what kind of visa for friend coming from uk?

[lovelittle 0]

my friend is coming over from england and he wants to be able to stay longer than 3 months. how can he do this and what kind of visa will he need? he will be staying at my house, is there any info i need to provide to show that he has somewhere to stay?

also, i have a friend that is border jumping to stay longer in costa rica. is it possible for my uk friend to go to mexico for 72 hours then come back and stay in the united states longer?

[Justine+David 218]

He would need to apply for a tourist visa, but that is extraordinarily unlikely and he will probably be denied and worse, may not be able to use the Visa Waiver Program. Why does he want to stay so long in the US?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Border jumping is a well known trick and will NOT extend the original time allotted - it will be like he never left.

How is he able to pay for a 6 month + trip and not work?

[reese1 68]

The border jumping trick will work in a developing country like costa rica where the penalty for overstaying is only a fine upon exit. The penalties for overstaying in the US are not quite the same so I really don't think he should use that as an option.

[Moomin 292]

Border jumping won't do anything. Unless your friend returns to home country, it won't reset the timer/original date of entering the US.

While your friend may apply for tourist visa, he'll need to demonstrate strong ties to home country, such as work contract/income, house/lease. And while it's completely fine that your friends; if it's anything more than that, I'd advise your friend to be honest about it, either at time of interview or when entering the US.

If he is eligible to travel using the VWP, I'd suggest going for 3 months(90 days) at a maximum with the VWP. While he might go through customs without as much as a raised eyebrow from an officer, it would still be a tough one to swallow if he gets refused entry on a tourist visa(b2). The CBP officer always has the last word in who is admitted into the US and who isn't.

[MichonandRuben 15]

The border trick only works in Costa Rica because the visa is a 90 day visa for those with US passports. Once you leave Costa Rica for 72 hours the 90 day visa is renewed. Plus there is never an official visa issued and they don't really care if you overstay as long as you are staying out of trouble... it is their excuse to kick you out should they need to.

The US visas are good for an allotted amount of time period. There is no renewing like with the visas in Costa Rica, based on a certain amount of time outside of the country.

Best of luck with everything!

[jaycali 415]

my friend is coming over from england and he wants to be able to stay longer than 3 months. how can he do this and what kind of visa will he need? he will be staying at my house, is there any info i need to provide to show that he has somewhere to stay?also, i have a friend that is border jumping to stay longer in costa rica. is it possible for my uk friend to go to mexico for 72 hours then come back and stay in the united states longer?

1. UK citizens can stay in the US for 90 days visa-free under the VWP. Any stay longer than 90 days he'll need a B-2 visa which he can apply for at the US embassy in London.

2. Border jumping does not work on the VWP. The VWP allows 90 days in the US before he must leave the US, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and/or the Caribbean. The only way he could border jump like that would be by jumping all the way down to Guatemala. If he intends to leave the US through Mexico and then return to the US and start a new tourist period, he'll need a B-2 visa.

He would need to apply for a tourist visa, but that is extraordinarily unlikely and he will probably be denied and worse, may not be able to use the Visa Waiver Program. Why does he want to stay so long in the US?

Not necessarily "extremely unlikely" - Plenty of VWP citizens are granted B-2 visas for stays in excess of 90 days. It's a matter of the person's current circumstance.

Likely B-2 approval: Applicant with a vacation home in Florida and a long-term paid leave/pension.

Likely B-2 denial: Young applicant with no steady job/career who wishes to visit friends for 6 months.

Edited October 4, 2012 by jaejayC

[scotinmass 588]

If he is refused a tourist visa he will never be able to enter the US under the VWP so therefore will never be able to enter at all. Very big risk to take.

[jaycali 415]

If he is refused a tourist visa he will never be able to enter the US under the VWP so therefore will never be able to enter at all. Very big risk to take.

Agreed. Unless you have very specific reasons as to why you need to stay longer than 90 days - and the evidence to back it all up, applying for a B-2 is not recommended if you can just use the VWP.

Edited October 4, 2012 by jaejayC