Hi all, couldn't see this breaks any sub rules so just wanted to share something I have joined recently - Appalachian Trail Community UK which seems to be a place for hopefuls and those that have completed the AT. They have their first (hopefully to become annual) hiker meet-up next weekend in Lincolnshire. I don't own the page just think that it's a cool chance to connect with other people and share tips.

I just filled out my DS-160 and booked my appointment and the wait times are pretty good right now. Its pretty much clear from November onwards to get one. There was one free tomorrow but I had work. (Also quick tip, book as early as possibly in the morning as the wait times when there go up by hours the later in the day you book)

When you enter the US, if you have a half decent excuse for max stay (ie thru hike) are you all but guaranteed to get the full 6 months on your B2, or is there a chance that you may be given less?

Just wondering, rather not pay the $400 for an extension!

Firstly - March is here - so good luck to everyone who is embarking on the PCT this year. I am looking forward to vicariously enjoying your exploits!

For me I am still looking to 2026 but I want to be in the best possible position so along with usual day hikes have two weeks on the Camino planned in a month - but what I am really looking for is a European trail that will take a month from start to finish to tackle in 2025. Something like the GR11 but slightly shorter to fit into the one month (because that's all the accrued time off I have) timeframe.

Does anyone have any personal recommendations? There are an awful lot of 'good' trails in Europe - some of which are very challenging - but I suppose what I am looking for is a kind of European PCT analogue to finally check my gear / fitness / mindset ahead of finally going for it?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone! I hope this is OK to share - I wrote an article about my AT thru-hike for The Times which was published today: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-a-six-month-us-hiking-trip-cured-my-burnout-vs6fwwkdn

Hiking the AT was the most incredible experience and putting the article together was so much fun because I was going through my journals/photos and reliving it all again.

Happy to answer any questions anyone has about how we organised this trip from the UK!

So this a hypothetical really, but my plan is to do the PCT after I have travelled 9 months in SEA, worked 2 years in NZ with 10 months in south America travelling in-between, and then 3 years Aus.

My plan would be to do PCT after Aus and then return to the UK.

However, when applying for the B2, I obviously won't have a job nor a house in the UK. I won't have a visa to live anywhere else, I have to return home. the only ties I will have are financial bank accounts in the UK, and ties with my family.

Will this be enough? obviously I cant get a job 5 months in advance nor am I renting a house for 5 months just to get a visa ( who could afford that?!)

All I could offer is proof that I've never overstayed a visa elsewhere, the fact I've returned him to my country before from living in NZ ( so I've done similar before), evidence of my lifelong passion for the outdoors to prove my intent.

Would this be enough or would I have to move home for a bit first and apply from the UK?

Hi everyone, my name is Toni (22F). I’m hiking the PCT this year & am looking to get some new ultralight gear (as listed below).

• 1 person tent.
• 55l pack.
• Light cooker & fuel.

My research is mainly showing US brands - but I’m reluctant to commit to the international shipping if there are good UK/ European alternatives. Please could you help me identify good brands/ outlets/ specific products that you have used? I’m really hoping for good quality and very light products!

Thanks :)

After seeing that the London embassy had a wait time of SIX WHOLE MONTHS, I got an appointment at the US consulate in Frankfurt, Germany. They had spaces available the next week, but I opted for December and turned it into a small Xmas break.

At the interview, I was asked 4 questions:

"What's the purpose of the visa?"

• Thru hike the AT!

"NOBO or SOBO?"

• NOBO!

"When are you planning to start?"

• Late March

"What's your job?"

• Job Title

"You visa has been approved, happy trails!"

Didn't have to show any references or documentation, no paperwork, nothing. The whole process from start -queueing outside- to finish took a bit less than an hour.

Can't believe I stressed over this, haha!

I'm planning on hiking the PCT next year, but already live in the US on an L1A visa. I still need the B2, as my L1A won't be applicable once I stop working at my job (haven't decided sabbatical or quitting yet).

