B-2 (6 month) from the UK - advice needed

[henryhlj 0]

Hi, I understand that most of this information will have been posted multiple times, but I'm looking for some case-specific visa advice.

In essence me and two friends have our hearts set on a 6 month road trip across the states, but visa complications stand in the way.

We all finish university in the coming months and have been told that we will need proof of funds in order to persuade the embassy that we are not heading out with the intention of working. Does anyone with previous experience know how much roughly we are talking? We were thinking maybe saving £5-6k, would that be adequate for 6 months. Travel plans are currently to buy a cheap RV (looking at around $4k) and use that for transport and accomodation.

Anyone who's been through the process (succesfully or otherwise) please comment, any advice is appreciated because as I say we are pretty keen on it. Thanks,Henry

[No name 88 48]

If your from the UK why wouldn't you use the Visa Wavier Program. UK nationals don't need a visa on VWP.

[RhettVoe 282]

To travel around the US for six months, you would need about $20,000, and you won't likely find a useable RV for $4000...more like 3 times that much, unless you buy something that needs a LOT of work. Parking an RV will cost around $20-30 a day; feeding it gas will be hugely expensive (most RVs are lucky to get 12 mpg, x $3.50 a gallon, figure you'll drive (in theory) at least 5000 miles...5000/10 = 500 gallons of gas x $3.50 = $1750, plus minor repairs, tires perhaps, then there will be food, propane, etc....it won't be as cheap as you think (or hope), and the COs will be wondering very quickly about how you are going to continue to pay for this extended vacation without resorting to working....probably it will be a challenge to get the visa.

[Justine+David 218]

Listen: I wouldn't do it. It's unlikely you're going to get the visa unless you're very rich.

Because you have access to the VWP, they expect you to use that and not a tourist visa.

And keep in mind that if you are refused a tourist b2 visa, you can never use VWP ever again...that's a huge risk to take, IMO.

I'd just plan for 90 days in the USA, maybe do some traveling up in Canada if you want to extend it.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Hi, I understand that most of this information will have been posted multiple times, but I'm looking for some case-specific visa advice.

In essence me and two friends have our hearts set on a 6 month road trip across the states, but visa complications stand in the way.

We all finish university in the coming months and have been told that we will need proof of funds in order to persuade the embassy that we are not heading out with the intention of working. Does anyone with previous experience know how much roughly we are talking? We were thinking maybe saving £5-6k, would that be adequate for 6 months. Travel plans are currently to buy a cheap RV (looking at around $4k) and use that for transport and accomodation.

Anyone who's been through the process (succesfully or otherwise) please comment, any advice is appreciated because as I say we are pretty keen on it. Thanks,Henry

Here is the dilemma your plan presents:

If you have a GB passport you do not need a visa to enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program, but you are restricted to a 90-day stay. If you want to stay longer, you will need a visa, however if you apply for a visa you will be questioned as to why you are planning to stay in the country for such a long period of time, etc. and if the visa is not granted you will no longer be eligible to travel to the US on the Visa Waiver Program.

The RV plan looks fine in principle but you may have trouble purchasing a vehicle in the US without having legal residence. The issue is not really buying the vehicle, so much as without being a resident you may not be able to register it for lack of an address. In addition you may not eve be able to have the RV insured for want of an insurance policy, for the same reasons. Your best option, as a tourist, is to rent a RV and travel around, and at that you may find it even more economical if you were to rent a car - as a non-resident that would not be a problem - and staying at budget hotels and camping, instead.

I believe you will have trouble getting a visa, even if you posses the best laid plans. However, if you have made up your mind to go the visa route, make sure you plan, book and cost everything in advance to show to the IO in case you are asked. It will also give you a good idea of how much money the trip will end up costing. Make sure you do not actually pay for anything until you have your visa on hand, so do not book anything non-refundable, but make sure you have at least a skeleton of a trip plan to talk about intelligently, or to show to the IO if asked.

Good luck whatever your decision!

[henryhlj 0]

Rhett voe thanks for the advice, as depressing as it was to read. However I think we may be able to find one for less than your price: (Although one of the guys has some family in America so we could register it to their address?). It may be naive but I think we could easily survive on less than $20k for 6 months (we have lived as students for 3 years and have learnt frugality). Is this just your estimation or what you expect the embassy to require proof of?

http://www.rvtrader.com/Class-A%3A-RVs----Motorhomes-%7C-For-Sale-%7C-New-or-Used-on-RV-Trader/search-results?condition=U&schemecode=AD&sort=featured%3Adesc&type=Class+A&price=*:10000

consensus seems to be that the VWP 90 day stay is our only option? Are the chances of longer stay actually that minimal?

Edited March 7, 2014 by henryhlj

[Camelot13 63]

Also in order to be able to be let in to the country either on a tourist visa or the VWP, you need to present strong ties to your home country and evidence that you will absolutely be returning at the end of your trip. Some examples of this include owning property or having a rental lease in the UK, a roundtrip flight ticket, a letter from a job stating the date you're expected back, bills in your name, maybe a car. If you come to the US with just a few thousand dollars in your bank account, having just graduated from university and don't have evidence to show ties to your country, in the eyes of the IO it's going to seem like you might either going to immigrate or work.

My suggestion is to make sure those ties to the UK are in place, then use the VWP to come and travel for less than 90 days. That's almost 3 months, which is still a good long time and will relieve you the pressure of having to come up with all that cash for such a long stay. You can use the VWP more than one time a year - the general rule of thumb is to spend at least as long out of the country as in it, so you can go back to the UK for a few months and then come for another trip.

