Florida Real Estate

SIf you are thinking of buying a property in Florida, one of the first questions you may have is whether or not as a resident of another country, you need a visa to carry to be able to complete this transaction. The short answer is no.

You do not need any visa or special paperwork to buy your property in the United States, as we explain in our article DO I NEED A VISA TO PURCHASE PROPERTY IN THE USA?

If you intend to stay for more than three months on your visit to the United States, work while you are here, or visit for extended periods, you will need to obtain the correct visa. We explain several points about the different types of visas that you may be eligible for. As always, we recommend talking to an immigration attorney who has experience and can guide you on what will suit you.

Visiting for less than 90 days? You may be eligible for a hassle-free visa waiver.

The Visa Waiver Program allows visitors from thirty-eight countries to visit the US for a period of 90 days or less without a visa, provided they meet the specified criteria. If you buy a home in Florida and want to use it for vacation purposes, you have the right to do so under the Visa Waiver Program without any problem.

To check an updated list of eligible countries visit this Wikipedia link.

It is important to note that if you plan to visit your home in the United States several times for periods of a month or more, we advise you to obtain a visa,  which can be quick and easy to do. The US customs and border site is a bit vague regarding the amount of time they require between visits when you use Visa Waiver. Because of this, it’s best to use caution and avoid future problems:

Português:

“Notice 201C; Ao viajar para os EUA com o ESTA aprovado, você só pode permanecer por até 90 dias por vez – e deve haver um período de tempo razoável entre as visitas para que o Diretor do CBP não pense que você está tentando viver aqui. Não existe um requisito definido por quanto tempo você deve esperar entre visitas” – Alfândega dos EUA e Proteção de Fronteira

English:

“When traveling to the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time – and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here. There is no set requirement for how long you must wait between visits” – US Customs and Border Protection

Electronic Visa Waivers – Free and Fast 2-Year Super Visa

If you are eligible for a visa waiver, you can now sign up quickly and easily online using the ESTA system. This quick and easy system authorizes to travel (often in seconds) and places an electronic stamp on your passport to show the airline staff and customs that you are pre-approved to travel to the US.

You only need to apply once and the authorization remains in your passport for 2 years or until your passport expires. It costs $4 to apply and another $10 if you are approved. You can sign up online here and pay with your credit or debit card.

*These programs are always subject to change so we recommend that you always get the latest information at this link.

* Dominium Consulting offers this content for informational purposes only. Obtain this information on one of our pages does not constitute a legal agreement or consultation.

Diecson Vilarino
COO Dominium Consulting