I have a B2 visa appointment in Jan. I've read that you can hold both L1A and B2 visas at the same time, but am worried that I won't be able to prove that I will return to the UK at the end of the hike. Anyone else got a B2 with an existing L1A? Thanks!

Hi. PCT NOBO hopeful. I was looking at flights to San Diego for next year. What do people do about the return flight? I presume that you should have one for immigration control. Do I just book a flight from Seattle for 5 months after my start date then change it as required when I know when I'll finish?

My name is Lookout, and I hiked the PCT this year and the AT last year. In 2024, I will attempt to finish my Triple Crown by hiking the CDT.

I want to pass on any tips, tricks, knowledge, and anecdotes on to the 2024 class of AT hikers and answer all questions, no matter how simple you think they are. So, I will be hosting a group meet-up when I return to London. Very casual, in a pub or similar. If you want to come and meet, please let me know by commenting your interest in the comments.

I also would be interested in having a group video call with any potential UK based thru hikers that can't make it to London. Again, if that interests you, let me know.

If you have a question about the visa process, please see my post from 2022.

Good luck to everyone, and I hope to see your finish photos this time next year!

Planning an AT thru hike. Got my passport back with my visa recently, a process that took about 4 months from starting the application online to actually getting it in my hand. Thought I'd just summarize my experience for anyone preparing to do the same, and add it to other people's accounts.

​

Online Application

First part is filling out the online application, which is the non-immigrant DS-60 application. There's not much I can say about filling this out as your answers would be different to mine, but I can say it's long and a bit of a pain in the ass. There's lots of digging up documents and dates, which can take time, and the website times out quite often when you don't progress to the next screen, requiring you to log back in.

Fortunately it remembers your submitted answers so far, so you can pick up where you left off, but there is some amount of having to enter information twice.

Also, you need a photo for the application. It's important to note that the dimension requirements of the photo are slightly different from a UK passport photo. I had to go to one of those machines at a supermarket and specifically select 'US passport/visa' photos to make sure I got the right ones. Also, the machine had the option to email me the photos, which helped for the online application.

​

Booking the Interview

When you finally finish it, you have to pay (about £150 for me) and apply for an interview. I felt this bit was unclear to me, I wasn't sure if I would be contacted for an interview or if I had to make it myself. Turns out, it's the latter - which is done at the 'U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service' website.

The wait for an appointment slot at the embassy in London was about 2 months for me. I think this varies quite a bit depending on time of year and their backlog. In theory you can book at any US embassy, so you could go hop over to Dublin or Berlin if you wanted.

Another cost, which is optional, is that you can pay for 'document delivery'. This just means that when sending/receiving your passport, or other documents, it can be handled by a courier company. I went for this (£20, I think) as I don't live near London to do it by hand.

​

The Interview

I'll try and be brief for the interview, as others have covered this quite well, but it's not like a traditional interview that you might imagine, more like going to the post office.

I turned up for my interview, which was 8AM, and there was already about 50 people queuing outside the embassy. There's two queues: one for US citizens and one for non-US citizens. They're sign posted and the non-US one was significantly longer, so you should be able to find the right one. There's also someone going up and down the queue and checking your application appointment paperwork to speed things along.

The queue goes into a small building where there's a airport style security check. I had a small backpack, they don't allow anything bigger than that or a brief case really. After getting through security, you cross a small court yard to the actual embassy building. There's a desk that take your details and tell you which floor to go to via the nearby elevator.

You arrive at your floor and there's a large hall, mine had about 100 people in even at 8:30AM. Along one side is a row of windows, like a post office or bank. You have a ticket number, which is shown on screens around the room, telling you which window to go to. Once your number is up, you go to the window and had over your docs. This isn't the interview yet, just someone taking a scan of your passport and fingerprints and a couple of basic questions, only a couple of minutes. After this, you are sent to join another queue for the actual interview.

