canadian/usa customs with one way ticket

[bryan]

Hi,
does anybody have info about entering canada/usawithout a booked return ticket?
how did mike "o" do it?
if you arrive at the usa border from canada can you get a 3month visa waiver document there and then?
us insurance...any recommendations?
thanks
bryan

 

[MikeO]

Bryan - ring the US Embassy Visa section - they'll give you all the info you need - at about £1.50 a minute

Or go to their website*. I got a £70 6 month visa, along with a fun-filled day out at the US Embassy in London - an execise in bureaucratic misery. Even so, I was grilled quite hard about not having a return ticket. I brought along the registration document for my bike, shipping documentation etc to show immigration in Miami where I arrived. Remember these people are used to dealing with business travellers & tourists - anything else is:

1. Going to attract there attention
2. Probably going to be beyond their level of competence without calling a supervisor.

My advice - go there expecting it to be a hassle and expecting delays - you probably won't be disappointed.

If by insurance, you mean bike insurance - there are only about 2 places you can get it as a foreign licence holder - it's VERY expensive (I'm paying £100 per month & that's NOT fully comp) - details at Horizons Unlimited here

Cheers

Mike


*US Embassy

 

[bryan]

Hi Mike,
thanks for the reply,....i've got a 10 year visa due to expire so can renew from home ...just need to get a photo "their " size.
was hoping to just get a 3month visa waiver but it looks like without a return ticket it could be a problem?

 

[MikeO]

Sorry Bryan, not a question I've had to ask - probably best to check with the website...

Mike

ps Probably should've made it clearer - my visa is a 10 yr B1/B2 type, but the longest you can stay in one visit is 6 months...

 

[bryan]

Hi,
mike,
did you have a exit/forwarding ticket ...usa-nz or where customs happy with your funds/itemary/shiping contact details?
bry

 

[MikeO]

Hi,
mike,
did you have a exit/forwarding ticket ...usa-nz or where customs happy with your funds/itemary/shiping contact details?
bry

No ticket (still ) - just had to explain the plan to immigration...

Mike

 

[Tiffany]

Simpler than you think

Hi Bryan

I entered Canada (Vancouver) on a one way ticket without a problem and then crossed the land border into Alaska and also the lower US States with no questions being asked. Each time I crossed the border I was given 90 days stamped in my passport - no visa or anything arranged in advance.

for insurance, I got mine through www.hctravel.co.uk
really helpful and they know their stuff.

They didn't ask about insurance at the borders and, in fact were NOT interested in my bike at all - even when I was producing all the documents in front of them - I was really surprised.
So, after expecting hassle it turned out to be fine.

good luck

 

[GlobeBusters]

Our experience was exactly the same as Tiffany. Flew into Vancouver from UK on one way ticket. No questions asked. Rode bike up to Alaska and down into Lower 48. No questions asked. No probs. Easy peasy.

Only difference is we used www.motorcycleexpress.com for our US/Canada insurance.