Help needed, has anybody cycled in the US on a Visa or ESTA?

[stephenjubb]

If you want the easy way book a return flight back from the USA for six months after you get there? Then head for Mexico and see if you can cancel the flight and get your money back.

Then you have proof that you are flying in and flying out back to blighty. If asked about previous application say plans have changed. After all when you are at the border near Mexico they won't care.

 

[Brains]

Quite easily in fact, they are now EU Citizens and come as they please.

Only after the 1st of Jan 2014.
As of today that can (and are) still being turned away at Calais

My point was however that 1st world countries do not want poor tourists.
Many countries have legal "minimum spends", ones that I have experienced include Nepal and Venezuela and as recently as the late 80's, Switzerland.

Look at the Chinese tourists to the UK, to get here they have to fill in a 27 page form, in English, to apply for a 30 day non-working visa and hand it in, in person, at the British Consulate, of which there are six in the entire country. However now that their spending power has gone up considerably in the last few years various bodies are clamouring to make it easier for them.
Meanwhile quietly behind the scenes, the citizens of some other country, perhaps Mali, will be finding it harder than it used to be to get into the EU or UK

 

[marzjennings]

I live in the US and I have no idea how anyone could get by on 10 UKP per day. Camp sites seem to start at $25 per night. Then add food, where the basics cost more than the UK. Plus spares for the bike, clothes, laundry, batteries, medicine, etc, etc. Best of luck to the OP, but unless you have a string of contacts and places to stay lined up, half that 7 grand will be gone before you hit the Mexican border (which right now is not a place I'd be cycling with that much cash in my pocket).

 

[Gravity Aided]

I dunno, I live in the Midwest and could get by on 50.00 US per day . We have Aldis here, and you may be able to find alternative places to camp . Sounds like a daunting task, but not an impossible one. Mexico sounds a bit dodgy at this time.

 

[Gravity Aided]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5815.html

Mexico a bit dodgier than I first thought.

 

[marzjennings]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5815.html

Mexico a bit dodgier than I first thought.

It's the border towns mostly, the bulk of the country is still pretty safe.

 

[rich p]

I may be missing the point here but if you started in N Canada instead of Anchorage and entered the USA after Vancouver, say, then the 90 day visa would be sufficient to get through to Mexico. You don't want to hang around long in the most expensive country anyway on £7k for 2 years.

 

[jay clock]

1 If you have already been to the embassy your name is in the system, so trying to get in via ESTA or just turning up at the border you will come up as red alert.
2 The 10 quid a day budget will not allow for any paid accommodation, even camping, so they know that you will depend on strangers/warmshowers/stealth camping, all of which have tramp/vagrant connotations
3. I suggest you replan to do a 90 day trip through the USA and purchase either a fully refundable ticket to the UK, or simply the cheapest one and suck up the cost. Then you can show them a bank account with £7k for a 3 mth trip, and a ticket home. Then just head straight for the Mexican border and you can change your plan to a 2 yr trip.
4 At the land border go to a barber, short haircut, full shave, and wear best clothes. Call the bloke Sir a lot (unless female). Have a brand name motel booked for the first night.

 

[barnesy]

All good advice, thanks for the ideas guys. I know my plans have to change, i can see how i wouldnt be the ideal tourist. I know i will spend alot more in the US than i will in south America and Africa. I have lived in Africa on very little.

I do plan to camp wild, i know this is harder in the US due to land ownership so i may need to take the hit here and make it up with cheap living for the rest of the trip. Warmshowers and Couch surfing will also be used regularly and i have family aong the west coast.

I wont be carrying cash but will have a credit card for emergencies. My family are also able to help by lending money should i need it.

Is the border between US and Mexico patrolled by both sides? Will i have to convince Mexican officials i am able to travel in their country or have to convince US officials as to why i want to leave? If i have a return flight booked in the US for November but try to enter Mexico in October will this be ona computer system and flag up?

 

[marzjennings]

I do plan to camp wild, i know this is harder in the US due to land ownership so i may need to take the hit here and make it up with cheap living for the rest of the trip. ?

I would have said near impossible, if the cops don't bust you, then the park rangers will or the land owner will just shoot at you.

I've a done few rides through Oregon where we just stopped at the nearest spot that had room for a tent, but this was in the Parks were just entrance fees and day use is +$25.

North California, may have a couple of spots you could find.

Southern California would be tough to find anything.

 

[barnesy]

Yea i think warm showers is the way to go along the populated californian coast. Im looking forward to staying with some hosts in San Fransisco, LA and San Diego. As i say i will blow my budget daily in the US but i have to cut back in South America and Africa.

This may be a good time to see who fancies seeing if i make it or if i mess up royally, anybody who wants to can follow my trip on facebook where i will link to the site and the blog:

http://www.facebook.com/TheBigCycleWorldTour2013

 

[CopperBrompton]

I can see why they would be sceptical, and to be honest I don't think your plans are realistic. Wild-camping isn't going to be an option a lot of the time, and while food is cheap in the States, camping isn't.

I'd second the warning that it's too late now to apply for an ESTA, that will get flagged right away.

I think you need to make your stay in the States a shorter one to make it a realistic proposition with your actual available funds, then borrow money for long enough to show the expected amount in your account.

 

[barnesy]

Again i will have to say, my time in the states as most people see from Washington down through Oregon, California and Arizona will be relatively quick, maybe 6 weeks. Most of my Visas ticking time will be spent in Alaska and Canada's Yukon and British Columbia. Camping here may be more reasonable and yes i do know about the risks from bears here. My time in the lower states will be split across camping, sharing and cheap motels. Im not sure i mentioned but there will be 2 of us so Motel stay and camping pitches will be halved.

I can bring and spend £15,000 if i need to, but i like a challenge, £7,000 is what i have set myself as Alistair Humphreys lived on 7K for his 4 and a half year world cycle. I will hopefully be giving talks to schools on the way to help and i will be linked with many Christian Brothers organisations throughout South America & Africa who can offer help.

 

[CopperBrompton]

In that case, I'd show the funds they want to see and aim to do it on your planned budget and see how it goes. Just don't try an ESTA at this point.

 

[Brains]

Start at the bottom ?
Chile is not cheap, but until you hit Mexico the rest is cheap enough