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My family and I (Australian citizens) are travelling to Canada for 4 months, with a stop-over in the US for 3 days. Our return flight leaves direct from Canada, we will not be transiting through the US on our way back to Australia. As Australian citizens, can we just enter the US on the Visa Waiver Programme or will we need to get a B2 visa? It sounds like legally we need a B2, but anecdotally a VWP may be fine..? It is quite costly and inconvenient to get a B2 visa for just 3 days, but my partner is quite risk-averse especially given the tightened Immigration into the US..! Any recent experiences would be helpful. Thanks

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US embassy in the UK says this:

If I enter the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, can I then travel to Canada/Mexico/ Bermuda or the islands in the Caribbean?

Yes, provided you have a return or onward ticket. If your return journey will take you back through the United States, even if only in transit, the total trip, including both periods of time spent in the United States/Canada/Mexico Bermuda, or the islands in the Caribbean cannot exceed 90 days. If it does, you will require a visa.

From the USA Governments travel website it states this:

If you are admitted to the United States under the VWP, you may take a short trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island and generally be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the remainder of the original 90 days granted upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less.

So the main government travel website only takes about readmission for short stays in nearby countries and islands. The answers are quite conflicting, and conflicting with what the Australian US embassy says.

Update 9th February 2018

I emailed U.S. Customs and Border Protection and got this response.

Response Via Email (CBP Officer) 02/09/2018 06:14 AM

Hello, We recommend that you apply for a visa if your trip to Canada/Mexico/ Bermuda or the islands in the Caribbean exceeds 90 days.

Regards, ESTA Team

Looks like it's best to get a visa, this comes directly from a CBP officer.

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    Interesting. That's the first time I've seen that written in any official place. Usually it's understood that border guards have discretion to not require a visa for two transits 90+ days apart, and use it most of the time when it's clear the applicant is not intending to stay in the US for a long period.
    – DJClayworth
    Commented Feb 8, 2018 at 14:30
  • @DJClayworth Common sense would probably prevail in most cases but definitely not worth the risk of being denied entry and impacting future travel to or through The United States.
    – BritishSam
    Commented Feb 8, 2018 at 15:40
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    Then I have to go and edit some of my other answers here.
    – DJClayworth
    Commented Feb 8, 2018 at 15:42
  • That's interesting - the answer is a bit different on the Australian version of the website.
    – MoxieB
    Commented Feb 8, 2018 at 22:46
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    Rerouting is an option we're looking into, as is possibly a short trip to Iceland to get out of North America..! Rather spend the money on a trip than going into State Dept coffers...
    – MoxieB
    Commented Feb 9, 2018 at 11:44

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