air first, you will be given a "visa waiver" stamp in your passport on the initial entry, which will be good for up to 90 days.
For the most part, this stamp will become invalid when you leave the US, however there are exceptions for travel to Canada and Mexico (and a few of the Caribbean islands), such that if you visit those countries then your Visa Waiver stamp remains valid, and thus when you re-enter the US from those countries there is no need to go through any additional formalities.
Specifically in your case, on re-entry to the US from Mexico you will still need to present your passport, which they will scan and confirm that you already have a current visa waiver entry (what used to be a physical "I-94W" card, however they did away with the paper cards several years ago) and they will allow you back into the US without re-stamping your passport, and thus without changing the date on your VWP stamp.
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Can I enter the U.S. with an ESTA from Mexico?
If you are a citizen of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and you enter the U.S. by land from Mexico or Canada, you are only required to complete the paper I-94W form at the land border crossing. ESTA is currently required for air and cruise ship travel only.Can I travel to the U.S. with a waiver?
US Waivers enable a foreign national to travel to the United States with a criminal record that would otherwise render them ineligible to cross the border. A US Travel Waiver requires a person to get fingerprinted in order to obtain their Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP criminal file via Form C-216C.How many times can you visit the USA on a visa waiver?
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.What documents do I need to re enter the U.S. from Mexico?
The rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States from Mexico at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.What is the Visa Waiver Program in USA | ESTA | Stay for 90 Days in the U.S.A | Zavala Texas Law
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Answer 2
Your visa waiver that you used to enter the US initially should be fine for returning from Mexico. If your whole trip is only one month long, then you won't need to worry about the fact that the 90 day maximum clock does not stop when you enter Mexico.
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