sliam37

Hi,

Just trying to book our flights from NZ to Vancouver. Thought we'd do the same as on the way over here and stop over in LA for a few days, as no extra cost. However, having got to the bottom of the booking form online, it looks as if there might be a problem. Not sure if anyone can help. The Air NZ website sums it up: "citiziens of eligible countries may travel to the USA for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa...a return or onward ticket must be held although teh final destination may not be Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.' Does anyone know anything about this?

Looking on the USA website, it sounds as if, to be able to travel on to Canada we'd need to be a resident. But we won't be as obtaining TWP at POE (with valid lmo, medical etc).

Any help much appreciated!! Want to book flights asap as prices keep rising and we're leaving here in about 2 weeks.

Mikeypm

I think you will need to get you and your whole family an ESTA https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

sliam37

As we read it we're not able to get an ESTA because, even though our British passports allow us to be normally able to waive the visa, in this situation our onward flight is going to canada (and not returnign to NZ or UK) and we're not residents of Canada - seems you can't have a ticket that takes you on to either mexico, canada or the caribbean islands. Has anyone any experience of this?

JB0591

This issue looks like a VWP requirement. Why don't you book a fully refundable one way ticket (flight date within 90 days of arriving in US) for onward travel to a country that is not a contiguous territory or adjacent island to US. Then cancel it once you arrive in Canada.

MarylandNed

You must get an ESTA if you are visiting the US via air travel. Even if you are only transiting through the US via air travel, you still need an ESTA:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...apply-for-esta

I am a citizen of a VWP country and am traveling to the United States by air to transit the U.S.?
Yes. You must apply for ESTA even if you are only transiting the U.S. In the address field of the application, write "In Transit."

I found the Air NZ link:
http://www.airnewzealand.com/us-entr...t-requirements

I've never heard of this restriction. Seems bizarre. Maybe you should just fly direct to Vancouver and visit the US later.

sliam37

think we'll have to do as you suggest and just visit usa later. Just seemed such a good opportunity as only an extra $300 or so for all 5 of us to go via LA, and I don't think we'll ever get such a good deal! But unfortunately the restriction re: onward flight to canada is there, and since we're going in 2 weeks can't really wait aroudn another day to phone the us embassy and risk the ticket prices going up even more. what a shame! Don't really want the hassle of finding a refundable oneway ticket, but then exiting LAX to go to Canada and getting in some sort of trouble or future trouble anyway.

Vulcanoid

Whatever happens, you'll need an ESTA, that's just to get into the US full stop by air.

When my sister was doing a trip of all the Americas starting in the US, she had a refundable ticket back home, then cancelled it after arrival (since she was going on to Mexico afterwards) - it's a bizarre legal fiction, but one the Americans insist on (that said, not that much weirder than Canadian flagpoling).

MarylandNed

You could fly direct to Vancouver and then get a round trip flight to LA for about $360.

sliam37

The ESTA isn't a problem. Did the US not care that she'd exited to Mexico and not whrever they'd thought she was going?

Re: $360 - for five people it adds up a bit more, plus we'd then need to go iin school holidays. But obvoiusly we'd save a fortune by not going to la at all and saving on theme park fees and accommodation etc. And not have all this ridiculous ESTA and onward ticket hassle.

Vulcanoid

Nope - entering was no problem (she met their requirements of being able to leave to a non north american place), leaving was no problem (she was off their soil). At no point did she not meet the requirements for legal status at the time, it's just the requirement changes at the customs desk (before it, you have to be planning on going to location x, after it you can go anywhere so long as it isn't staying there). She's been back subsequently, so no problem there either.

I can understand though why you wouldn't be comfortable doing this - it does look weird.

sliam37

Thanks for everyone's help. HAve just booked flights direct to vancouver. Just didn't seem worth all the hassle, and while spending time looking the flights were steadily getting more expensive. Wish we'd known before - would have been about $300 cheaper to book yesterday! Anyway, this takes the stress off, and theme park rides make me feel sick anyway, so all good (the kids might not agree!)

Siouxie

You can tell them you will take them here instead, lol.

http://www.pne.ca/playland/rides-games-food/rides.html

http://www.themeparkcity.com/CAN_bc.htm

Glad you got your flights sorted, albeit at a higher price.