Je suis étudiant, et je prépare actuellement un voyage de 6 mois à travers l'Amérique du Nord, décomposé comme suit :
- de la mi Juin à la mi Aout : Stage de 2 mois en Floride
- de la mi Aout à début Septembre : 15 jours de vadrouille sur le territoire Américain
- de début Septembre à fin Décembre : 4 mois d'études dans une université au Canada, à côté de Toronto
Avant toute chose, j'ai lu sur plusieurs sites/forums, et notamment celui-ci, qu'il n'est a priori pas possible d'effectuer un stage même non rémunéré avec le programme d'exemption de visa VWP. Cependant, mon employeur m'a assuré que cela était en pratique possible, puisque d'autres l'ont fait avant moi, et je suis prêt à prendre le risque. Au besoin, je demanderai plus d'informations à mon employeur.
Ceci étant dit, ma situation est la suivante. Je me suis renseigné sur les autres conditions pour être éligible au VWP, et il est notamment indiqué qu'il faut être en possession d'un billet d'avion aller-retour au moment de l'entrée sur le territoire américain. Dans mon cas, je compte séjourner aux Etats-Unis du 15 Juin au 1er Septembre, plus ou moins. Car je n'ai pas de date précise : je souhaite profiter la pause entre mon stage et mes études pour visiter le pays. Je n'ai pas encore prévu de date de sortie des Etats-Unis, je ne peux donc pas être en possession d'un titre de transport témoignant de ma volonté de quitter le pays. Et quand bien même je serais en possession de ce titre (par exemple un billet d'avion aller simple NYC->Toronto), il est stipulé qu'un aller simple vers le Mexique, le Canada ou une île adjacente ne permet pas de bénéficier du VWP.
Pensez-vous qu'il est possible néanmoins d'obtenir l'autorisation de rentrer aux USA ? Une piste sérieuse que j'envisage est de prouver que je vais effectivement quitter les USA pour le Canada grâce à la lettre d'acceptation de mon université d'accueil, ou un document qu'elle me fournirait et qui indiquerait que je vais effectivement suivre mes études pendant 4 mois au Canada, et ce à partir du 3 Septembre. Ou alors, je pourrais montrer trois billets : Paris -> Miami, New-York -> Toronto et Toronto -> Paris , ce dernier voyage ayant probablement lieu en Janvier. Je pourrais aussi appuyer ma demande avec des relevés bancaires prouvant ma capacité à vivre deux mois aux États-Unis. Qu'en pensez-vous ?
Je relance ma question. J'aimerais savoir si rentrer en Juin aux USA avec le programme d'exemption de visa VWP avec un aller simple Paris -> Miami et un billet New-York -> Toronto était possible. Je peux justifier le fait que je ne re-rentrerai pas aux USA après mon départ pour le Canada grâce à une lettre de mon université d'accueil. J'aimerais aussi savoir si je dois néanmoins être en possession du billet Toronto -> Paris, sachant que je ne sais pas encore à quelle date je reviendrais en France (Décembre ou Janvier).
Effectivement, faire un stage sans visa aux États-Unis est illégal.
Ton employeur te dit que c'est possible, et bien oui, travailler au noir est toujours faisable mais ce n'est pas lui qui risque de se faire expulser avec toutes les conséquences que ça implique. D'ailleurs, nombre d'employeurs n'ont aucune idée des formalités à faire pour les étrangers voire s'en fichent!
Cela dit, le moment le plus critique c'est lors du passage à l'immigration. Quand tu es jeune, seul et que tu viens pour plusieurs semaines, tu es plus suspect aux yeux de l'officier d'immigration que quelqu'un qui vient passer une semaine de vacances en famille par exemple.
Prépares-toi donc à avoir éventuellement un entretien assez poussé à l'immigration (c'est du vécu).
Je te conseille d'être en mesure de répondre à des questions comme: comment avez-vous financé votre voyage ? Que comptez-vous faire sur place ? (préparer un itinéraire peut être utile) Où logerez-vous ? Avez-vous de la famille/amis aux États-Unis ? Que faites-vous en France ? Que comptez-vous faire après votre séjour aux États-Unis ? Quels sont vos moyens de paiement ...etc.
