Hello,
I'm an exchange student and was studying in the US from September 08 to Jun 09.
My J1 visa expired on June 12th, so currently I am in the country on the 30-day grace period allowed by J1 visa for domestic travel and making plans to leave the US.
My question is, if I drove down to the border at Mexico and left the US, would I be able to re-enter the US the following day (or later the same day) on a tourist visa?
Because I'm from the UK and we're part of the visa waiver program, and I've already filled out the online 'ESTA' form (and am "authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program") , I understand that I don't have to actually apply for a different kind of tourist visa like a B2, but am already eligible for a WT visa.
My plans are to spend the rest of the summer vacation traveling around the US before returning home for my final year of study in August. Obviously I'm planning on traveling for longer than the 30-day grace period allows, hence the need for a tourist visa which will give me up to 90 days.
Is crossing and re-crossing the border at Mexico a viable way of obtaining a tourist visa though the visa waiver program? I can show that I need to be back in my home country in August (less than 90 days from now), and I have proof that I have enough money to support myself for the 90 days allowed by the WT visa.
Thanks for you help

