Gap Year in the USA?

[Blues]

Calling those who have done the same.

My daughter is considering a gap year in the USA (never had 'em when i were a lad!), and is looking to buy a camper type van over there, to use as transport and accommodation.

How does she get a visa longer than the standard three month visitor pass. Can she stay for up to 3 months, and pop out for a short time (Canada or Mexico), then go back in with a new visa?

Can she buy and insure a car over there without having a permanent address?

Is she allowed (legally) to do casual work for cash?

What else should she consider?

Thanks for your help

[VII]

[Famous Graham]

Blues said:

Calling those who have done the same.

My daughter is considering a gap year in the USA (never had 'em when i were a lad!), and is looking to buy a camper type van over there, to use as transport and accommodation.

How does she get a visa longer than the standard three month visitor pass.

She can apply for a tourist visa (B I think). The VWP as you say is only 3 months worth. I've reported the thread to get it moved to the US forum where some more knowledgeable folk reside.

Blues said:

Can she stay for up to 3 months, and pop out for a short time (Canada or Mexico), then go back in with a new visa?

Dodgy. I believe the land borders don't "count" for resetting the clock, if you like. Accepted wisdom also seems to be that eyebrows start to get raised if you're out of the country for less time than in.

Blues said:

Can she buy and insure a car over there without having a permanent address?

Yep. I bought in Seattle and insured in California (ahem...didn't realise my UK insurance didn't cover me until a little while later. Very lucky). No fixed abode at any time - although the car was bought in cash from a typical second hand dealer so he might have been less than scrupulous.

Blues said:

Is she allowed (legally) to do casual work for cash?

Nope.

ETA : Not if in on a VWP anyway. Or a tourist visa either, I think.

Edited by Famous Graham on Thursday 12th January 21:40

[Willy Nilly]

I went to the US on a J1 student visa. I was an Agricultural Intern at OSU.

[FloppyRaccoon]

Only thing I can think of is working at a summer camp. I know a few people from the UK that have worked in various places in the US at these. Not sure how you apply etc. but it's worth looking into if she really wants to go to the US. She might not want to come home though...

A quick Google search brings up this site: http://www.ccusa.co.uk/

I spent 7 years in the US, great country. Not easy to get into for any length of time though.

[Shay HTFC]

Hows she gonna drive around the USA on her own if she can't even do a bit of research without daddies help?

[E36GUY]

Pre uni gap year?I wouldn't bother. U can't even have a beer until you're 21. I know a few people that worked on camp America for a gap year though.

If she wants to do a gap year in the states I would recommend what I did back in 1999. Have a look at the Mountbatten Internship Programme at www.mountbatten.org. It's not a bumming about gap year by any means but it's a great time, you get a reasonably proper job and paid and you get to live in New York for a year. It's good on your CV too.

Just a thought anyway.

[Blues]

Thanks FG and for the other useful contributions
Some helpful stuff there, and food for thought

[jeff m2]

Anheiser Busch hire people for their amusement parks from just before Easter til the start of the Summer college break. (When they hire the American college kids)
I know someone that did it, she enjoyed it and got paid.
And did not get pregnant

[davepoth]

It'd be a J-1 Visa, which gets you up to four months and allows you to work. Plenty of schemes around for it. I went back in 2002 and wrecked a hire car halfway up a mountain. They are very wary of providing longer term "I just want to bum around in your lovely country" visas.