immigration issues cruising to alaska

[iloveglee]

Does anyone know at what point the green visa waiver form is completed for a British Citizen when entering the usa from canada on a cruise ship. We will be flying to Vancouver, cruising to Alaksa, returning to Vancouver then driving into the usa, driving back into Canada and leaving for home from Canada. We have a valid ESTA application but have read conflicting advice about whether this is considered adequate to enter Alaska on the cruise ship, or whether the green form has to be filled in as well. When entering the usa by air, even with an ESTA valid, the green form has to be filled in. After returning to Vancouver we will drive into the usa. Will this be the point at which we need the green visa waiver form, apparently at a cost of $6, on top of the $14 already paid for the ESTA. If we have it already from the cruise, are we going to have to give it in when returning to Canada and then start the whole process off again when we go into the USA by road. At what point and where do we finally hand in the leaving part. Someone must have done this - the cruise line is less than helpful, they appear to be totally geared up around american travellers.

[Buenchico]

Most of the answers you require are on the US embassy website:
http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-vwp.html

Chris

[237SJ]

As far as flying into the US by air is concerned, it is my understanding that the green visa waiver forms are no longer required. They were phased out. Maybe Alaska is different but if you don`t need one by air, you don`t need one by sea either

[iloveglee]

Thanks for the link, it has answered all my questions. I believed the need to complete the I94W was going to be phased out the last time we entered the USA we still had to do it, that was in April this year, apparently it is being phased out from July this year so hopefully by next May we won't need to do it until we go in by road.

[sddsddean]

This what happened to us a couple of years ago (before the ESTA).

Flew into Vancouver. Got on the ship. In the terminal went through US immigration to get on the ship and were given the green I94 card. Kept this with us. (If you get one and go to Skagway where you commonly go over the border into British Columbia, you should keep the green bit in your passport to come back into the US at Skagway. We came back on the White Pass railroad and were boarded by US immigration, but they let us off not having the green card[which was in our room safe] but were told its technically a $1000 fine...but loads of tourists leave it in their cabin!). On returning to Vancouver, we got off the ship and handed over the green card to US immigration as we got off...even though we were entering Canada. Its weird how they do things up there!!

[iloveglee]

You have raised an interesting point sddsddean which I hadn't even considered. Getting off the cruise ship in Alaska and possibly entering into Canada on a shore trip. OMG how complicated is this. Presumably since we would be entering by road (or rail) rather than air or ship, there would be the need for the green form. Wouldn't like to have to go to all the trouble of doing that while on a shore trip. I have to assume that the cruise line (Holland America) would have thought of this but as I mentioned before they are very geared around American travellers for whom there are very different immigration rules going back and forth between the USA and Canada. When it gets nearer to the time I will probably have to get in touch with the cruise agent, or Holland America to clarify exactly what our situation is going to be. Have never done this before, each time we have cruised we have entered the USA by air so the visa waiver form has of course been sorted out when we arrived.

[sddsddean]

Don't worry about it. The green card lasts 90 days...thats why you don't have to do a new one each time..and to be honest the US immigration people in Alaska are fairly relaxed about it. All you need to do is keep it with your passport (which you will need to take with you if you go into Canada on a shore excursion). I recommend taking a paperclip with you for ease. You will love the Alaskan cruise. The scenery is stunning though it can be a bit nippy and wet, so go prepared! If you need a seat on the ship at anytime, the knack is to stand up, point, and shout 'Whale!'. Everyone will go running and you can nick a seat!!

[iloveglee]

Nice one sddsddean I like it we shall have to try the shouting 'whale' or anything that anyone may be likely to want to see should we be needing a seat at any time. Very much looking forward to the cruise as it is something we have been looking forward to for a very long time. If there are any other tips you have for us they would be most welcome - I think we are going to forget any worries about immigration now.

[sddsddean]

As I say, Alaska's summer weather is rain, though we were really lucky (or so we were told) and had no rain on our 7 day cruise. At Juneau we did a bike ride to the Mendenhall Glacier followed by a tour round the Alaska Brewery (with samples!!). In Skagway we did a bus tour into British Columbia (up to Carcross) then came back to the border and changed on to the White Pass Railway...recommend the train trip. At Ketchikan we did a tour round the (non tropical) rain forest and the lumberjack show (which was a bit cheesy, but fun). We also spent about 2 hours up close to the Hubbard Glacier and saw the calving of several icebergs. If budget allows, I also recommend a few days in Vancouver...I could live there no problem. Worth seeing are the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and a trip up Grosse Mountain. Public transport is really cheap in Vancouver, so thats the way to go.

[iloveglee]

Thanks sddsddean for the information from someone who has done this. We have been told about the rain so are going to be prepared. In fact, we are going to have a few days in Vancouver so the tips for there are also welcome. This is a bit of a grand tour as we are also going to the Rockies and Yellowstone, some of the journey by train (via rail as unfortunately budget does not run to Rocky Mountaineer!!) to give some relief to the drivers!! Despite the - always - hassle with immigration when going to the USA - we just can't wait for this trip.