America

[sammy_jo]

Hey guys,
So basically, my freind and I want to go to travel around America for a year...ish. Unfortuneately, I have never been past france or for that matter been on an aeroplane, and a friend has said that when she went, it was a lot more complicated than what she thought.
This trip isnt going to be for a while and I am going to go to the US embassy in London. However before i do that, can anyone give me a rough idea of what i need to get/do/apply for etc.?
Sammy Jo x

[jno]

you'll be highly unlikely to be allowed to get work so you'll need money to live on and a return ticket for a start. It's a wonderful country, though, and well worth exploring.

[sammy_jo]

oh! i see. So it would be more like a long holiday! In that case, can anyone sum up what i need to be able to go there? legal stuff etc.
Sammy jo x

[Booldawg]

I *think* (will need checking) you can spend 3 months in the US with a standard tourist visa (that you fill out on the plane).

Go for it; the USA is beautiful and has something for everyone. My only regret is not spending enough time there. I did 2 weeks across the deep South in a car. Mind blowing.

[lardhelmet]

I did a six month trip back in the mid 70s on an ordinary visa. Most amazing trip I've ever made. Still in touch with some of the friends I met over there. Bought a beaten up old Nash Rambler in Newark, New Jersey for $25, did over 20,000 miles in it and sold it back to the same garage 6 months later for $10! We camped as it was so cheap and the campsites were great. Have a great time!

[lardhelmet]

*tourist visa obviously - sorry missed that word out

[jno]

you might qualify for a working holiday - have a look at this

http://www.gapwork.com/usa-go-it-alone.shtml

[pink-kittens]

" US with a standard tourist visa (that you fill out on the plane). "

Not anymore you don't, you need to do it online - ESTA. You need to apply at least 72 hours before you travel
Search this forum for links

[saxy_jag]

Don't they still have the visa waiver scheme for British nationals?

[dzug2]

ESTA and visa waiver are the same thing - and neither is a tourist visa, they are ways of traveling without a visa. They allow travel up to 90 days.

To get a proper tourist visa you have to apply to the US Embassy. You'll have to outline your plans to them and convince then that you have or will have enough funds to carry them out WITHOUT working and that you WILL leave the US at the end of your visit.

From what you've said you will be hard put to do that. But assuming you get your visa, you can then go ahead and actually arrange your trip.

When you actually arrive in the US you are really to have to convince the immigration authorities of much the same things - and the longer you say you are going to stay the more convincing they will need. You don't officially need a return ticket - but having one helps and if you don't have it you will need that much extra money to pay for it.

If they let you in it will probably be for 180 days. To extend that you apply well before that time is up and convince them that you are still a tourist and can still support yourself without working.

All in all I'd guess your chances of anything longer than the 90 day ESTA/Visa Waiver are slim

[Booldawg]

Lard - you should write a book about your trip; I'd buy it.

[Dee Sa]

every year in the US they need volunteers for Camp America where basically you go and look after kids that go to summer camp, Chris would probably know more about this than I ,but I did have a friend who went to help with handicapped kids as she had experience with this type of work, she had her air fare paid, all meals, accomodation in the camp and pocket money then she had about three months left on her visa and she toured all over on her own and stayed at YMCA type accomodation [ inc New York and Memphis] and with a Greyhound bus pass, you could find out if this type of working holiday still exists.

[sitges]

The main thing that you have to realize is that the us is huge compared to Central Europe. So travel other then by plane takes a lot of your time. I have several friends that have purchased old cars and have driven around for months then sold the car to someone else. However I don't think you can get anything very reliable for $25.00 anymore. You are probably going to have to spend $500 to $800 to get anything that will be dependable. Just remember that it is about 3500 miles just to go from the east coast to the west coast. Get maps and plan ahead to get the most out of our trip.
Good luck.