[pct-l] US tourist visa to thru hike

[Craig Stanton]

My visa (coming from New Zealand) was for 6 months at a time over the  
next 10 years. I found the guy at the embassy to be really interested  
in what I was up to, of course your milage may vary but it helps to be  
keen about what you're doing and to show you have something to return  
to. I took a note from my boss saying I had only been given 6 months  
leave. It helps avoid them thinking we're going to be overstayers. If  
your friend can get something like that together they'll have a good  
chance. I managed to get in, walk and back in via from Canada and fly  
back home within 6 months but since Canada doesn't register when you  
come in, maybe they could try telling the border people they've been  
at Manning Park for weeks.


~Craig



> 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