Just after some friendly advise

I set off on a world tour in April and I've had a massive change of heart on the route, but before commiting to booking a couple of flights, I'd like to know anything I can with regards to entering North America & Canada on a British passport overland. (I'll also be scanning various other visa related websites for info too).

The route in a nutshell is 3 months around Scandinavia/Europe. Fly from Spain to Argentina and then cycle north to Vancouver, turn right and head towards Toronto to catch a flight to Japan to then bike south to Australia and finally if my budget permits and I haven't got bored by then, then maybe cycle back home to England.

So my questions would be.

1) I understand that, being a Brit, I get a 90 day visa, but...is it as simple as me just entering the US on my bike via Mexico and thats that, or do I need proof that I intend to leave?

2) if so, would my Toronto to Tokyo plane ticket be sufficient enough to prove this?

3) crossing into Canada from the US overland, again I get a 90 day visa and I'm guessing that my plane ticket would definately satisfy border control. So there shouldn't be any issue for this section of the trip. Am I right?

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

You should probably contact a US embassy in England because they'll know for sure and if you run into any problems, having a contact there is probably a bit better than explaining to the border guard that you got advice from a bike forum...

Haha, yeah I know that But I'm busy working all week and haven't really got time to do any in depth research yet. Just thought I'd gleen what I could off here first for some background knowledge.

I'm not a US immigration expert so this is worth what you paid for it, but on that basis here goes with my understanding....


1. When you present yourself to immigration they decide whether to allow you to enter or not. They will typically look for evidence that you plan to leave the country within 90 days. I would have thought that your stated aim to cycle through the US and into Canada, backed by an air ticket out of Canada, would be satisfactory. They may also look for evidence that you have the financial means to support yourself through whatever route you are planning, because if you run out of money you may end up asking for public funds (not allowed under the terms of the visa waiver) or looking for work (also not allowed under the visa waiver). Even if you've got the kind of wealth that makes Bill Gates look like a poor man it's probably worth having a few hundred dollars on hand in cash, just in case they ask.

2. I would imagine so. I imagine immigration officers are looking for obvious inconsistencies in peoples' stories. If you're planning on staying for the full 90 days but only have $200 you clearly can't live on that for 90 days so further questions may be needed. If you don't have any evidence that you have booked some way out of the US, you potentially have a problem. If the immigration officer is satisfied that your story adds up, you can support yourself and you have the intention and the means to leave the country within 90 days I wouldn't imagine you'll have any problems. It might help to provide some evidence you have truly cycled from Argentina, so it's clear that such a long ride is within your abilities and you're not pulling an improbable story where you fly into the north of Mexico, cross the border on a bike with a grand plan and then disappear.

3. I believe in Canada you get 180 days, and I would imagine that an air ticket out of Canada would satisfy immigration.

Yeah, Canada doesn't have the 90-day visa thing. I would definitely think that the plane ticket Toronto-Tokyo would be fine for the Canada customs people.

I second what Contango said about money. One time I was entering the US for a visit and the customs agent asked me how much money I had. When I replied $20, he became very nosy about how I was going to finance my trip. I told him I was planning to use my credit card and he then asked me how I got a credit card!! I was a university student at the time, but come on. Anyways, they definitely want to know you'll have enough money to get you through the country without working.

One disadvantage to the "visa waiver program" compared to having a B-2 tourist visa is that:

"Travelers should be aware that by requesting admission under the Visa Waiver Program, they are generally waiving their right to review or appeal a CBP officer’s decision as to their application for admission at the port of entry"

source: https://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wi...hout_1990.html

It can be hard convincing authorities that you get by fine on $20/day :/

A quick suggestion. It seems like it would be more economical to fly from Spain to Toronto and then from Argentina to Japan. You would also have the advantage of the winds not working against you while riding North to South. I believe on the West Coast of the Americas the dominant direction blows South, though I could be wrong. You would save yourself some airline miles if the seasons work out correctly.

This might help a little:

https://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-.../united-states

All good info guys. Thanks a lot, all this planning can sometimes be a bit of a headache, but it gives me something to do through winter. I've got online banking, so maybe I could print out a balance statement a week or so before the border.

As for flights, I'm more interested in flying direct, it's just simpler with a bike in tow and a quick search on expedia showed that flying Buenos Aires to Tokyo was £300 more expensive and has two stops along the way.

Godspeed, and watch out for this tidbit on the UK site https://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...uirements&pg=4

Thanks. I'll start seriously planning things in January. December is specifically for working as much overtime as possible, whilst it's there. But any info I can gather now will give me a headstart come then at least.

Visa stamps should back me up with my cycling from Argentina story and I’ll also have a sporadically updated blog as back up.

Right ... you can stay as a visitor in Canada for 6 months BUT ...

1) you have got to be able to prove that you are going to leave at the end of the 6 months
2) you have got to be able to prove that you have the financial wherewithall to support yourself for 6 months (if you are planning to stay for 6 months, you'll want to have proof of somewhere around $3000)
3) ideally, you should be able to prove that you have "permanence" (a residence and job) in another country

Rowan stayed in Canada for 6 months as a visitor a few years ago. We travelled down to the US together and when we came back into Canada, we ran into a bit of difficulty regarding proving those three points.

Carry your flight information with you. Print out your bank statement. And if you've got a house in the UK, bring something to prove that you live there. If you've got a letter promising you a job on your return, that might help as well.

If you're crossing a land border into the US you can't be "refused travel" - if you don't have the ESTA you won't be allowed to board a plane to the US but if you present yourself to immigration at a land border you don't have the issue of trying to board a plane. Whether you would be allowed to enter at all without ESTA is another matter.

It's better to have your ESTA registration seen to beforehand. The last thing you want on your round-the-world cycling trip is to get refused entry to the US when your flight leaves from Canada - that would leave you trying to find a flight from Mexico into Canada without a stopover in the US, and that word Rejected in your passport can (from what I gather) cause you problems for up to 10 years.

I thought it was for life, but I'm happy to be wrong about that.

I'd like to second the suggestion to travel from North to South in North America, especially if you plan to use the west coast. Not man people like riding a 1500 miles into the wind. I can't say how the winds are to/from Argentina though - so maybe if they are with you going north until you get to California, it'd be worth fighting the wind the rest of the way to Vancouver.