Je m'interroge sur une anecdote qui nous est arrivée l'été dernier aux USA.
Nous sommes un couple français ayant voyagé par le passé plusieurs fois aux Etats-Unis.
En 2011, ma compagne a perdu en France son passeport à lecture optique dans lequel se trouvait son visa tourisme en bonne et due forme d'une validité de 10 ans, visa donné en 2006 (le passeport de par sa date d'émission nécessitait la demande d'un visa auprès du consulat en France).
Elle a donc refait son passeport et a obtenu un passeport biométrique, pas besoin de visa pour parti aux USA cette-fois ci.
Nous sommes partis en 2011 puis en 2012, aucun souci à l'Immigration.
Mais cet été 2013 l'agent nous a indiqué que comme son visa était toujours valide, elle devait présenter en principe en plus de son passeport biométrique son passeport à lecture optique contenant le visa. Elle nous a expliqué qu'il fallait l'attacher au passeport biométrique.
Elle l'a quand même laissé passer et s'est montrée très gentille mais c'est bien la première fois que j'entendais ça, ayant lu par le passé sur les sites officiels que dès lors que la personne avait un passeport biométrique, nul besoin de s'occuper d'un quelconque visa passé, ce seul passeport étant suffisant à lui tout seul pour entrer normalement.
Il se trouve que ma compagne avait retrouvé par la suite son ancien passeport mais nous ne l'avons jamais pris avec nous.
Comment l'agent de l'immigration a su que votre compagne avait un visa de tourisme puisqu'elle n'avait pas sur elle le passeport à lecture optique contenant ce visa ?
Sur mon ancien passeport à lecture optique, j'avais un visa "multiple" et "indefinitely" que j'ai utilisé tant que mon passeport était valable.
Mais, maintenant, quand on entre aux USA comme touriste pour une durée maximum de 90 jours, on a juste besoin de l'autorisation Esta (valable 2 ans) en plus du passeport.
Alors, je ne comprends pas pourquoi l'agent de l'immigration demande à votre campagne son passeport à lecture optique contenant le visa de tourisme.
Bonjour,
Je n'ai pas de réponse formelle... juste une supposition : en présentant le passeport de 2011, l'ordinateur a affiché tout l'historique de Madame et l'agent a vu une entrée précédente avec un visa de 10 ans... donc des prérogatives bien supérieures aux 90 jours du passeport actif. D'où le conseil de l'apporter le prochain coup pour une plus grande durée de séjour.
Mais à mon avis, ça reste un conseil et pas une obligation !
J'ai eu aussi une situation voisine : il y a très longtemps, quand il fallait un visa même pour 3 jours, j'avais, pour raison professionnelle, un visa US "multiple entry" et "indefinite validity" sur un passeport valide 5 ans. Après expiration, j'ai du avoir les 2 passeports à chaque entrée US car le Consulat avait refusé de transférer le visa sur le passeport neuf !
Si vous ne réussissez jamais rien du premier coup, n'essayez pas le parachutisme !
Comment l'agent de l'immigration a su que votre compagne avait un visa de tourisme puisqu'elle n'avait pas sur elle le passeport à lecture optique contenant ce visa ?
Comme l'a écrit notre ami, l'agent a vu cela via son écran, elle regardait son écran tout en nous parlant, je suppose que tout l'historique des entrées s'affiche dès lors que l'on tape l'identité d'une personne dans leur base de données car c'est un véritable fichage qui est opéré.
Et comme vous le dîtes, dès lors qu'elle a un passeport biométrique, la question ne devrait plus se poser, visa ou non, le passeport biométrique devrait logiquement suffire à lui seul.
Mais, maintenant, quand on entre aux USA comme touriste pour une durée maximum de 90 jours, on a juste besoin de l'autorisation Esta (valable 2 ans) en plus du passeport.
Oui sauf pour les passeports à lecture optique imprimés après le 25 octobre 2005. Il faut dans ce cas demander un visa en bonne et due forme au consulat, ce qui d'ailleurs exonère la personne par là-même de demander l'ESTA puisque le visa a bien plus de valeur que l'ESTA qui est une sorte de mini-visa déguisé.
