Leaving the country and immediately returning in order to renew your ESTA is a commonly asked question on community forums and Facebook pages and always receives a wide range of answers. So what is the rule? How long do you have to be outside the US before you can return and where do you have to travel to, to reset your 90 days?
First things first, what are we referring to?
What is the ESTA Visa Waiver Program?
As always, the best advice is to go straight to the source:
ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is:
… administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the State Department, [and] permits citizens of 38 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. In return, those 38 countries must permit U.S. citizens and nationals to travel to their countries for a similar length of time without a visa for business or tourism purposes.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program
Why are there questions about returning to the US on an ESTA?
The main reason is that the Visa Waiver Program is very strictly for tourism and business (not working in the country but “doing business” in the US from abroad).
These things don't normally run longer than three months, so when you use up three months and then try to come straight back, some questions get asked.
Like everything with immigration:
Authorization via ESTA does not determine whether a traveler is admissible to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers determine admissibility upon travelers’ arrival.
So basically, you need to show the person at the border that you are legitimately still just in the US for tourism or business. This isn't a trick, you genuinely need to show this. If this is part of some elaborate plan to stay in the US for longer than 90 days at some point, you're going to have a tough time showing that you're not planning to stay, and I do not recommend that whatsoever.
Do not overstay, do not even get close.
Where must you travel to in order to before returning on an ESTA to get a new 90 days?
You must leave the whole North American region completely to reset this. You can't just pop to Canada or Mexico to try and reset the 90-day counter.
In fact, a short trip to Canada, Mexico or nearby islands are included in your 90 days if you attempt to return to the US:
If you are admitted to the United States under the VWP, you may take a short trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island and generally be readmitted to the United States under the VWP for the remainder of the original 90 days granted upon your initial arrival in the United States. Therefore, the length of time of your total stay, including the short trip, must be 90 days or less.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html
Which countries count to reset my ESTA visa waiver?
You must travel outside of the contiguous territories and adjacent islands to have been considered as “leaving” the United States for the purposes of the ESTA.
“Contiguous Territories” are any country sharing a common boundary with the United States. Canada and Mexico are contiguous to the United States.
“Adjacent Islands” are a more broad category and are as follows (according to ICE.gov):
- Saint Pierre
- Miquelon
- The Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Bermuda
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Jamaica
- The Windward and Leeward Islands
- Trinidad
- Martinique
- Other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea
You can find the original source of this list here in 8 USC 1101.
If it's not on these lists, it should count to reset your ESTA.
How long must you stay outside the US before you return on an ESTA?
So, ultimately, how long must you stay abroad? There is no hard and fast rule and no set number of days that reset the counter. It all comes down to perception.
If you are in the US for 90 days, leave for 3, then attempt to return, that really doesn't look right and doesn't pass the ‘sniff test'.
It would therefore be a good rule to stay abroad longer than you were in the United States, and always have a plan (with printed proof) to leave within 90 days of arriving. This could include flights, accommodation, or other forms of confirmation that you've got plans to leave the US within the legal amount of time you are allowed.
It's also highly recommended not to stay for the full 90 days at a time if you plan to leave and come back because this really looks like you're trying to max out the ESTA and will raise suspicions.
Act conservatively, be honest, and you'll be fine!
5 Tips for returning to the US on an ESTA
- Don't stay for the full 90 days on any visit, because staying for the full time and then returning certainly looks like you're putting down roots or trying to stay longer than you're allowed;
- The general advice is to stay out for longer than you were in. If you're in for 60 days, then 60 days is a good marker for where you should be aiming. You'll hear advice both greater and shorter but this is one way to really show that you're traveling around;
- Have travel plans back to your home country within the 90 days at all times;
- Have itineraries ready to show your plan for the 90 days (i.e. Sitting in one city and renting an apartment for the full time doesn't look good for you on your second ESTA to show that you're there for tourism);
- Be honest – This one is a no-brainer. If you have no intentions to outstay your ESTA then you should not have a problem! Put yourself in the officer's shoes, this isn't some magic trick. If you look suspicious and your story doesn't add up, they won't permit you!