Like others have said, they seem to ask you very little, and you're not supposed to give them any paperwork they haven't asked to see. But, just in case, I had a whole folder of supporting documents (bank statements, mortgage statements, rough trip itinerary, insurance quotes, employment history) all ready to go. I've no idea if what I had was sufficient or suitable, because the lady I dealt with didn't ask for them. She asked me why I wanted the visa, what I did for a living, and a couple of other basic questions. I think I said less than 30 words (this meeting could have been an email!) in the whole thing.

​

Administrative Processing

Then something happened that I didn't expect, based on other accounts. I had expected an approved/refused outcome, and I had prepared for both, but instead I was told my application had to go for 'administrative processing', which would take a couple of weeks, and she handed my passport back.

I gather this means they want to do some more checking on my details, though I don't really know what about my application prompted this, I'm quite a dull person.

So I left feeling somewhat in limbo, and I waited, a little pessimistic about my chances, tbh. But two weeks later I got an email asking to send my passport to the embassy, using their approved courier 'DX Delivery', which they linked to. This was a bit frustrating as the email didn't indicate what this meant regarding my application status. Was it good/bad/neither? Don't know, but they didn't ask for any other documents, just the passport. I happened to live near one the approved DX Delivery depots, so I actually went in person to hand it over, but I think you can arrange a pick up probably.

​

Passport Return

About 10 days later I got another email saying my passport was being sent back to me. Again, this was frustrating as it didn't say what the outcome was, but I checked my application status online and it said 'Issued'!

The package showed up. Ironically, the delivery guy needed my ID to hand it over to me. I told him the package had my passport in and could I just open it and use that? Nope, other photo ID required.

​

​

Anyway, that about does it. I'm not actually going on the AT until next year, but I feel relieved that the one thing about planning it that was out of my hands is taken care of. Any questions or clarifications, comment and I'll try and answer them.

Beyond excited for this. If anyone is interested I can do a write up of the experience as I know I followed a load of guides for this myself.

would someone be kind enough to explain the B2 visa process. do You pay the fee when you apply online or at the interview? How do you go about making an interview appointment? Do they process your application first then contact you to make an appointment?sorry lots of questions but I applied online 3 weeks ago and heard nothing back. Didn’t see anywhere on the form asking for payment or to book an appointment.

​

Edit… for all you help I’ve managed to get an appointment and paid the fee.

I'm considering a thru-hike of the PCT in 2023, but have realised that due to visa interview wait times this might be something I have to decide on sooner rather than later in order to book an appointment in time. The travel.state.gov website is showing 166 days as the current wait time but other websites have estimated up to 247 days and I'm not sure which to believe.

I tried to start completing the DS160 to see if it would show me available visa appointments after that, but it kept timing out and I don't have all of the necessary details/don't particularly want to actually submit it and pay the fees right now anyway.

Could anybody who has recently booked a visa appointment tell me what the approximate wait times were please? I'd be wanting to start the trail pretty early so I think 166 days would be just about doable, but if it's more like 247 then I don't think it will be a possibility for me next year...

Hello! I had a quick question regarding the B2 visa application (the bit you do online first).

It asks for a point of contact. I don't know anyone in the US and have not been in touch with any hostels, etc, yet. I'm not sure I will until a few weeks before we leave, to be honest.

What are people in a similar situation putting as their point of contact? I am considering the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, given I have registered my thru-hike so if they were contacted they could at least say 'yes, I can see them on the system'.

Hi all,

Have been searching for a while online and can't find anything on this.

I am planning to do the CDT in a few years, but the Visas have confused me.

Say I take 7 months - I would need an extension on my B-2 stay.
I was reading online and it said that if you get denied, you have to leave the US instantly.

I'm confused about what the plan is here. Do I go to the US, immediately apply for the extension, and hope I get accepted?
I ask because that seems super expensive and risky given flights.

