Housesitting in Florida

[Jaynew]

Anyone ever housesat around Florida?

Hoping to go for the whole summer next year and am a member of Trustedhousesitters.com as so wondered if housesitting might be the answer.

[stanleycamel]

Don't forget that an ESTA only allows up to 90 days in the US if that is what you hold.

[landandword17]

Would that be paid or would the payment just be free accommodation? Don’t think you can do any kind of paid work on the ESTA. Would being paid in the form of free accommodation be allowed in an ESTA? I’m not sure so would check that out before going any further.

[Jaynew]

Originally Posted by landandword17

Would that be paid or would the payment just be free accommodation? Don’t think you can do any kind of paid work on the ESTA. Would being paid in the form of free accommodation be allowed in an ESTA? I’m not sure so would check that out before going any further.

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No you dont get paid, it would be free accommodation in return for lookong after the pets and house.

[Elmhurst 5]

Being as US immigration is so strict, I wonder if they would still classify that as work. As a member also, but having housesitters I of course know that no money changes hands, accommodation and utilities are free in return for looking after the house and the pets.

[Jaynew]

Thanks, definitely something i will look into.

[landandword17]

found this on a blog “ TIP: If you take an international flight to a housesit in another country and expect to use a tourist visa to enter, do not tell the immigration officer that you are coming to the country to housesit. It's not allowed because it's considered unpaid employment or payment in kind, both of which can be interpreted as work and are therefore prohibited on a tourist visa.”

Not an official source but it would seem on the money to me. I wouldn’t tell an immigration officer I was going to housesit even for benefit in kind. Would you have employment to go back to, proof of funds and ties to the U.K. so incase they did look further into a solo traveller coming for a few months you’d be able to offer those as proof of genuine tourism and give the address of the house your sitting as your “villa”.

[Jaynew]

Interesting. Thanks. It would be me, my husband and our 2 children coming for 6 weeks maximum, we would have hotels booked as well as a cruise so wouldnt be just housesitting. And yes, both gainfully employed and own a house in the uk.

We would have someone from the site housesitting for our pets while we were away.