Sacatical Leave
Author
Discussion

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

192 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
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Hi All

Your opinions please.

I have just been granted a sabbatical leave for 1 year.

Form 01/01/2011 to 01/01/2012, I am going to the US and South America. What sort of visa do I need to apply for? And how much money would you say I would need to get by on.

Basically what are my options.

v15ben

16,043 posts

257 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
quotequote all
Flexible air ticket to get from UK to North America then round South America or leave it totally open and book as you go along. I'd definitely say to be flexible.

Most South America countries are simply visa on arrival for British passport holders. USA is pretty simple to arrange online.

Money wise it's a 'how long is a piece of string?' type question. Depends if you want to rough it and spend ages sitting on quiet South American beaches or go to nice hotels and do all the expensive touristy stuff smile

Matt Harper

6,849 posts

217 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
quotequote all
If you are eligible, you can enter the US for up to 90 days, using the visa waiver program.
You could apply to the US Consulate for a B2 US visitors visa which is valid for up to 6 months, but you would have to state why you are not utilizing the VWP. You may have a problem convincing the customs and border patrol official at the point of entry, that you have strong ties to your country of citizenship and are intent on leaving the US before the expiration of the visa. CBP officials struggle with the concept of 'sabbatical' - often confusing it with 'unemployment'.

In reality, the USA is very unwelcoming to 'wandering tourists'. They want to see means and intent for your departure. They are a presumptuous lot - under the impression that everyone who comes here to visit, will want to stay. As a result, all well-intentioned visitors are treated like potential illegal immigrants.

Can't speak for South America, other than be bloody careful where you go and who you fraternise with.

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

192 months

Friday 7th May 2010
quotequote all
I was thinking of buying a little camper van / motor home thing and staying in that for the year.

I might sound mad but it will be a right laugh and im only 21 so if i don't do it now i never will.

Matt Harper

6,849 posts

217 months

Friday 7th May 2010
quotequote all
21 you say? Probably not going to happen then, I'm afraid.
21 year old, unemployed, with no firm address in the US and (presumably) a one-way ticket - The immigration official is going to see 4 red flags there, which could stop you even getting out of the airport.
You are also going to find it impossible to title, tag and therefore insure any vehicle without an address and or social security number.
Sorry to piss on your chips, but you might want to re-plan this, without the USA in the travel mix.

eldar

24,204 posts

212 months

Friday 7th May 2010
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What do you want to achieve on a 1 year sabbatical at 21?

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

192 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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Can't I get a 90 visa to travel the us; I will also still be employed hence sabbatical leave.

I am not hoping to achieve anything it's a trailing holiday and a break from work.

I was wondering what the next steps are to getting a visa. Do i need to book an appointment or can it be done over the phone.

loltolhurst

1,994 posts

200 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
why usa - its ste for backpacking type gap year unless ure having a posh hol. hardly need any visas for south america my bird is off there today. if u havent been do asia not usa u will have much more fun

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

192 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Nah i love the u.s been loads of times but i can only find a 90 visa which is st

Matt Harper

6,849 posts

217 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Here's your problem. The 90 day VWP is designed for visitors - predominantly tourists. There is another tourist visa available to some (B-2) which can be valid for up to 6 months. The problem is, if you qualify for VWP you are far less likely to be granted a B-2. If you apply for a B-2 and are denied, you will have to reveal that on any subsequent visa application - and visa denials tend to go against you.
The US authorities are unaccustomed to people vacationing for extended periods of time - as a result, they tend to be suspicious of people who wish to enter the country without very strong reasons why they will leave again.
Your potential lack of ties to your home country (demonstrated by your year away from it), your tender years and possibly lack of a return ticket will make you a target for very close scrutiny, I think.

