[pct-l] US tourist visa to thru hike
Mountaingoat Fraser
mistermountaingoat at gmail.com
Sun Oct 4 06:37:49 CDT 2009
I can only share my experience as an Australian. The normal length of a
tourist visa from here is 90 days. Both times I tackled the AT, I obviously
needed longer than that, so had to apply for a special visa; I think from
memory it was called a B2 (B-something anyway). This gives you a year in
America. I had to fly down to the US consulate in Sydney both times (I took
maps and a copy of 'Walk in the Woods' the first time!) and have an
"interview" - very intimidating, but both times I was granted the visa after
a five-minute conversation through bullet-proof glass... The first time, the
guy started talking about Bill Bryson (!). I remember him smiling and
saying, "But he didn't make it!".
The biggest fear of the US authorities, I gathered, was that people might
try to work illegally in your country. I had to show bank statements proving
I had plenty of cash for the trip. Taking time off for a thru-hike is a
financial slug for anyone, but factor in two grand for airfares and it's a
major investment for us non-American hiker maniacs.
I will have to go through the ritual again next year before PCT 2010... For
me it's a necessary evil.
Don't know if that helped - but I do know that plenty of foreigners make it
to the Trail(s) in the States. Good luck!
~ (Mr) Mountaingoat, Brisbane, Australia
On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 9:10 AM, Dave and Cindy <hikeon at surewest.net> wrote:
> We have a friend in Spain that will be thru hiking next year. He is asking
> for advise on what is the best way to insure a tourist visa from the US
> Embassy. The embassy is telling him that a letter explaining his purpose of
> visiting the US would be helpful. A document with hotel reservations or
> other accommodations is an example of what they are looking for. He is
> afraid that they will not understand if he writes that he will be walking
> across the country!!!
> He will be staying with us for a few days before we all leave to thru hike
> together. A letter from us stating his stay with us could be an example of
> what the embassy is looking for
> What have others done in the past? Is there something that would be
> helpful from the PCTA? I will call them on Monday to see what advise they
> might have but I also would like to hear what others from different
> countries are doing or have done in the past when acquiring a US tourist
> visa for six months to hike the trail.
> Thanks,
> Zelda
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And That's All the Goat Wrote
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