11/8/2007

If you are from a visa waiver country, and you are coming for tourism or business (but not for employment or as a working member of the media) you may be in the U.S. (including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) for up to 90 days. If you wish to visit the U.S. for a longer period of time, you will need to obtain a visa. 

If visiting the U.S. under the visa waiver program you may not apply for an extension of stay. While in the U.S., you may go to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean and re-enter the U.S. using the I-94W you were issued when you first arrived in the U.S., although the time you spend there is included in the 90 days allotted for your visit. 

If you visit other countries such as England or Costa Rica, then return to the U.S., your re-entry will be considered to be a new admission (thereby restarting the 90 day clock), rather than a re-entry from a contiguous country in the course of your initial visit, and the admission inspection may be more strenuous. The Officer inspecting you will want evidence that you intend to go back home to your country of citizenship to live as opposed to returning again and again to the U.S. after visits to other countries. 

If you are from Canada, the length of stay for tourism is 6 months. Canadians may file for an extension of stay with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If you are not from a visa waiver country, you will need a visa. For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate in your country.