I’m planning to hike the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) in the U.S. this year, starting in mid-April.
For those who aren’t familiar, it’s a long-distance trek across the U.S., stretching from the Mexican border all the way to Canada.
It’s about 4,250 km to cover, usually taking 4-5 months (I’ve budgeted 5 months for myself). The route takes you through stunning landscapes—think 6 different ecosystems, 7 national parks, 25 forests, and dozens of lakes and rivers.
I was looking for a multi-month trek, and this one sold me the dream. I’m determined, a lover of wild nature and challenges, and I think about it every day. Nothing’s going to stop me from doing it—except, maybe, that infamous B2 visa.
Here’s my problem:
I’ve read a lot online about this visa, and to maximize my chances of getting it, I basically need to:
- Provide clear and coherent explanations for my trip (so far, so good)
- Prove sufficient financial means (still okay, even though I’m not rich)
- Show proof that I’ll return to my home country after the 6 months granted by the visa (employment promise, work contract, property ownership) (uh-oh… this is where it gets tricky)
The thing is, I’m a professional musician, and I don’t have a stable job. I make a living by performing at concerts and giving private saxophone lessons, but I mostly work under the table. I’ve also worked in restaurants for a long time, but same issue.
I don’t own an apartment or a house, but I rent a music studio in an artist’s workshop, and I’m currently living with my dad. I have strong family ties in Paris (like my parents or grandparents). I also have an uncle who lives in Seattle, and I plan to visit him at the end of my trek.
- What do you think my chances are of getting the visa?
- Do you think I should lie? (I’ve built a great relationship with my former boss, and I thought maybe I could ask her for a fake employment promise—but I’m not sure she’d agree, or I could forge one myself?)
- Any advice?
Any tips would be welcome. This is really weighing on me day by day, and I’m so afraid my dream will be ruined because of it…
Hey,
What an awesome project!
Why not apply for the visa right away—you’ll know where you stand!
And just saying, like Etrefal mentioned, lying isn’t recommended, especially not to U.S. authorities...
Good luck!
"Homme libre, toujours tu chériras la mer" (Baudelaire)
No, you shouldn’t apply for the visa "just to see": if the visa is denied, you can no longer get an ESTA for 90 days (denied because of a recent visa refusal, to be confirmed), so no trip to the U.S. at all.
My feeling is that your chances are slim: no permanent job in France, not a homeowner, no kids in school, and family in the U.S. (don’t mention that). And a job offer isn’t worth much.
Why not do this trek in two separate 90-day trips (with a return to France in between), or start the first part from the Mexican border and after about 3 months of hiking north, take a flight or bus to Canada and continue for 2 months in the Canadian Rockies...
And thanks Derviche666 for your honesty and advice.
The more forums I read, the more I think you're right, Derviche666—my chances seem slim indeed. It's such a shame to need so much paperwork just to walk in nature, but that's how the world works (well, especially the U.S.).
You make a great point about if my visa is denied, I won’t even be able to go with the 3-month ESTA. Even though I’m not used to giving up and I’m actually pretty stubborn, I think I have to face the facts: the risk is too high given my unstable professional situation, and on top of that, I’m a terrible liar.
I appreciate the alternative of doing 3 months and then heading to the Canadian Rockies. But I don’t think I could handle not being able to finish it all the way (I know it’s silly, but it’s part of my stubbornness—when I start a trek, I always want to see it through to the end. It’s like some kind of quest, I don’t know how to explain it).
On another note, I think I’ve found another alternative that might even be better than my initial idea:
doing the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand!
It looks absolutely stunning and even wilder than the PCT.
I can apply for a working holiday visa valid for 1 year since I’m under 31, and the conditions are way easier to meet!
Budget-wise, it’s roughly the same as the PCT (slightly more expensive, but not by much), and why not stay and work there for 6 months after my trek (3,000 km, so about 3 to 4 months) if I like the place!
The recommended time to go is between October and February, which gives me more time to save up. The only downside is there’s less info about the trek (no complete GPS track or detailed map of the whole trail) and it requires more autonomy (up to 2 weeks, from what I’ve read). But all in all, I have more time to prepare, and with some in-depth research, I’ll manage to figure it out.
Ahhh, that famous movie with Reese Witherspoon that made me discover this trek too! It sounds amazing!!
You’re not starting with an advantage, but you’ve got to give it a shot. Obviously, the fact that you’re officially unemployed won’t work in your favor.
Sure, don’t lie, but don’t go into details—keep it concise! (No need to mention your under-the-table jobs or your uncle in Seattle!!) ;
- Purpose of the trip: A 5-6 month trek (with documentation to back it up). A 6-month break before returning to France to my music studio and family.
- Sufficient financial means, you say... That’s up to the consular officer to decide.
- Proof of a return flight ticket after 6 months.
- Also present international health/repatriation insurance in case of trouble.
Keep us posted! I’m personally interested in this project too. In the distant future...!
Good luck! !
Well, there you go, it's even better if you have a plan B!
So stick to your guns and try for that B2 visa! And if it doesn't work out, the world's a big place and you can just cross the USA off your list.
Do you still think I should give it a shot? I’m worried that if they ask me whether I know anyone in the US, it’ll be written all over my face that I’m lying (I know consular officers are trained to spot lies).
As for my funds, I have 6000 € in my account—just enough to do the PCT, really.
If I get refused, could it hurt my chances for other foreign visas later?
And honestly, the idea of being blacklisted from the US for life just because I wanted to hike the PCT really puts me off. My situation isn’t about to change because I love my job—even though it’s unstable by nature, for me it’s like a trek: it’s an adventure.
