When travelling to the USA via the 'Visa Waiver Programme' (from England) how many days can you stay ?

... I am aware that you can stay 90 days or less in the USA when travelling in from England without having to have a visa but does this mean 90 days in the whole year or 90 days in a single visit ? I want to know because I want to spend one week per month in California and I am wondering if I would need to get a visa in order to do this, as that would add up to 84 days per year (less than 90). Hope this makes sense !

most 90 days per visit, if you only use one week? you have used your visa waiver,
then if you came back? it would count as another visit whether you stay one day or 90 days
you cannot visit like you are talking about,way too much and you would immediately be flagged,
that would be 12 visits , no way you can do this.
and if you asked for a visa? which you would need? what would your visa be for?

90 days per entry.

However, you must go back to your home country. You cannot go to Canada for 5 minutes and get another 90 days.


But I don't really understand why you're asking. Even if they add it up for the whole year, it will still be less than 90 days.

I am pretty sure that the 90 days is for each visit not cumulative. Either way you can check out the State Departments website here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html or contact the embassy or consulate in the UK and they should be able to give you a definitive answer. I would probably do that instead of trusting some basically anonymous goofball who may or may not have a clue of what they are talking about.

You can stay up to 90 days on a single visit. You can make multiple visits per year. There's no set amount of time you can spend in the United States. I'll tell you this though, if it looks to the CBP Officer like you're trying to live in the United States you'll be refused admittance and sent back on the first available flight.

Where would you be the rest of the month? If your plan is to cross into Canada and then come back you'll have problems. I you are actually returning to the UK each time you should be okay.

90 days

You might face questions about why you are visiting so often and immigration my be suspicious that you are working while here. You should theoretically be able to do this as long as you carry evidence with you of your ties to the UK, for example a job and a home to go back to and show it if asked. The worst thing that can happen is you might be refused entry after a few visits. If this happens, don't argue as it won't help. Once you are back in the UK you would then have to apply for a tourist visa to be allowed back. At the interview for the tourist visa you would get the chance to state your case and prove you are not planning to move to America or work in America but just want to visit regularly.

You can stay 90 days per visit, so staying one week a month wouldn't be a problem. Theoretically you can come for 90 days, head back and then come back again for 90 days... but immigration don't like you to spend more time in the US than in your home country, so you would only get away with that once or twice before you were flagged. Just use the waiver for your purposes... you don't need to get a visa.