Je n'ai pas de réponse formelle... juste une supposition : en présentant le passeport de 2011, l'ordinateur a affiché tout l'historique de Madame et l'agent a vu une entrée précédente avec un visa de 10 ans...
C'est en effet ce qui s'est passé.
donc des prérogatives bien supérieures aux 90 jours du passeport actif. D'où le conseil de l'apporter le prochain coup pour une plus grande durée de séjour.
Mais à mon avis, ça reste un conseil et pas une obligation !
Attention, vous semblez confondre la durée de validité d'un visa, ici un visa tourisme, avec le droit de résider sur le territoire américain à l'instar d'une carte verte ou d'une carte de séjour chez nous. La visa de ma compagne a une validité de 10 ans mais elle ne peut que rester 90 jours maximum sur le sol américain comme tout touriste lambda. L'avantage d'avoir un tel visa est d'être "tranquille" je dirais quant à d'éventuelles procédures d'entrée aux USA à chaque nouveau séjour et cela sur une période de 10 années. Mais ses séjours à chaque fois ne pourront jamais dépasser 90 jours.
J'ai eu aussi une situation voisine : il y a très longtemps, quand il fallait un visa même pour 3 jours, j'avais, pour raison professionnelle, un visa US "multiple entry" et "indefinite validity" sur un passeport valide 5 ans. Après expiration, j'ai du avoir les 2 passeports à chaque entrée US car le Consulat avait refusé de transférer le visa sur le passeport neuf !
Je me suis renseigné auprès d'une personne allant régulièrement aux USA depuis plus de 30 ans et en effet il semble que dès lors que l'on a un visa, on est tenu de présenter celui-ci quelle que soit la nature du passeport où il se trouve et cela même si le passeport en question est périmé. Ceux avant qui avaient comme vous un visa définitif devait toujours avoir sur eux le passeport où se trouvait le visa (à présent les visa définitifs sont devenus caduques et ils n'existent plus).
Je pense donc concernant notre cas qu'elle aurait aimé voir ce visa dès lors qu'il était encore valide mais comme ma compagne avait également un passeport biométrique avec ESTA en règle, elle ne pouvait pas ne pas la laisser passer. Mais on en revient au fait que ce visa ne sert plus à rien de toute façon.
Et de toute façon, ma compagne avait perdu son passeport, donc elle était dans l'impossibilité de présenter ce passeport avec visa.
Pour info dans les années 70/80 ou les "Burroughs visa" étaient en place il était possible de les faire transferer sur un nouveau passeport par les services consulaires qui reportaient le visa sur ton nouveau passeport avec mention "transfered visa" sans refaire les formalités de demande du visa "classiques"
.. alors voir avec Consulat USA si une procédure identique existe toujours
Bon voyage et surtout voyagez zen!
Michel France (85)
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Hi there,
I know there are similar topics here and elsewhere, but they’re a few years old, and I need an up-to-date answer to make sure I don’t throw over 1000 € out the window. Thanks for your patience.
I’m planning a trip from France to Alberta/British Columbia, and I’m unsure about which bank card to use for the security deposit with the rental company (I’m thinking of going with AVIS).
I contacted Avis Canada, and they told me a credit card is absolutely required. I asked my bank for a credit card (a *real* credit card), but they only offered me a deferred debit card.
My question: For a rental with Avis Canada, is a Gold International Mastercard deferred debit card usable for the security deposit needed to finalize the rental? Is the "CREDIT" label enough? (Some cards say "CREDIT" and others say "CARTE DE CREDIT"—seems minor, but it’s actually a big deal in how the card works.)
I’ve seen conflicting info everywhere I look... My bank says it’s *usually* okay (the deferred debit card), while Avis Canada insists it *must* be a credit card, not debit—even when I mention the deferred debit card.
I know the whole credit card concept is already confusing, and on top of that, some sites say a deferred debit card counts as a credit card, while others say it doesn’t.
Thanks to anyone who can share a recent experience!
Have a great day
Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
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!
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 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, 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
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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?
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?
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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?
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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!
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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.