Plus, New Zealand is starting to sound like a dream now! :)
So, did you end up going on that hike after all?! 🙂
Anyway, I’m circling back to the B2 visa—I got mine, and I even managed to hike a bit of the PCT. Now I’m wondering about the rules for re-entering the U.S. with this visa. The B2 is valid for 10 years, you can stay up to 6 months at a time, but how long do you have to wait before coming back to the U.S. to get another 6-month stay?
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Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi there,
I’m a French citizen living in Switzerland, and I set up an RV LLC in Montana, USA. Through that, I was able to register 3 vehicles (an RV, a Jeep, and a Harley) with Montana plates.
I’d like to spend 3 months in Mexico, but it seems complicated—maybe even impossible—to cross the border from the US with all 3 vehicles.
Can anyone give me some advice?
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
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For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
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There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
Hi there,
We need to apply for a B2 visa because we visited Iran in 2018. It currently costs $185, but they’re planning an additional $250 fee per person for the same visa—it’s been approved but not yet implemented. Does anyone know when this fee will take effect?
Thanks in advance!
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Hi there,
In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam.
I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice.
Has anyone here been in this situation recently?
Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding?
Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival?
Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient?
Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?
Hi there,
Just a question that’s probably been asked before (though usually the other way around for my situation :))
My wife and I are heading to the US.
On her ticket, it only has her maiden name (e.g., Martine DUPOND).
On her passport, it’s written as Martine DUPOND épouse AVRY.
No issues for travel, I hope I did the right thing with the ticket?
Then for the ESTA, is just Martine DUPOND enough, or do I need to include the "épouse AVRY" part like on the passport?
Thanks in advance!
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I’m spending a few days in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) and would like to cross the Argentine border to make a loop toward Salta and then return to Chile to drop off the rental car.
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I read on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that it’s possible to apply for a temporary driving permit in China, valid for 1 month.
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Has anyone here already gone through this process upon arrival?
How long do the formalities take on the spot?
Is it possible to handle these steps in advance, before arriving in China?
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I’m leaving for almost 3 months in the Philippines (11 weeks total) starting in early May.
I already have my round-trip ticket.
The problem is, I don’t have time to get a 2-month visa because the process takes nearly a month.
From what I’ve read here and there, I need a return ticket valid for less than a month when I arrive in the Philippines to prove my good faith.
After that, I can apply for a 30-day extension at the immigration office.
I’m planning to either buy a fully refundable ticket to the nearest country or a fake ticket.
For 3 months, I’ll need to extend my visa two more times before my return date to France.
My question is this:
Will immigration ask me each time I extend my visa by one month to show proof of an exit ticket matching the new visa extension date?
Is it possible to extend directly by 2 months before the initial 30 days expire?
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I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…
There’s a new system in place now, it seems.
TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay.
If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand,
do I need to submit a new TDAC application?
Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?
Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?
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My partner (Mexican) entered France on January 21st as a tourist. She was therefore entitled to stay for 90 days in the Schengen Area. She’ll be leaving for Mexico on April 16th, so she’ll have “used up” 86 days.
She plans to return to France on July 18th. According to the European Commission’s Schengen calculator, this new stay “may be authorized for a maximum of 90 days.” That’s not very clear ("may be," "for a maximum of").
The text of Article 6 of the European regulation (2016/399) states that for a stay planned in the territory of the Member States, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, one must examine "the 180-day period preceding each day of the stay." That’s not very clear either.
My partner wants to return to France for a 90-day period starting on July 18th. Is this possible?
There are two ways to look at it:
1) The first day she spent in the Schengen Area was January 21st. That day will drop out of the calculation 180 days later, on July 20th.
From July 20th, she’ll get back 1 day of possible stay; on July 22nd, 2 days; and so on. All the days from her previous stay (January 21st–April 16th) need to be outside the 180-day rolling window.
The last day of her stay was April 16th. Looking 180 days ahead, that brings us to October 13th. From that date, she’ll be able to return for a full 90 days.
2) The number of allowed days is calculated for each day of the new stay. In other words: the 180-day window is recalculated every day, not fixed at the entry date.
If she re-enters France on July 18th, she’ll only have a “credit” of 4 days. But with each day of her new stay, one day from the previous stay (January–April) will drop out of the calculation. The rolling window allows her to “replace” days from the previous stay with those of the new stay, without ever exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
In this case, my partner could stay in France for 90 days starting on July 18th.
The Prefecture doesn’t provide any information, nor does Air France, and in the forums I’ve checked, opinions are divided. Thanks for any insights you can share!
Hello,
We’re planning to travel to Indonesia (Sulawesi with family) next July and August for a stay longer than a month (about 6 weeks).
I’ve seen that it’s possible to get a 60-day visa before departure, but I’ve also read about people having a lot of trouble getting it (some even didn’t manage and had to leave without it).
We absolutely need to have these 4 visas BEFORE leaving because once we’re in Sulawesi, I’m not sure we’ll be able to go to an embassy to request a visa extension after 30 days.
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Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!
We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana.
But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer.
All your tips are welcome!
I’m currently a student on a gap year, and I don’t plan to go back to school right away. That said, traveling really interests me. But I’ve been wondering: does being a student come with any perks when you decide to go abroad? The real question is whether I should re-enroll in a program just to keep that status without actually attending.
hi everyone,
I’m French and live in France, and my Thai girlfriend just told me she’s pregnant—she lives in Thailand. First step, a paternity test to set my mind at ease. What steps do I need to take to recognize the child? Can I do it before the birth or only after? Where do I need to go, and what paperwork is required?
Just to clarify, I want him to stay in Thailand but be able to come to France anytime without any issues!
Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.
