What Visa do I need to enter the US from the Canadian land border?

jasonb

Hi there,

We're hoping to fly to Canada in the Summer and already have our eTA visa for Canada sorted.

We're also hoping to drive down to the US for 4 or 5 days, and so far I haven't found an obvious answer to what visa we need to cross the border. Normally we'd get a ESTA, but that seems to state arriving by Air or Sea, so I don't know if it's also for land borders. Anyone know for certain?

Thanks...

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058227207/what-visa-do-i-need-to-enter-the-us-from-the-canadian-land-border

ESTA is not a visa, it's a authorization to travel.

The visa that most Irish people enter the US on is not actually a visa at all, it's a visa waiver, as in the requirement to get a visa is waived and you get 90 days in the US as long as you satisfy the immigration official that you are not going to over stay (have a return ticket etc).

I'm not 100% sure but I guess that once you arrive at the US Canada border you fill out the same visa waiver form as you would entering the US by air, without the need to complete an ESTA application.

jasonb

Thanks for your reply. Sorry, I wasn't aware of the differences between an actual Visa and an Authorisation to travel.

Anyone know if I just fill out the visa Waiver form at the border, or do I need something done in advance of arriving at the border? Obviously it would be too late then to find out something needed to be done before hand!

Thanks...

ohnonotgmail

a paper visa on arrival is required

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1132?language=en_US

jasonb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454672#Comment_118454672

Excellent, thanks for that, it looks like we just fill out a form at the border then.

northknife

You will need an ESTA unless you are a Canadian citizen. You will still have to fill in a paper form when you get to the border and there is a fee for this, around $10-20 per adult.