USATourist Community

Hi all,

As a Dutch citizen I have visited the USA (using the Visa Waiver Program) two times before and I really had two wonderful holidays there. Next time I want to do things a bit different and it seems like I can't find the right information on the internet.

What I intend to do: first fly from The Netherlands to Canada, rent a car there, spend a few days there and then cross the US border by car, spend a couple of weeks in the USA visiting some good friends of mine and travelling around, then drive back to Canada (pick-up and drop-off of the rental car at the same place of course) to enjoy the last few days of my holiday there and the fly back to the Netherlands.

I know that when I'm flying to the USA the aircraft carrier will give me that 1-94 green form to fill out (Visa Waiver Program), but since I will be flying to Canada I won't get that form to fill out. As a Dutch citizen I only need a valid passport to travel to Canada. I also know that I can legally drive a Canadian rental car into the USA (and back of course).

What I want to know is how to enter the USA by road as a tourist without that I-94 form (because I won't get that form to fill out). Can I still use the Visa Waiver Program or do I need to apply for a visa?

Of course I could show the customs my tickets, the car rental contract and all necessary paper work, but I want to avoid all possible difficulties.

Maybe anyone could tell me how to make this holiday a hassle-free one?

If you fly to Canada, you can rent a car and cross the border into the USA under the visa waiver program.  At the border crossings, the border guards have I-94 forms that you can fill out.  As long as you have a machine readable passport, you should have little problem entering the USA.

The new online Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is now active.  Under this new program, you can obtain authorization to enter the USA by registering online prior to your departure.  The authorization is valid for up to two years.  You can file your application at this web page:  ESTA APPLICATION PAGE.

Thank you for your information.

I already put the ESTA Application Page in my favorites and will certainly not forget to apply before my departure here. Anyways, it's good to know that the VWP program still applies. That saves me a lot of extra work, like applying for a visa.