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

192 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Can't i just get a return ticket and book a hotel for 2 weeks like a normal holiday and not retur for 1 year and hope i dont get caught abit like all the imagrants in the uk lol

Matt Harper

6,849 posts

217 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Sure, you could do that - lots of people do. Depending on the length of your over-stay, you are also likely to face up to a ten year ban from visiting the USA (and you state that you like the place - so maybe that's not so smart in the long-run).
Just out of interest, how are you planning on sustaining yourself financially, during this year-long sabbatical? The US is not a cheap place to live, as a traveler. I presume you are either minted, or you are anticipating working illegally too.
Don't forget, you are going to have a tough time registering and insuring a vehicle without a US address and SSN - this all sounds a bit half-assed, if you want my honest view.

bigandclever

14,066 posts

254 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Is it that difficult to get the 90 day US visa for the first 3 months, bugger off around South America for 6 months then get another 3 month visa for the rest of the US? I would've thought (and stand to be corrected!) that leaving the country for a significant period of time is sufficient to 'reset' the visa limits.

Mind you, I can't get my head round a year's sabbatical at 21 smile

Matt Harper

6,849 posts

217 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Correct - VWP not difficult at all - but don't forget that the officer at the point of entry decides who comes in and who doesn't. The visa or VWP authorises you to attempt to enter.
When you factor that most US citizens get around 14 days annual vacation per year, those who present themselves at the POE for a 90 day vacation raise eyebrows (at best) and suspicion (at worst). The suspicion revolves around the likliehood that the visitor is going to leave when the visa or VWP requires them to. Also remember that the VWP can run for a maximum of 90 days - the immigration officer decides how many (or how few) you are granted.
I think that the OP could be in line for a bit of an interrogation, if he shows up with less than concrete ties to home - usually a dated, return ticket and a job, mortgage, rent etc. I think he may also need to demonstrate where he intends to go, where he's going to stay/sleep and that he has the means to support himself for the duration of his visit.
It could easily be construed as some kind of profiling, but a 21 year old, entering for the max allowed on VWP, without a reasonable work return date and a plan to just wander the country is going to set alarm bells ringing - add to the fact that the OP is already contemplating illegal behaviour, as stated above. I think he could be in for a bit of a shock and the 'sabbatical' could end up being a flight across the Atlantic, followed immediately by a return flight back.

bigandclever

14,066 posts

254 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Matt Harper said:
When you factor that most US citizens get around 14 days annual vacation per year, those who present themselves at the POE for a 90 day vacation raise eyebrows (at best) and suspicion (at worst).
I agree with everything you say apart from the above point - the notion that customs will refuse entry because you get more holiday than them is, I suggest, suspect to say the least. Is there an unknown tickbox for "Nicer shoes?" or "Better haircut?" smile

Matt Harper

6,849 posts

217 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Respectfully, I didn't say 'refuse entry' - my feeling that, combined with the other factors given, 90 days vacation will be seen as abnormal, rather than normal. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that the vast majority of visitors from the UK who enter using the VWP do so for 14-21 days duration.

v15ben

16,043 posts

257 months

Tuesday 11th May 2010
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Polarbert on here spent a few months in the USA recently. I am not sure what visa he worked on, but he seems to have got away without being banned from the US as he went back last month hehe

Might be worth dropping him an email as he'll have some decent answers!

Matt Harper

6,849 posts

217 months

Tuesday 11th May 2010
quotequote all
Feel free to seek another opinion - I'm basing my suggestions only on the fact that I have lived in the US for the last 10 years on four different visa types and traval in and out of the country about every eight weeks, or so. Occasionally I have to endure a bit of a grilling by CBP officials, regarding my status and intentions, despite the fact that I'm a legal permanent resident. It is not unusual and it is their prerogative. As guests and visitors, we have no right to just march in when we feel like it.
For clarity, a ban would be the result of an overstay - not multiple visits.

louiebaby

10,653 posts

207 months

Tuesday 11th May 2010
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You can do 85 days in the US, pop over to Toronto for a few weeks, and then drop back into the US for another 85 days. Which should be long enough to get down to Mexico for a few days, before...

See what I mean???

tkdsteve08

Original Poster:

235 posts

192 months

Tuesday 11th May 2010
quotequote all
ok i see how do you apply for 85 days then