Visas for the USA - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Chris Valdez · 03-14-2005, 09:42 AM

I'm heading over to the USA in June to travel around for a month with some friends from Denver who are touring with their band.

What kind of pre-arranged permit/visa will be needed, if any? Someone told me you simply need to fill out a boarding card on the plane whilst someone else told me you need to pay for a visa a few weeks in advance. Which is the case?

Also, I am coming over on my own-I have heard that immigration pick out people on their own and question them excessively-is this true?

Many thanks!

**omisan** · 03-14-2005, 10:14 AM

Hello and welcome!

First off, where are you coming from?

If you're coming from the EU or UK or a number of other countries the US has a visitor treaty with, you won't need a visa to enter the country - the landing card alone will do. Just make sure you have one US address you can put on your card as the 'point of contact' or whatever... otherwise they'll ask entirely too many questions.

When you come over, you'll be photographed, fingerprinted, and treated like a second-class citizen until you make it out of customs, all in the name of Homeland Insecurity. Most likely, though, they won't really interrogate you or ask too many questions unless you "look" questionable or fill out your landing card inconsistently.

Largely, you have nothing to worry about - maybe a little inconvenience in customs or passport control, depending on who you end up with asking questions - but nothing unreasonable.

Chris Valdez · 03-14-2005, 01:19 PM

Thanks for the help Omisan, been really useful!

I will be coming from the UK-the only way I may look questionable as such as the fact my hair is dyed cosmic blue and I wear a Ramones jacket-but I guess they can't hold that against me!

**omisan** · 03-14-2005, 01:55 PM

Shouldn't really be a problem unless you're sporting a beard & turban. I keed, I keed..

Actually, the few times I have been hassled re-entering the US was when I had long hair and was sporting my well-weathered backpack instead of "traditional" luggage - they went out of the way to search my bags for drugs. Grr. Like I'd look so scruffy if I were in the smuggling biz!

pjmacca · 04-25-2005, 02:47 PM

Dudes,

am I right in thinking we only get 90 days but if I were to go through to mexico for 10 days or so I could get another 90 days ?????

**pinion** · 04-25-2005, 03:06 PM

^
I'm not 100% sure it works like that. I think you have to be out of the country for a longer period of time to renew your 90 days...but I could be wrong.

**omisan** · 04-25-2005, 04:10 PM

My friend used to just do it by going to Mexico for a day.. dunno what it's like now, but with most countries it's 72 hours.

**agriadam** · 04-25-2005, 04:55 PM

www.travel.state.gov

**TimmyJames1976** · 04-25-2005, 05:55 PM

I prefer my AmEx

^what makes this joke worse, is i don't even have an AmEx

**tumblezweedz** · 04-26-2005, 07:57 AM

"When you come over, you'll be photographed, fingerprinted, and treated like a second-class citizen until you make it out of customs"

Incidentally, they do this when you marry a US citizen and move to the country, too. Especially if you come from a dubious country, like Canada. Very dangerous, we are.

**pinion** · 04-26-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tumblezweedz@Apr 26 2005, 07:56 AM
Incidentally, they do this when you marry a US citizen and move to the country, too.* Especially if you come from a dubious country, like Canada.* Very dangerous, we are.

Everyone knows the only thing coming out of Canada is Terroists, Beavers & Moose. I don't trust myself sometimes.

**omisan** · 04-26-2005, 10:03 AM

And Celine Dion, but I guess she counts under Beavers.

**agriadam** · 04-26-2005, 02:56 PM

And those damn gees over populating our lakes and streams... and pooping in my driveway...so when I go out to my car bare foot I step in goose poop and it's big poop gross.... take the canadian geese back

TJ.... that was terrible

Elixir · 04-27-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TimmyJames1976@Apr 25 2005, 05:54 PM
I prefer my AmEx

^what makes this joke worse, is i don't even have an AmEx

hahaha