Visa's for USA

[notsomad]

Planning a trip through the America's starting from Alaska. Does any one know what visa would be required for the USA, with Canada in between Alaska and America does this mean that a normal tourist visa would suffice for Alaska and then another visa be required for the main section of the States? Can visa's be obtained on arrival in both Alaska and then main section of US? or do I have to pay a visit to US embassy in London before I fly out?. I would like to start in June 09

[travelling]

I can help

If your trip is less than 90 days you can get online a visa under the visa waiver programme

if you want a longer period..upto 6 months it will involve a trip to the us embassy to apply for a b1/b2 visa that can last upto 6 months although it can be extended to 12 if they allow but generally is set at 6 months

time scale.. go to the us embassy in london's website and you will se a phone number for visa applications you have to phone at £1.30 a minute to make an appointment(you can't just turn up and ask for one) they also ask you for a fee for the appointment of $133. the time scale between appointment made and actual appointment is around 4-6 weeks so I would book one now! take with you your proof of funds for the trip(american agencies are obsessed with thinking everyone wants to stay for life in america) and all the usual i.d's plus proof you have somewhere to live when you have finished..domestic bills etc.the paper work they send will tell you the exact paper work you need to take

When you get there it will be about a 2-4 hour wait for interview and at that they will say yey or nay. another thing..when they say yes they will ask you to go to the desk to pay for the delivery of your documents and you will be told it is an overnight service...it is, but it takes upto 5 days to process the application to then get it to the courier then it becomes next day..so allow a further 5 days

now assume everything is okay and now it is just getting there how do you take your bike?

Me I took off the pedals and seat/&post and attached them to the frame after covering every part of the bike in the grey insulating tubes. the states work on a two piece luggage system and a max of 23kg per item(check though)
before the flight I was quoted 4 different prices for the same bike so I allowed the maximum cost and went there but didn't say anything(be aware if booking through an agent they have to notify your flight company a bike is coming!) when I got thier all they said was they I had to put it into a box they supplied at £15 and no other charge, result! and with all the packing it got there with no damage as thier box had bike symbols all over it.

weather..this time of the year it's still the tail end of winter so check your route and the weather for that time. Free camping isn't seen as quite right in many places and the roads are not entirely used to the world of the cycle but there is some beatufill country to see

I can't speak for Canada but that is the states

[notsomad]

Many thanks for the info Travelling, I was wondering would Alaska then main land US constitute two separate visits to US with Canada being in between? if so certainly the online visa waiver service would suffice for the 1st section (Alaska) I don't wanna be hanging round Alaska more than 3months.

[rualexander]

I know its all changed since I was there 17 years ago, but back then you didn't need a visa if you were flying in and out of the USA from UK but if you were crossing a land border (i.e. with Canada or Mexico) you had to have a full Multiple Entry visa . I cycled from New Mexico to Alaska over a period of four months and it was fantastic!
So I would check with the embassy regarding the requirements for crossing land borders.

[pal]

You'd have to clear immigration on leaving Alaska (/entering Canada), and again on leaving Canada (/entering the US), and there's no restriction on frequency of visits under the visa waiver programme, so I'm pretty sure you'd be ok to count it as 2 <90 day trips, each eligible under the visa waiver system. What the Americans do get worried about, though (and esp. when people are travelling on the visa waiver) is seeing evidence that you're definitely going to be out of the country (and, ideally, on your way back to your own country) by the time your 90 days are up -- this might be more of a problem? I'd be inclined to call the embassy to check: 09042-450-100 is their number (charged at some exorbitant rate, but quite helpful).

[travelling]

I found the best way to prove you are going back is the return air ticket

Also on the b1/b2 visa they give you an i95? A white card that you must retain until you are actually leaving the states. your exit date will be stamped upon it on your arrival in the states..this may be helpfull when you go from alaska then back into the states after canada

as to canada..not been there yet