My (German) friend traveled through JFK on the way to Trinidad, where she met up with her boyfriend on his sailboat, about 2 weeks ago.
She wants to come to MIA to pick up some important item for the boat and then travel to Grenada, where the boat is now.
She does not have a return ticket to Germany to show, but she would have a return ticket to Grenada.
Do you think she’d be ok, as long as it’s all happening within the 30 days when she came through JFK in transit?
As long as there is some plan to get back out of the country, they do generally ask that question!
Hi Mr Josh came from Antigua on my visa on November to take care of my sick husband and I got a call that my son die can go down and take care of the funeral can i can get to the USA to take of my husband I have a 10 years
Hi Josh,
I have about 3 weeks left of my 90 days but planning to go to lima for a few days and come back to the US. Does my 90 days reset?
Hi Sean,
There is no automatic reset, please read the article.
Hi, I entered the states on the 15th of November, because of a family emergency I had to leave on the 21st of December instead of the 12th of February. I’ve been in the us in January 23 for about 2 weeks, in February 23 for one week, in April for about a month and then 2 months from the end of June till the end of August. When I arrived in November they’ve been „interested“ in why I’ve been I’ve over there for so many times.
Do you think it would be a problem to come back soon and stay for almost 90 days? When would be the best time to return to the US?
Thank you for your appreciated help!
For those asking, if for some *very good reason* (say a medical situation where you have been hospitalized) you are going to exceed the ninety days on your visa waiver, you *may* be able to get a 30-day grace period from CBP.
“Under limited circumstances, a local USCIS Director may grant a 30-day period of “Satisfactory Departure” in the case of extreme or emergency circumstances. You can find more information about USCIS at https://www.uscis.gov. A CBP Officer may also grant a 30-grace period for VWP travelers under emergency circumstances if that individual visits a CBP Deferred Inspection Site (DIS). For a list of CBP DIS, please visit https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/deferred-inspection-sites.”
How soon can you enter the USA after spending three month
Hey,
If i leave North America on day 1 to go to peru and colombia for 6 weeks then mexico and Nicaragua for an additional 6 weeks does the 90 day ETSA reset? I accidentally booked my flight back from Miami to UK on day 91 😬
It’s really not a matter of “reset” like this article outlines. It SHOULD be fine, but it’s up to their discretion.
my friend overstayed for almost a year. she went to Canada. has visa in Canada. She does understand she may not get access to enter back into the US. If she goes to the border and try will she be deported?
She should definitely speak to an immigration attorney first. Do not just arrive at the border – being turned away is not helpful at all.
Hi, I have been in USA for almost 90 days in USA on an ESTA. I need to stay in the USA for a further 2 weeks for a family crisis. I have every intention of returning to the UK, I will have my air ticket and I have a home and job in the UK
You MUST leave unless you get specific permission from immigration. Do not overstay or you won’t be allowed back in.
Hi, i didn’t realize that my flight was booked 1 day after the 90 days (91 days), do you think that would be a problem? What can i do in that case? I already searched prices to change my flight but there is no availability and the prices for changes are crazy expensive!
Yes it is very much a problem. You need to move the flight or leave the country in another way.
Hi Josh,
I am currently doing a semester abroad in Mexico. Prior to that I did a two-week road trip from LA to the Grand Canyon and now my 90-day ESTA period will expire in November. However, I am meeting my parents in New York starting on December 8 before we all head back to Germany on December 16. If I understand correctly, I would not be readmitted into the US in December because Mexico doesn’t count to reset the 90-day ESTA period. However, a couple of friends and I are also planning a weekend trip to either Costa Rica or Panama in October. Would that be enough to reset my ESTA? At that point, I’m just really worried that I will miss my flight from New York back to Germany in December.
Thank you!