Requirements for USA

Enygma

Hey,

A couple of us are heading to San Diego in Febuary for a surf trip. We've the tickets booked and everything, just wondering do we need holiday visas or anything else for the trip?

Thanks

neacy69

ya don't need a visa unless you are planning on working. A green holiday visa will be stapled into your passport when you go thru customs in the US this entitles you to spend 90 days in the US on hoilday. Mind not to lose that green form cos if you do it'll cause hassle for you leaving as they might think you have overstayed your 90 days.

SouperComputer

if you are leaving from Dublin, you will be given a Customs Card a a Visa Wavier before you board.

The 1st is self-explanatory prettymuch check no on everything unless you have €10,000 in cash.

The second one you also pretty much tick no and fill in the details. This gives you a 90 day pass to the US. You cant work obviusly its basically a holiday visa.

If your actual flight for the US leaves from say Amsterdam, then you will get the forms before you land in the US to fill out.

SoBe

dont forget the new rule that came into force today (i think) about having to give the airline the address of where your going to stay on the first nite.

good luck and enjoy the trip

BrianD

Aer Lingus e-mailed me last week about this. I told them that this was a very insecure way of asking for details that are highly personal and could lead to identity theft (and could lead to somebody impersonating me as a passenger). I suggested that they have an online form that you can go back in and securely complete the information. They didn't appreciate either my concern or suggestion. I asked them what would happen if I didn't comply and the only thing that may happen is that you have to Q longer. I'm taking my chances on Sunday!

Personally, this Homeland security stuff is all nonsense and an invasion of privacy. I'd be happy to cooperate if I could see some use for it. Let's face it the guys that did the deeds on Sept. 11th were all documented, fingerprinted and given a visa and they didn't hijack an international flight. So the less people that blindly co-operate the better.

I've often flown to places with nowhere to stay till I arrive there. looks like I won't be doing that in the USA!

SoBe

back in the day when sept 11th happened they didnt finger print you,thats pretty recent.
i cant really see a problem telling them where im gona stay in advance when i go back.its not a big deal

BrianD

But you did fingerprint for some visas. Anyway that's me just lashing out against the system. I've visited the USA loads of time and plan to continue to do so.

BTW the visa waivers only apply to citizens of certain countries ... so you'll need to check that you are all from countries that are covered by the waiver. Just because you are travelling from Ireland doesn't mean you are covered under the scheme.

Enygma

Thanks for all the replies, so I don't really need to do anything except show up at the airport really do I?

I think we're getting an RV for the trip and we'll be staying in that. Not sure where we're going to tell them we'll be spending our first night!

BrianD

Enygma wrote:

Not sure where we're going to tell them we'll be spending our first night!

Do a google on San Diego and find the name of some seedy strip joint and put that address as your first nights stay.

Dare ya!

Our man in Havana

BrianD wrote:

Aer Lingus e-mailed me last week about this. I told them that this was a very insecure way of asking for details that are highly personal and could lead to identity theft (and could lead to somebody impersonating me as a passenger). I suggested that they have an online form that you can go back in and securely complete the information. They didn't appreciate either my concern or suggestion. I asked them what would happen if I didn't comply and the only thing that may happen is that you have to Q longer. I'm taking my chances on Sunday!

Personally, this Homeland security stuff is all nonsense and an invasion of privacy. I'd be happy to cooperate if I could see some use for it. Let's face it the guys that did the deeds on Sept. 11th were all documented, fingerprinted and given a visa and they didn't hijack an international flight. So the less people that blindly co-operate the better.

I've often flown to places with nowhere to stay till I arrive there. looks like I won't be doing that in the USA!

I agree 100% with you. I am travelling in November and I won't give them the info in an email as I am fearful of ID theft. Anyways you have to give the same info to immigration also in Dublin, so whats the point they have the same info within 30 mins of each other.

Do a google on San Diego and find the name of some seedy strip joint and put that address as your first nights stay.

I wouldn't chance that, they make ask for proof.

BrianD

The reason they ask for it is that all the airlines are trying to get all passenger details to the US authorities before the plane departs the airport. We've all heard of planes being turned back because of passenger profiling - this is when the authorities find someone they don't like while the plane is in the air.

What happens if you don't have a place to stay? I've often flown to far away places and made an accomodation deal for the first few nights at the hotel desk in the airport!

Enii

Enygma wrote:

Thanks for all the replies, so I don't really need to do anything except show up at the airport really do I?

I think we're getting an RV for the trip and we'll be staying in that. Not sure where we're going to tell them we'll be spending our first night!

Better to say you are staying in a hotel for the first night - just give the name of one that is at the airport, google to get address. The officials can not understand if you can not give them an address of where you are staying.

We had a sticky interview with them because we could not give them a name and address of a hotel as we were hiring a car and setting off on the road and did not know where we would be staying the first night. We barely got through....