Doubt with dates, am I gonna be overstaying my VWP?

[Pulposindahouse 2]

Hi there. I was asking few questions in another section and a user came out with a doubt that is scaring me....

I will go to the states on VWP from spain on the 17th of February. I have my return ticket on the 18thMay. One user warned me that I was overstaying my VWP since he counted 91 days.

On purchasing my flight tickets I had the doubt, but after checking on a calendar calculator said I was only 90 days.

From my point of view, If I land the 17th February in the states i will have stayed in the States for minutes, and on the 18th February I will have stayed 1 day. If I count like this calendar in hand, when I arrive to the 18th of May I count 90 days.

Am I wrong? Should I change my tickets? Just by chance, they were the most affordable.

Thanks a lot.

[Pheebs1201 269]

If you include the day you arrive and the day you leave its technically 91 days

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/durationresult.html?m1=02&d1=17&y1=2015&m2=05&d2=18&y2=2015

Normally when I arrive on my VWP they stamp my passport with the date that the 90 days expires. I'd wait to see what that says and then change it upon arrival if necessary?

Edited January 31, 2015 by Pheebs1201

[Pulposindahouse 2]

That's what I thought. If I include both days is 91 days, but howcome including the first day when technically just spent minutes in the country?

I will do what u say. Depending on what they say when I arrive I'll figure it out.

Also will try to contact the embassy or something to see if they can tell whether to include or not the first day.

[Mena28 35]

FWIW on my passport stamps when travelling on the VWP the first (entry) day was always included for some reason.

Also I´d always advise to plan on eaving a few days before the "I really have to leave"-day, just in case there is a delay because of illness, injury (you are going climbing, right? I climb too ;-)) or weather or airline problems... I have read of people not getting a hard to time for overstaying, but that they needed a waiver. But I have no first hand experience of this.

If you wanted to visit while the visa process is going on establishing a record of leaving on time (or even a bit early by a few days) seems like a good idea!

[az2014 381]

Why would the arrival day not count? You still spent some time in the US, minutes or hours doesnt matter, its common sense.

[Pulposindahouse 2]

Thanks to all for your answers. Finally decided to change my flight from 17th February to 24th February.

Az2014: Common sense tells me that one day has 24 hours, so one day is accomplished the 18th if I'm arriving the 17th. Obviously the thing is not as my common sense told me. I was really doubting the day I bought the flight, but after checking on internet calculators and stuff I decided to take that date. Now my common sense changed

Thanks to all.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Why would you stay 90 days in a foreign country? Even you leave on day 90, be prepare to answer that question next time.

[aaron2020 11,651]

The first day in a country is the day you arrive. It doesn't matter if you arrived at 12:01 AM or 11:59 PM. This is universal whenever I have traveled.

Edited January 31, 2015 by aaron2020

[Pheebs1201 269]

Why would you stay 90 days in a foreign country? Even you leave on day 90, be prepare to answer that question next time.

Why would they allow you 90 days and then scrutinize you for using the full amount?

The first day in a country is the day you arrive. It doesn't matter if you arrived at 12:01 AM or 11:59 PM. This is universal whenever I have traveled.

Good to know, thank you

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Why would they allow you 90 days and then scrutinize you for using the full amount?

Good to know, thank you

Because it is common senses, look it up will see.

[Pheebs1201 269]

The first day in a country is the day you arrive. It doesn't matter if you arrived at 12:01 AM or 11:59 PM. This is universal whenever I have traveled.

I always wondered if you entered at say, 4pm on day one if you had until 3.59pm on day ninety one to leave

Because it is common senses, look it up will see.

It's common sense that you'd get in trouble for using something to its maximum purpose? I don't follow.

[Mariam&Smith 45]

I always wondered if you entered at say, 4pm on day one if you had until 3.59pm on day ninety one to leave

It's common sense that you'd get in trouble for using something to its maximum purpose? I don't follow.

It is common sense someone would live 90 days in a foreign country with no jobs, no family. A lot of people go to secondary to explain.

[Pheebs1201 269]

It is common sense someone would live 90 days in a foreign country with no jobs, no family. A lot of people go to secondary to explain.

[Pulposindahouse 2]

Well, different people different answers...

At the end good to know i was not right.

And answering why I would stay the full amount of days? Just because flights were cheaper and I want to stay the full amount to enjoy the most. Makes sense to me.

I've been soooo many times to India, Thailand, Tanzania, Malawi... ,etc... and I always missed days to stay. But as i say, different people.

Thanks to all.

[Mark88 184]

If you arrive on 2/17 at 11:50 p.m., and you go through immigration on 2/18 at 12:05 a.m., the stamp in your passport should say 2/18. That would technically give you the extra day you need, since you were writing "minutes", I guess this is the case for you. Hide out in the aiport toilette until you reach the next day

Edited January 31, 2015 by Mark88