Holiday Visa for the US?

Miguel_Sanchez

It's been over 10 years since I was in the US and I was just wondering - what's the story with holiday visas these days?

Do I just book my flight, turn up at the airport and fill out the forms or do I have to have stuff done through the embassy before travelling?

MikeHoncho

I went about 6 months ago and you just booked flights and headed off. You need to do emigration in Shannon airport usually and I got a good grilling the last time.

Id advise bringing some recent payslips or a letter from your employer stating you have a fulltime job in ireland or if your a student something that proves you are studying just incase they give you a hard time.

Rockee

You will enter the USA on the VWP (Visa Waiver Program) which is a 90 day travel/holiday visa. Just book your flights etc and any kind of paperwork you need to do will be done in Dublin. The paperwork being a Customs form and a green card giving your personal details to be filled out for the immigration representative youll have to deal with in either Dublin or Shannon (Not to be confused with the Green Card which grants you permission to live and work permenently in the States).

Youll be asked questions such as 'Have you been to the States before etc' before you even reach the check in desk by I think airline representatives..(Im not sure!) They will hand you the green card and customs form. You go through security putting your shoes, phone, money through a detector. Grab your stuff, grab your shoes and find your gate! You should now be using the time to fill in the green card and customs form. Green card will ask you your name, address, address of where you're staying in the States and the customs form ask if you have anything to declare.

By this time youve finished scribbling the gate to go through immigration should now be open, a lady checks to make sure you have everything filled out. Once she gives you the go ahead you go downstairs to immigration. You walk up to the desk where youll be met by an immigrations officer asking you to place your index fingers on a pad for security reasons obviously. You then inform them how long you'll be in the States for, theyll ask if youve sufficient funds, a place to stay, what you do for a living. Once you're given the all-clear the immigration officer rips off the main portion of the green card leaving you a stub with your name on it that you must keep in your passport AT ALL TIMES!!! DONT LOSE IT! :eek:

You are then again met by what I think are airline representatives (someone correct me if im wrong by all means!!!).Theyl ask if your bags have been tampered with, anything given to you etc. Again, once given the all clear you sit down relax and wait to board!!!

When you reach the States you are led down a seperate channel because youve done pre border clearance in Dublin/Shannon. You then MUST reclaim your baggage, irregardless of your final destination. Grab your bags, hand over your customs form to an official and off ya go!!!

Its really nothing to worry about, it sounds more than it is. I was in the same position a couple of months ago as in not knowing what the procedure would be but it was very easy and stress free. Have a blast!!!!!

Miguel_Sanchez

Rockee - probably one of the most thorough responses I've ever received on boards ever. Thanks a million.

All I have to do now is confirm my days off work and I'm booking my flights this weekend. Roll on NYC!!!

Rockee

Jeff_Lebowski wrote:

Rockee - probably one of the most thorough responses I've ever received on boards ever. Thanks a million.

All I have to do now is confirm my days off work and I'm booking my flights this weekend. Roll on NYC!!!

Haha, no probs Jeff. What I wrote will be pretty much whatll happen when you get to the airport that day. Youll be fine, no worries. Im off to Chicago and then on to Dallas in 2 weeks to see my fiance so Ill be doin the procedure again with less worries as I did it for the first time in November and realised theres feck all to it. Just look everyone straight in the face, dont be cheeky and buy a pack of King or Tayto crisps for the Americans!!!

Ruu_Old

Rockee is spot on here and to add, remember the green stub (I-94 has to be given back to your airline, they will pull it off on your return) and most likely you will pass through the US VISIT kiosks, it is part of the exit procedure in most of the major US airports. There will probably be a guard there to show you what to do, you just scan your passport on the machine and it gives you a confirmation slip.
The border guards are just doing their job, don't be too worried about them even though the amount of times I've done it, still feels very hostile to me. Good luck.

Rockee

Hey Ruu!!!

Firstly, apologies Jeff this post might seem off topic but it might come in handy on the way back!!!I noted Ruu when you mentioned about the US VISIT kiosks in most of the major airports in the States above. When I landed in Newark after coming from Dallas last year I got a coach from the terminal where I landed from Dallas to the terminal I needed to get to for the flight home to Dublin, the coach dropped me right in the middle of the terminal for the Dublin flight and I didnt see any sign of an exit procedure. All I did was give the airline the remaining stub of the green card and on I hopped onto the plane!!!

Miguel_Sanchez

Thanks for the all the help guys.

Just booked my flight a minute ago. Return for only 356 euro!

Haven't been to the US for over 10 years and I've never been to NYC. Can't wait.

Ruu_Old

Rockee wrote:

Hey Ruu!!!

Firstly, apologies Jeff this post might seem off topic but it might come in handy on the way back!!!I noted Ruu when you mentioned about the US VISIT kiosks in most of the major airports in the States above. When I landed in Newark after coming from Dallas last year I got a coach from the terminal where I landed from Dallas to the terminal I needed to get to for the flight home to Dublin, the coach dropped me right in the middle of the terminal for the Dublin flight and I didnt see any sign of an exit procedure. All I did was give the airline the remaining stub of the green card and on I hopped onto the plane!!!

Yeah, I assumed since it was in Chicago that the kiosks would be in most airports. Perhaps that Chicago is one of the busiest in the world. Maybe they are/should have roll them out. You are safe enough anyway OP.