Italian Citizen with boat in US

[stevenit]

I got the sailing permission for one year for my boat, here in US and we plan to do some refit in US shipyard this summer other than sailing up the east coast.

I'm here with with the ESTA program and I can stay 90 day.

Question: It is enough, before 90 days, I'm fly, forinstance, to Canada for a week and come back?

It is possible to switch my ESTA Visa, into B2 Visa in the meanwhile I'm here in the states?

Are there any other solutions?

Thanks a lot.
Steve

[Caren]

Visas need to be applied for while outside of the US at a US consulate or embassy. As far as I know you can not change your status while in the USA.

[stevenit]

Okkidokki

[stevenit]

Another question: it is enough, before the 90 days, make an exit, i.ee to Canada for one week and came back?

[AiniA]

Can't help with the visa questions but one note about your cruising permit. If you are out of the water getting work done you can have the clock stopped on your one year cruising permit. You take the cruising permit and boat registration to the local customs office and they will issue a different permit and keep your paperwork in their files. The local officers who may be at an airport may or may not know about this depending on often foreign people get work done on their boats.

[MarkJ]

You need a B1B2 visa. An Esta will not do.

When in Canada apply for one.

[stevenit]

Originally Posted by AiniA

Can't help with the visa questions but one note about your cruising permit. If you are out of the water getting work done you can have the clock stopped on your one year cruising permit. You take the cruising permit and boat registration to the local customs office and they will issue a different permit and keep your paperwork in their files. The local officers who may be at an airport may or may not know about this depending on often foreign people get work done on their boats.

Thanks! We have the cruising permit, we'll take care about your suggestion

[stevenit]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

You need a B1B2 visa. An Esta will not do.

When in Canada apply for one.

What do you mean? When I'll be in Canada I will ask for B2? They release it for Italian citizens as well?

[stevenit]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

You need a B1B2 visa. An Esta will not do.

When in Canada apply for one.

There are other countries where i can exit and came back with esta?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by stevenit

There are other countries where i can exit and came back with esta?

Zero. None.

You need to have a B1B2 to have a private boat in the USA.
Ring customs and Boarder Patrol and ask.

[stevenit]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Zero. None.

You need to have a B1B2 to have a private boat in the USA.
Ring customs and Boarder Patrol and ask.

Ok, I will exit and, in the meantime, I will made the B2