Et surtout ne lui suggère jamais que tu risques de travailler sur place. J'avais remarqué que parfois ils te posent 2 fois la même question mais formulée différemment histoire de voir si tu ne mens pas je suppose.
En tant que français, tu peux bénéficier du VWP. La seule chose c'est que si tu vas au Canada et que tu veux revenir aux États-Unis après, il y a de fortes chances pour qu'on te refuse l'entrée sur le territoire américain à la frontière Canada/États-Unis (ou à l'aéroport).
Des tas de gens viennent aux États-Unis en vacances et repartent par le Canada. L'important c'est que tu puisses prouver que tu quitteras le territoire US avant l'expiration du VWP.
Dans ton cas, tu pourrais acheter un billet d'avion remboursable États-Unis -> Canada histoire d'être en règle quitte à l'annuler.
La lettre d’acceptation de ton université canadienne pourrait t'être très utile si l'officier veut vérifier si tu vas vraiment étudier là bas, même chose pour les relevés bancaires.
Par contre, ne te promène pas avec une convention de stage ou autre document pouvant suggérer que tu vas bosser sur place. Si la douane décide de fouiller tes bagages, c’est l'idéal pour te faire expulser.
Merci beaucoup pour ta réponse. Je comprends qu'il y a 95% de chances que j'aie un entretien avec un officier de l'immigration à l'aéroport, et j'ai déjà trouvé des réponses aux questions qui pourraient m'être posées. Concernant le logement, je suppose qu'il n'y a pas de problèmes à dire que je resterai en auberges de jeunesse, tout en essayant au maximum de faire du Couchsurfing pour limiter mes dépenses (dormir sur le canapé d'Américains désireux d'accueillir des touristes). Cependant, j'ai lu plusieurs informations contradictoires sur le fait de connaitre quelqu'un aux Etats-Unis : est-ce un avantage ou un désavantage ? Je connais quelqu'un qui habite à Atlanta, et je pourrais éventuellement dire que je compte m'arrêter deux semaines chez lui. Mais j'ai lu sur certains forums que ceci pouvait laisser penser aux douaniers que je pourrais rester habiter chez cette personne au delà de mes 90 jours de séjour. Qu'en pensez-vous ?
Par ailleurs, j'ai également lu que je devrais donner au moins l'adresse du premier endroit où je dormirai. Est-ce que donner l'adresse d'un particulier à Miami chez qui je ferais du Couchsurfing est un argument recevable ?
Et dernière chose, je n'ai donc pas besoin d'un billet Canada -> France tant que je possède un billet USA -> Canada ?
Dans ton cas, tu veux aller étudier au Canada et tu peux le prouver donc je pense qu'avoir un ami sur place ne jouera pas en ta défaveur tant que tu peux répondre à des questions comme: "où l'avez-vous rencontré" voire, dans le pire des cas, donner ses coordonnées.
Pour ma part, j'avais fait un séjour chez des amis et je l'avais dit à l'officier et il m'avait juste demandé ce qu'ils faisaient dans la vie.
Effectivement, tu dois écrire sur le formulaire bleu des douanes l'adresse où tu vas dormir la 1ère nuit donc mets celle des gens chez qui tu iras cette nuit là.
Pour le billet d'avion, oui l'important c'est que tu quittes le territoire US dans les temps.
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I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
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.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
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?
Thanks for your feedback!
Elisabeth
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!
Elisabeth
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!
Hi there,
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.
I’ve heard that crossing the border can be tricky!
Is it possible with a rental company’s authorization? Which company, and at what cost?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Best regards,
Arnale
I saw on the French Embassy in Peru’s website and the Peruvian Consulate in Paris’s site that the rule is to have a passport valid for 6 months *after the arrival date* (not the return date).
I arrive in Peru on August 13, 2019 (for about twelve days), and my passport is valid until February 16, 2020.
That’s 6 months and 3 days after my arrival date in Peru. In my opinion, I’m good to go.
But could I still be denied entry if they say I don’t cover the return date or that I’m too close to the 6-month mark?
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.
I’m planning to rent a car (without a driver) to explore part of the country next August, so I was wondering:
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?
Hi there,
My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization.
Does anyone have any recent info on this?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone.
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?
Thanks in advance for your experiences and tips! 😊
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?
Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.
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.
In short, how can we **100% guarantee** that we’ll get our 4 60-day visas before our trip this summer?
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.
