USA - ESTA for 5-month stay
My mum is Australian and wants to enter the States with an ESTA and stay around 5 months.
Could she apply for a B-2 visa in the US or does she have to go back to Australia and apply for one? Or can she go to Canada or Europe for a week when the 90 days expire and come back with a new ESTA?
Best Answer
You can not apply for a US Visa from within the US - it needs to be done outside of the country. In general the best place to apply is in her home country (Australia, I presume). It's also possible to apply via the US consulate at any other country, however it may take longer for the application to be processed, and there may be a higher chance of being denied - depending on the specific circumstances.
Taking a short trip to Canada or Mexico will NOT extend the 90 day allowable period for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP/ESTA), and in fact any time spent in Canada or Mexico will count against the 90 days allowed under the VWP.
Taking a short trip to another country (eg, somewhere in Europe) will technically reset the 90 day period, however there is at least a chance that re-entry to the US will be denied if the immigration officer believes that the purpose of the trip to Europe was simply to extend the time spent in the US. There are some comments on that situation in the answer to this question - How soon can I re-enter the US after my previous visit?
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How long can you stay in USA with ESTA?
When traveling to the United States with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here. There is no set requirement for how long you must wait between visits.Can I visit USA for 6 months?
When you enter the U.S., a customs officer will give you authorization to stay in the U.S. for up to six months. If you'd like to stay for longer, you may be able to apply to extend this for up to one year.How can I stay more than 90 days in the US?
If you wish to stay in the United States for more than 90 days, do research on the type of visa (for example you can opt for the B2 tourist visa) you need and follow the formal procedures.How long to stay outside of the US before returning ESTA?
Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less.HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY IN USA WITH 3-5 YEARS VISITOR VISA
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