help - how do i extend my visa?

Visa waivers cannot be extended. In order to qualify for a new one you must leave North America, meaning the US and adjacent countries. A quick trip to Mexico or Canada is not sufficient.

okay - so besides mexico and canada - where is the nearest (and cheapest ) place i can fly to which would qualify as a reentry?

If you do a search, you will find a number of recent threads on this subject.

1. The visa waiver cannot be expended, Period.
2. No, you cannot make a "visa run" to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean. Time spent in those areas counts toward the 90 days you are allowed in the US. Some people have successfully been readmitted after spending time in Canada (a lot more more than 24 hours) but you cannot count on it.
3. You must go to Central America or some place outside of the North American continent. On your return, it is totally up to the immigration official if you will be admitted on another visa waiver. There is no set minimum amount of time you must be gone from the US and no maximum number of times you can be admitted under a waiver in a given year.
4. If you overstay, yes they will find out because you will not have turned in your I-94 immigration form on time. The overstay will pretty much preclude you from entering again under a waiver and yo may find yourself unable to even get a regular visa for years/

That's "extended" not "expended." Central America is the closest place you can go to. On your return, you must be able to satisfy the immigration official that yo are not just trying to get around the rules. A 24 hour stay in Costs Rica probably is not going to do that.

This was discussed a few days ago on this branch.

You cannot extend a tourist visa while in the US. You must go back to England and reapply. You cannot go to Mexico for a day. You must leave North America.

The airlines and the Department of Homeland Security share information regularly. As do the US and UK governments. You probably won't be caught while attempting to leave, but it may be noted when you land back in England. As everything is electronic, it would documented in the database and may affect future visa applications and passport renewal.

As stated before on this board, the penalty for violating the terms of a visa are:

detention for as long as several weeks, seizure of all possessions and assets, deportation, a penalty of up to $3,300, and a permanent ban on future entry.

You decide.

thanks for your help.

But i was just thinking..if i did overstay....and then when i went to leave, i went down to mexico, and flew from mexico back to england...how would they know i had overstayed? I mean i always lose my i-94 anyway everytime i come to america and never hand it in.

Would this work at all?

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<hr>and then when i went to leave, i went down to mexico, and flew from mexico back to england...how would they know i had overstayed?<hr></blockquote>

Because everything is electronic these days. When you enter mexico, your passport will be swiped, and the time/date noted in the computer. When you land in England, the same will happen again. Its true you might not be detained immediately. The ramifications may not be realized until some time down the road--like when you try to get your passport renewed or apply for a new visa.

And whether or not you've turned in your I-94 form in the past does not negate your obligation to follow the law and the regulations that you agreed to when you received your visa.

Always surprises me that people would ask for assistance in breaking the law on a public message board.

kodachrome - when i enter mexico, my passport wil NOT be swiped. WHen you cross from san diego to tiguara its NOT swiped.
WHen i land in england -the passport is NOT swiped - maybe for you, but for british citizens when landing in england , if you have britisih passport passports are NOT swiped. I should know-ive done it enough times.

I dont have to apply for a visa for america-thats the whole point of the visa waiver program.

Thanks for your advice-but please get your facts straight first.

sounds like you have it all figured out then. enjoy your stay in Mexico.