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Any more ideas, just bring it on! I'm dying to see yosemite park, did you went there already? Looks like you have plenty of story to tell yourself! :up: |
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For the record, the visa you will need to enter the US onboard a merchant ship as a crew member (A B1, if I'm not mistaken) is only valid as long as you're attached to a ship. If you sign off, you're allowed to head to the airport and jump on a plane, that's it - You're not allowed to decide to spend a couple day in a hotel before you fly home. If you don't have the visa, you'll simply be deported as soon as the ship ties up.
So make sure you get the right visa, and that the captain will sign you onboad as a passenger. Actually, mind what you sign; a lot of people have ended up with long term contracts when all they wanted was a ride. If that happens, just make a dash for the nearest consulate, they'll help you even if you don't have your passport. As for the rest, I'll say it's extremely, extremely unlikely. It'd probably be simpler to get your canadian citizenship and then travel to the US, but it's a lenghty process in any case... ETA: American immigration and customs are, by far, the worst you will encounter in any civilized country. You'd think these guys get paid by the catch... And they're twice as bad when you're getting off a ship. Fingerprinting is sometime involved. And now that I think of it, I wouldn't sail on a boat where they allow passengers to work... Although if it's because you know someone onboard and they're making an exception, yeah, that could fly. |
PT - Don't get us wrong. I think everybody wishes you luck. It's just that it might not be quite as simple as it may appear from down there. Do your research, get your paperwork in order, bring lots of cash and have a Plan B.
Good luck. |
I'd also point out that stays of more then 6 months in either Canada or the USA without a non-visitors VISA are more involved to arrange (in Canada, a temporary resident visa is good for 6 months). More then 6 months usually means you'll need to apply for some form of non-resident VISA - an employment visa, student visa, or somethig along those lines. You must apply for your VISA's BEFORE you arrive - in Canada, without one in hand, they won't even let you out of the arrivals area at the port or airport.
For those, you must provide a fixed residential address/contact within the country. Also, the fees for such visa's can get pretty steep. Check out the respective countries web pages. For Canada, http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca...apply_TRV.aspx For the USA - http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis (click on the Education and Resources link at the top, then on the VISA Resources link on the left). P.S. DO NOT tell the customs guys (or gals) at either country that you plan on just "living off the land"!! As you'll note on the pages I linked to, you must show documentation that you have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay (for room, board, and travel - I don't know exactly how they decide how much is enough). So whatever you do, do not blatantly tell them that you are just winging it as you wander around the country - that for sure will get you denied entry. Also, do not tell them you don't know where you are staying - you must provide them with that information to gain entry, so even if camping, know some place names and address to provide them (or use a friend's place, a relatives, a hotel you know, but don't just say you are going to be staying somewhere in the great outdoors). |
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