Thanks in advance :)

I'm in the late stages of planning my '22 thru (from Denmark) and keep butting my head into the obstacle of phone/phone plan on the trail. Should I wait and purchase a sim when I get to Georgia? Or should I attempt to get my own provider to cover me? I hear Verizon has the best coverage on trail, but also that some phones are not compatible with Verizon.

Any insights at all would be appreciated!

I called EE today to ask what my options are regarding using my UK EE plan in the USA. They put an extra roaming tariff of £10.44 per month on my account which lets me use my unlimited calls/texts and included data in the States. This wasn't the case 2 months ago when I called them to ask the same question, but the nice lady told me to call back in a couple of months and ask again (wink, wink). They also said I could cancel the extra charge when I get home, whenever that is. I was paying about $50 a month for a US cell phone plan on my previous Thru hikes. Hope this is helpful.

Edit; EE uses AT&T and T-mobile in the US.

I know you have to get a covid test within 24 hrs before you travel. I fly out at 1pm and thinking of going for test about 5pm the previous day . What are you guys doing?

Hello everyone,

I had my B2 visa interview yesterday at the US embassy and just wanted to share a couple of things that might be useful to others that are preparing for theirs - I definitely found this Reddit thread helpful when preparing for mine!

Time of interview - my interview was 10am and I arrived around 9:15am. I was not allowed to join the queue and was told people with interviews at 10am would be called at 9:30am to join the queue. I know another poster suggested it might be first-come-first-served, but my experience was that they were strict with the queuing times depending on when your interview time is. My partner had the same experience with his interview last week. I don't think there is any point in arriving more than 30 mins early for your appointment. Remember you will have to wait outside before/while queuing, so bring clothes for the weather! Importantly - there is a small desk with a staff member standing at the front area of the queue - make sure you "check in" with them first (with your DS160 and passport) BEFORE joining the queue, or you might need to rejoin at the back again.

Electronics - you are not allowed to bring laptops into the building and need to store these at a coffee shop nearby. Definitely easier if you don't bring a laptop/tablet, but I was heading to work afterwards and needed to bring mine. It was not obvious that you are not allowed to bring laptops in, but luckily I overheard an employee telling someone else they had to store theirs and rejoin the queue, so I asked them about it. People are advised to go to District coffee shop (a couple of minutes away) to store items. I was charged £10 (!!) by District to store my laptop (they have other fees for different items, like jackets and bags), and was given a numbered token for collection afterwards. Collection afterwards was easy and you get a "free" hot drink. With my personal and work smartphones, I was asked to unlock these at security and open any app, and did not have issues bringing them in. I also brought my Kindle in without any issues.

Interview process and documents - I won't go over this process as another poster described this in lots of detail, but it's relatively simple once you go through security: a queue where you show your DS160 again, and up to the first floor in the lifts. You get given a number on a sticker and when your number flashes up on the screen, you go to the corresponding interview booth. The first part took a few minutes - the lady asked why I was planning to visit the states and why I couldn't get an ESTA instead (I told her it was to walk the PCT and it would take me around 5 months), she took my passport and DS160 to log some details, and took my fingerprints. Got my documents back and then waited around 30-45mins for the interview. Again, you have to wait until your ticket number comes up on screen and then go to corresponding booth. I had a young man interview me, he was friendly. He asked me why I wanted to travel to the states. He had heard of the PCT and said he'd seen a few people coming through to get visas for the walk. He asked if I was going alone and I said I'd be going with my partner. He asked whether I'd done much other walking before and I told him about some of the other long-distance walks I've done and when I started hiking. He took my fingerprints again. He then told me my visa had been approved and would be ready in about a week. My partner was additionally asked about his job at his interview the week before (what he does for a job) but nothing else. The interview took around 3 minutes or so.

My interviewer didn't ask to see any of my documents and didn't even want to take the photographs I had printed for my visa (he said they can use the online photo I uploaded). Like lots of other people, I went prepared with lots of documents (bank statements, PCT permit, COVID vaccine passport, degree certificates etc), but wasn't asked to show any of this. My partner the previous week, also did not get asked to show any other documents he had brought along, other than his passport and DS160. I know that other people have had different experiences though.

