Can I stay in New York

[BigAppleBigDream]

Hi

Does anyone know if I can stay in NYC on a 90 day visa, then go out the country for a few days, then go back for another 90 days?

I'm live in UK

Yea, it's legal. There is no limit but they expect you to wait a 'reasonable time' between visits, so you may be questioned on arrival about why you're back so soon.

If you stay the full 90 days, leave, and try and come back for another 90 days, I think they'd consider that a red flag.

Oh. I'm planning to spend six months volunteering in NYC so need to have two 90 days visas

Yes you can. But some countries don't reset the clock- I may be wrong, but I think canada is one, though things may have changed.

You should expect to be taken into a room and asked to account for every visit to the USA in your entire life and also why you are here now and how you are supporting yourself. From experience... prepare yourself for this, it's stressful.

Then you need to apply for a B1 or B2 visa before going:

https://www.workingtraveller.com/work-in/united-states/#:~:text=Your%20original%20tourist%20visa%20is,before%20you%20enter%20the%20country.

I wouldn't try and circumvent US Immigration or you may find you're never allowed in the US again.

I know lots of people who have done it with no issue but technically the can refuse you if they think you are looking for work or doing non tourist activity

You can't do this on a tourist visa. You'll need to apply for a B visa; and then it would be the appropriate length and you'd have permission.

If you are volunteering for 6 months the organisation you are volunteering teering for should be able to help you get the right visa i.e not a tourist visa as you are not a tourist. How will you be supporting yourself?

I have a family friend to stay with and savings.

I don't have the volunteering set up yet. I just really have this as an ambition as an experience. I could technically be a tourist for six months but I'd rather be useful and have a purpose

If you're not actually doing anything specific there can you not just go for the 90 days?

So it's just a plain old holiday then... 🤦‍♀️

Well actually no. You can technically be a tourist for 90 days. If you try to re-enter within a few days of your 90 days ending, they may let you in again or they may not. Staying with a family friend doesn't improve your case. Will you be able to provide evidence of returning to the UK i.e. having a job or study to return to, or having a rental agreement or mortgage in the UK?

I could but I'd rather have the experience of living there if possible and the family are happy to host me for six months so feels like an opportunity but I'd want to have a purpose and the experience of 'working' so volunteering seems the best option if possible and realise I can't do paid work.

Whenever will I get such a chance? I'm late 20s so just an opportunity I'd love to take full advantage of.

Who knows what it might lead to?

I've inherited some money and just want to do something different before I commit to the UK 9 to 5 life and settle down.

@HarrietJet

It could be just a plain old holiday but I'd rather volunteer and be busy and active, meet people and make friends and have a full on experience

They will expect you to have a return or onwards travel ticket - if you dont have one expect to be stopped and questioned. If you go as a tourist and then get caught....or stopped and let it slip - that you have been volunteering that will not go down well at all.

None of what you have said will go down well with immigration if you got interviewed and if you dont have a return ticket you may well get interviewed.

For an Immigration officer, this has red flags all over it!

So to volunteer I'd need an official visa it sounds like.

OP maybe you could spend some time in NY visiting family for a few weeks, and then travel on to Canada for a Working Holiday Visa (which you should be eligible for) which means you could work and live there for up to 2 years.

If you stay around the Toronto area you could travel back and forth to see your family in NY a few times.

And somewhere to volunteer arranged before you go

Have you spent time in NYC?
6 months is a very long time.
The USA is so diverse. Why not travel ?

Are there many volunteering opportunities for foreigners in NYC? It doesn't seem the obvious choice for altruistic ventures, but I may be wrong.

Can you not just apply for a B visa? I'm always applying for them for my bosses and their family members (not UK). We never seem to have any issues, though they're all wealthy, which may make a difference to applications.

Spent loads of time in NYC. Love it hence why keen to spend quality living time there.

leaving for a few days wont help, canada, mexico and some other countries dont count as leaving
i went to new york last year on 4 occasions over 8 months and got questioned like fuck about why i was visiting again, did i have a job back home and who i worked for, they even commented on the amount of annual leave i must get with all the time i had spent in the US