Day trip to Vancouver with ESTA: do we need the I-94 form?

Pépée68 · 2025-10-16

Hi, I’m heading to Seattle next week. We’ve got our ESTAs (we’re French). We’d like to spend a day in Vancouver. Do we need the I-94 form to re-enter the U.S., or are our ESTAs enough? I’ve read conflicting info everywhere... Any recent experiences? We can’t be the only ones... Thanks.

Going to Vancouver for a day with an ESTA: do you need the I-94 form?

Mitch341 · 2025-10-17

From what I recall, you also need a document to enter Canada, right? Something similar to the ESTA. Specifically, an eTA.

And if your stop in Vancouver is just to reset your 90-day stay by going back to the States, I’m not sure immigration agents will be too happy about that.

Best regards.

Spending a day in Vancouver with an ESTA: do I need the I-94 form?

Dennis2 · 2025-10-30

Hello, if your ESTA is still valid and you haven’t exceeded your 90 days, you can leave and re-enter the US without any issues…

Spending a day in Vancouver with an ESTA: is the I-94 form required?

Pépée68 · 2025-10-30

Hi Dennis, I actually wanted to follow up here but didn’t get around to it.

So, if you enter the US with an ESTA, you can go to Canada and return as many times as you want within the 90-day ESTA validity period. The ESTA is valid and sufficient for entering Canada, and the ESTA validation at the US airport of entry automatically creates the I-94/I-95 for land entry, valid for 90 days. I asked the customs officer upon arrival, and he confirmed it.

Crossing the border by land in both directions is super quick—we didn’t even have to get out of the car.

Hope this helps others...