Advice needed on trip to NON nearby island under ESTA Visa Waiver

[jimmyfowler1]

Hello all,

I am a UK national planning a trip to the USA, and would be very grateful for advice on the ESTA scheme.

I understand that under the ESTA scheme I can stay for a maximum of 90 days at a time.

I have read that trips to 'nearby' places - Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Caribbean islands - fall under the 90 day allowance, i.e. the days you spend in those places count towards your overall 90 day allowance.

What I am confused about is the position with trips to 'NON-nearby' places.

I am interested in going to Argentina and Brazil whilst I am in that part of the world. If I leave the USA part-way through my trip there, and then return to the USA, what is the effect on my 90 day allowance?

Does the clock continue to run, the same as for trips to Mexico, Canada, etc?
Does the 90-day clock stop when I leave, and then continue when I return to the USA?
Does my return to the USA from Brazil/Argentina constitute a NEW visit to the USA, and I get a NEW 90-day allowance?


Any and all help extremely gratefully received!

James