I left the embassy about 11:15am, and was there for about 2 hours total. I was quite close to the front of the queue for the 10am interviews though, and I reckon the process could probably take another hour if you are nearer the back of the queue.

Clothes & other thoughts - I wore leggings and comfy trainers with a denim jacket. It felt like the majority of people were dressed very casually in trainers, with a few people dressed more smartly. I think it's relevant to note that from my appearance I am a white able-bodied female, 32 years old. I know that lots of people can face discrimination in a visa process like this due to elements of their identity, and this was something that I did not have to worry about.

​

Good luck to everyone with visa interviews coming up!

What is everyone planning on doing for a mobile SIM card when they arrive in the States? I'm not sure how much time I'll have to go shopping once I've landed but I believe there is an AT&T store at North/Sandy Springs where I could potentially pick up a pay as you go SIM. I've heard Verizon is better but I'm not sure their SIM cards are compatible with UK phones.

Venmo seems to be the most popular cash app on the AT. However, it seems that you need a USA bank account (as far as I can tell).

Any suggestions for alternatives?

Thanks

Just collected my passport with visa in and the class is showing B1/B2. On my application I had applied for a B2. Is this what it’s meant to say?

Hi all,

I was wondering what hikers are doing re food storage on the AT (with regard to black bears). (Note to USA hikers - we have no bears in the UK, so food storage is not an issue when camping)

What are you planning to use (or have used and found to be good) - and if planning to use, are you taking it or buying it there. I've not seen many UK sellers of bear equipment.

It seems like the options are

• a cannister (which seems overkill on the AT
• a bag hanging system
• an odour proof storage bag
• another option?

Thoughts and especially experiences are most welcome!

TIA

I've just got back from my appointment this morning at the US Consulate in London. I saw someone had previously commented their experience from 2018 and thought I would give mine for anyone wondering what will happen on their interview day.

Sorry for the essay. I just thought it would help people out to know the details of what happens and what to expect so they feel less stressed on the day.

• Interview time
Mine was 10am. I got to the front door at 9.20 and was let in, no questions about being early. There was already a queue. Staff standing outside will ask you to produce your DS-160 Confirmation Page and Passport. A lot of people were fumbling around and those of us that had them ready skipped Infront of them.
If you have these to hand when you join the queue, you'll get in faster.

• Security
Then ask to see your phone and unlock it in front of them. You'll be asked if you have any electronics with you other than your phone. I didn't, so I can't say what happens if you bring a laptop. I'd say though, if you don't need it, don't bring it.
You'll go through airport style security where you have to remove your jacket, belt, empty your pockets, the usual - everything gets scanned.

• Reception
Once you get your stuff back you move out of the security building, up the hill to the reception area.
There are two queues - one for US passports, another for visas. Make sure that you're in the correct one. A few people that were ahead of me joined the wrong queue and lost places in the line when they were sent back.
The reception staff will ask to see your DS-160 and passport. They scan the barcode and give you a ticket number. You move past the reception desk to the right and get the lift to the first floor.

• First floor (visas)
The lift doors open behind you and onto the visa floor.
Immediately Infront of you is a snack kiosk and seating to the left and right. Go take a seat on the right, you're in for a wait.
There are screens everywhere showing the scrolling ticket numbers and which desk to go to. I had to wait around 25 minutes for my ticket number to come up and to be seen.

• First desk appointment
They want your DS-160, Passport and 5cm^2 passport photo. The staff are behind glass and there's a tray to put your documents into, like in a bank. They have a casual chat and take your fingerprints, enter some data, whole thing takes around five minutes. This is not your interview.

• Take a seat again
Even longer wait now. There are toilets, drinking water fountains and a photo booth at the far end (to the right as you exit the lifts) and as I mentioned there is also a snack kiosk serving pastries, fruits and coffee. Keep watching the screens and wait for your number to come up again.

