Traveling on the ESTA before the 30 day rule for F1 visas

[misswino 0]

Hello!

 

So, my boyfriend just got his F1 visa approved in Germany. We have previously booked travel plans, so we'll be meeting in Cuba at the end of this month. After that though, he wants to come to the USA with me to travel a bit since he currently has the time and money to do so. Would it be possible for him to enter on the VWP at that time? Then we were thinking of doing a weekend trip to Canada or Mexico, so that he could reenter with the F1 visa. Would that work? Or would he need to fly back to Germany to reenter the US as a student?

 

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Edited June 13, 2017 by misswino

[Coco8 1,042]

 

On 6/13/2017 at 1:53 PM, misswino said:

So, my boyfriend just got his F1 visa approved in Germany. We have previously booked travel plans, so we'll be meeting in Cuba at the end of this month. After that though, he wants to come to the USA with me to travel a bit since he currently has the time and money to do so. Would it be possible for him to enter on the VWP at that time? Then we were thinking of doing a weekend trip to Canada or Mexico, so that he could reenter with the F1 visa. Would that work? Or would he need to fly back to Germany to reenter the US as a student?

 

 

I'd recommend avoiding the US if you can, until he can enter with the F1. It is tricky because under VWP you have to show that you will be going back to your country and one of the requirements is to have a return ticket to your country. Having a return ticket is required and he will not have one. 

 

Furthermore, to change visas you cannot go to from the US to Mexico or Canada, and then back to the US. You would have to reenter from some other place. Mexico/Canada are considered special and they do not work to change status. A long time ago I had to go to go from the US to the Bahamas to change a J1 to an F1. It was the cheapest/closest place I could find.

Edited June 18, 2017 by Coco8
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