Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
Apr 4th 2013, 6:55 am
#1
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Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
Morning all,
Does anyone know how you show you have left the US when arriving on ESTA and driving back to Canada? There is no green slip to hand in.
How do others do it?
Does anyone know how you show you have left the US when arriving on ESTA and driving back to Canada? There is no green slip to hand in.
How do others do it?
Apr 4th 2013, 7:40 am
#2
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Re: Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
Probably some of them stop at US Customs before they enter Canada in the vehicle. Im pretty sure they all have a car park
Apr 4th 2013, 11:23 pm
#3
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Re: Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
At Canadian border yesterday ( Peace Arch) I asked a delightful guard what we should do and could they stamp my UK passport to show re entry into Canada. He wouldn't do this but confidently told me to buy something on my credit card in the next few days and keep the receipt and show it if we were questioned when next re entering the USA. He seemed pretty relaxed about it all but maybe its a joke they like to play on us and have a big laugh about it over a cuppa
Apr 5th 2013, 4:42 am
#4
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Re: Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
You should ask on the USA immigration forums, but when you fly into the USA on the visa waiver (ESTA) you are supposed to have a return/onward ticket.
Flying into the USA and driving back into Canada isn't covered by the visa waiver rules. You generally need a Canadian passport, or a U.S. tourist visa, to do this.
Others may well have done this but you could be taking a risk of being refused entry to the United States.
Flying into the USA and driving back into Canada isn't covered by the visa waiver rules. You generally need a Canadian passport, or a U.S. tourist visa, to do this.
Others may well have done this but you could be taking a risk of being refused entry to the United States.
Apr 5th 2013, 11:27 am
#5
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Re: Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
You should ask on the USA immigration forums, but when you fly into the USA on the visa waiver (ESTA) you are supposed to have a return/onward ticket.
Flying into the USA and driving back into Canada isn't covered by the visa waiver rules. You generally need a Canadian passport, or a U.S. tourist visa, to do this.
Others may well have done this but you could be taking a risk of being refused entry to the United States.
Flying into the USA and driving back into Canada isn't covered by the visa waiver rules. You generally need a Canadian passport, or a U.S. tourist visa, to do this.
Others may well have done this but you could be taking a risk of being refused entry to the United States.
Apr 5th 2013, 11:41 am
#6
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Location: Montreal, well, Blainville and CYMX
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Re: Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
Intresting enough, the State Dept. website says
My bolding. So I'd be interested to see the rule that you cannot fly into the US on ESTA without an onward flight. From the rules of the VWP it seems like it is permitted 
EDIT It also says:
So seems OK.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States without obtaining a visa, for stays of 90 days or less for business, tourism, visiting or pleasure. Transiting or traveling through the United States to Canada or Mexico is generally permitted for VWP travelers.
EDIT It also says:
Citizens of VWP countries who reside in Mexico, Canada, or a nearby island are generally exempted from the requirement to show onward travel to another country * when entering the United States. Learn more at the CBP website.
Last edited by alexbellamy; Apr 5th 2013 at 11:46 am.
Apr 5th 2013, 12:11 pm
#7
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Re: Flying to US on ESTA, driving home to Canada
One has to read the ESTA rules very closely.
The UK is part of the Visa Waiver Programme so citizens of the UK holding a UK biometric passport wishing to visit the US and arriving by air or sea apply for ESTA.
This is the IMPORTANT BIT that needs to be read.Who is eligible to apply for admission under the Visa Waiver Program?
You are eligible to apply for admission under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if you:
Intend to enter the United States for 90 days or less for business, pleasure or transit
Have a valid passport lawfully issued to you by a Visa Waiver Program country
Have authorization to travel via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization
Arrive via a Visa Waiver Program signatory carrier
Have a return or onward ticket
Travel may not terminate in contiguous territory or adjacent islands unless the traveler is a resident of one of those areas
Are a citizen or national of one of the Visa Waiver Program countries listed below:
Have a return or onward ticket is the IMPORTANT BIT. If they land in the US and then RENT a vehicle how do they produce an onward or return ticket.
If they had an onward plane ticket to Canada they would be considered IN TRANSIT and thats OK.
You cannot terminate your journey in the US unless you are a resident in a contiguous country (Canada, Mexico).
This scenario usually comes up with persons getting IEC approval, persons coming over to be issued with a work permit or landing as an Immigrant.
As they are not yet residents of Canada then they SHOULD NOT fly to the US and then try to cross into Canada by bus, train or a vehicle.
If you have been admitted into Canada and hold a work permit or PR status or a study permit then you can do it this way as you are considered a resident of Canada.
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/WebHel...Help_1.htm#WP3
The UK is part of the Visa Waiver Programme so citizens of the UK holding a UK biometric passport wishing to visit the US and arriving by air or sea apply for ESTA.
This is the IMPORTANT BIT that needs to be read.Who is eligible to apply for admission under the Visa Waiver Program?
You are eligible to apply for admission under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if you:
Intend to enter the United States for 90 days or less for business, pleasure or transit
Have a valid passport lawfully issued to you by a Visa Waiver Program country
Have authorization to travel via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization
Arrive via a Visa Waiver Program signatory carrier
Have a return or onward ticket
Travel may not terminate in contiguous territory or adjacent islands unless the traveler is a resident of one of those areas
Are a citizen or national of one of the Visa Waiver Program countries listed below:
Have a return or onward ticket is the IMPORTANT BIT. If they land in the US and then RENT a vehicle how do they produce an onward or return ticket.
If they had an onward plane ticket to Canada they would be considered IN TRANSIT and thats OK.
You cannot terminate your journey in the US unless you are a resident in a contiguous country (Canada, Mexico).
This scenario usually comes up with persons getting IEC approval, persons coming over to be issued with a work permit or landing as an Immigrant.
As they are not yet residents of Canada then they SHOULD NOT fly to the US and then try to cross into Canada by bus, train or a vehicle.
If you have been admitted into Canada and hold a work permit or PR status or a study permit then you can do it this way as you are considered a resident of Canada.
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/WebHel...Help_1.htm#WP3