• Second desk appointment
All of your documents. They want everything. This is the interview and it's similar to the first desk appointment. It's probably not the same staff member you saw first time around.
They have a chat, ask you why you want to go to the US, what the trails are called, a little detail about them, why you want to do that trail when there are so many others outside the USA that you could do, what other long distance hiking experience you have.
They ask about your employment situation and how you plan to pay for the hike. I was truthful about everything and she didn't have a problem.

• Decision
My visa application was granted. They handed back my bank statements and the other evidence I had provided.
They kept the official documents like the DS-160 and payment confirmation etc. I was given a small bit of paper and told that was it, my passport would be ready for collection from Chancery Lane in 5-7 days.
Now you're free to go on your way. There's nothing else to do.

It seemed a lot less stressful than I thought it was going to be. The staff were friendly, they didn't grill me on anything, they didn't ask me where this or that document was. Compared to some people, I felt I was under prepared, but really they didn't ask for anything that I didn't already have.

What I took:
• DS-160
• Payment confirmation for visa application
• Passport
• 5cm^2 passport photo
• Proof of bank balance from all bank accounts
• Confirmation and instructions (from their web page)
• Covid-19 vaccine passport (from NHS website)
• Lighterpacks gear list (didn't seem to look at this for too long but I think it might have helped prove I was going for hiking reasons)
• Travel insurance quotes (I printed three quotes but she didn't seem so interested in those)

What I didn't take:
I haven't booked flights or hotel yet. I'm not renting, not coming back to a job, I don't own a house or car, so I had no documents to prove that I was coming back for something. BUT I have had a Working Visa for the USA before, and I obeyed that. I didn't overstay or get into any trouble when I worked out there, so maybe that went in my favour as I have a good prior record.

Dress Code:
Most people were dressed casually. Some were smart casual. I wore a suit. I was the only person wearing a suit. You probably don't need to wear a suit.
But at least go looking like your trying to make a good impression.

Easiest way to get there:
Nine Elms Underground station (southern end of Northern Line towards Battersea Power Station).
Walk down the slope to the right of the station as you exit. Follow the path, cross the road (you'll see a rainbow crosswalk), through the rail arches, then the consulate is in front of you. The building has a unique exterior, with 3D diamond shaped panels. You'll know it as soon as you see it.

Don't worry about being early, I think they just do it first come first served anyway.

Of course, this is just my experience. YMMV; you may get asked for different documents and asked different questions. It seems though that the process is similar for a few years now according a previous comment I read.

Again, sorry for the essay. I hope that it can give an idea of the details and what to expect so they feel less stressed on the day.

Happy trails, everyone!

I’ve got a start date for the PCT in May, visa interview is rapidly approaching in mid-Feb. I’m wondering what people are doing regarding flights - are you booking them in advance of visa interviews? Will it have a positive/negative effect on the likelihood of getting the visa if they are already booked? I won’t have a job or any property to come back to, but can prove I have the funds to do the trip. Wondering if a return flight already in place would help, despite the embassy advising not to book anything until afterwards.

I’m a bit worried that if the visa is denied for whatever reason I’ll then be stuck with flights I can’t use and not sure how easily they can be refunded. But on the other hand don’t want to leave it too late to book and then risk more expensive flight prices. Has anyone had experience doing this with British Airways/American Airlines before?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Things I'm taking.

Confirmation page ( page with photo).

Instructions (page with 2 barcodes) .

Payment page Inc delivery.

Photo.

Passport.

Old passport.

Bank statements.

Mortgage statement.

Car registration documents.

18 miles a day inventory.

Map of AT.

Copy of insurance quotes.

Copy of flights and hotel in Atlanta

Copy of resupply points.

Copy of my lighterpack.

Copy of virtual walk with temperature , Weather and what shelter I'd be staying at I did last year at same time I'll be leaving this year .

What do you think?

In the end they never asked for any documents to receive visa