[MacUK 983]

To be honest, what you believe you can live on is immaterial.

You have to be able to convince a complete stranger that there's no chance you'll work illegally and return at the end of your trip.

Did you include flights and vehicle insurance in your cost estimates?

Sounds bleak I know, but you should be aware of the risks before you try.

If you do go for it and get refused then your VWP privileges will be restricted.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Perhaps go checkout one of those "travel america" sites for kids on gap years etc. They probably give an estimation of expected costs.

The embassy doesn't have a set amount.

Do consider only doing a 3 month trip, though. Having your VWP revoked if you are denied the tourist visa would be a bit of a bummer.

[RhettVoe 282]

The cost of such a trip will be much higher than you might think...again, a used RV that isn't a complete piece of krapola is going to cost a lot more than $4000...any RV you buy for $4000 will either need $8000 worth of work done on it before you could confidently use it, or will lack reliability once on the road (not to mention what such an RV would smell like on the inside, if it has been sitting in somebody's back yard for years - might be worse than the socks you bring to your mum every three weeks for her to wash!!)...

Add gasoline, oil, insurance, misc repairs, the cost of parking such a vehicle on a daily basis (you cannot legally just park overnight anywhere, plus you would like to be near a place with a shower, etc)...go online to KOA Campground sites, for ex, to get a feel for what it costs to park an RV on their spots....they may be a bit expensive in some states, but the idea is to get a better grasp of what being on the road might cost)...

Add to the fact that most COs are going to be leery of a young, single person cruising the US right after college...and may well assume they (you) will be cruising around looking for a spouse and/or a job.....

I think the advice of trying a short trip on the VWP (consider renting an RV, which is not cheap either!) and hit the road for a month....then you'll be better prepared.

[lost_at_sea 995]

This RV rental site wouldn't let me check for more than 40 days... but it gives cost estimates: https://www.cruiseamerica.com/rent They also do one-way rentals, which might be a good idea.

Kids/college students/gap year people etc. going off for summer road-trips isn't that unusual. I had a friend go do one for 3 months after quitting her job.

I'm unclear why RhettVoe is trying to put you off having a nice summer holiday that thousands of people do every year. That's why there's so many websites about roadtrips, tour america etc.

Edited March 7, 2014 by lost_at_sea

[RhettVoe 282]

Sorry, but thousands of just-graduated foreign students are not touring the United States for six months in an RV (and those few who might be doing it are spending more than $7 a day)...again (for about the 249th time), the COs don't care why one wants to go to the US; they are more interested in why somebody will leave the US after visiting.

A six month stay in a foreign country is (a) an awful long time (b) will be expensive © begs the question as to why such person prefers to not join the working world for so long (d) begs the question as to how such a person will realistically be able to afford such a trip without resorting to illegal employment....

those are just the plain facts...and the OP asked for advice...I know I often post things that few wish to hear, but I have yet to hear from someone who knows with a certainty that whatever I have posted is dead wrong.

Advice? Rent an RV for 4-6 weeks, using the VWP....then you'll have a more accurate picture of what a more lengthy trip will require.

[henryhlj 0]

I'm unsure whether Rhettvoe is being realistic or pessimistic.. Is there anyone from the UK who has gone through this process? I've heard of people doing the 6 month travel so surely it can't be as impossible as it's being suggested - On reflection perhaps the £5-6k was naive

[RhettVoe 282]

Realistic....others may tell you that everything will be just peachy, but they don't really know. Our visa laws are far different than most countries (in which citizens from certain countries, like yours and mine, merely have to fill out a short application and hand over a few dollars or pounds or whatever...there is no interview process to speak of)...we require an interview and the applicant must overcome one particular law....section 214b of the Immigration & Nationality Act, which states (condensed) that every person seeking a nonimmigrant visa (several categories, including tourist visas) is presumed to be an intending immigrant and is therefore ineligible to receive said visa until they are able to convince a consular officer that they will depart the US when they say, and not engage in unauthorized employment while in valid visitor status (again, condensed somewhat for clarity)...yes, citizens from many countries, including the UK, often have an easier time getting a visa, but many of those same countries participate in the VWP...but that privilege is a two edged sword....abuse it, it's gone...apply for a visa and get denied, you may lose that privilege for a period of time....and, as has been pointed out numerous times on this (and other) sites, far too many people have 'forgotten' to return to their country, after having 'changed their mind' about those original intentions....in other words, to borrow an oft used American phrase, your visa interview will not likely be a 'slam dunk' as others would have you believe.

[Mela17 36]

I think what's missing here is because gas costs a lot more in the UK the lads might be thinking that gas will cost a lot less in the US and while that might be true, we also have far less miles per gallon in our cars much less RV's. Also, you have to take into account planning and making sure that RV parks are open and accepting reservations too. it's not as if you can just show up, or rock up as my husband would say and expect to have a spot. Thirdly, You are just graduated university students so i'm assuming none of you have a lot of work history and I don't think any of you own a house which doesn't bode well for you to show ties to the UK.

IMO, I would do the 90 days and rent a car there is also www.couchsurfing.com which is a website where you can stay in peoples spare rooms for free and also www.airbnb.com where people rent out their own spare rooms or sometimes whole houses. If you want to extend your visa, like one member said, hop over to Canada and then re enter the US for another 90 days. Also there are other ways to see the US other than by car. We have Amtrak and also several major bus lines which would probably be even cheaper.