Hawaii Documents And Formalities

Requirements

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK need valid passports to enter the US and to re-enter their home countries. Returning home with an expired passport is illegal and may result in a fine.

New Passports

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK can apply for a passport at any passport office or at selected post offices and courts of law. Citizens of these countries may also download passport applications from the official website of their country’s government or passport office. Any new passport or renewal applications must be filed well in advance of the departure date, though most passport offices offer rush services for a very steep fee. Note, however, that “rushed” passports still take up to two weeks to arrive.

Passport Maintenance

Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo as well as your visas, traveler’s check serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Consulates also recommend that you carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate separate from other documents.

If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate. To expedite its replacement, you must show ID and proof of citizenship; it also helps to know all information previously recorded in the passport. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be lost forever. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country.

Visas And Work Permits

Visas

Citizens of some non-English-speaking countries need a visa—a stamp, sticker, or insert in your passport specifying the purpose of your travel and the permitted duration of your stay—in addition to a valid passport to enter the US. Canadian citizens do not need to obtain a visa for admission; citizens of Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries (including the UK and Ireland) can waive US visas through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Visitors qualify if they are traveling only for business or pleasure (not work or study), are staying for fewer than 90 days, have proof of intent to leave (e.g., a return plane ticket), possess an I-94W form (arrival/departure certificate issued upon arrival), are traveling on particular air or sea carriers (most major carriers qualify—contact the carrier for details), and have no visa ineligibilities.

As of October 2004, visitors in the VWP must possess a machine-readable passport to be admitted to the US without a visa, although most countries in the VWP have been issuing such passports for some time and many travelers will not need new passports. Children from these countries who normally travel on a parent’s passport will also need to obtain their own machine-readable passports. Additionally, as of June 2005, the following requirements are in place for the use of biometric identifiers as visa waivers: passports issued before October 26, 2005 do not require biometric identifiers, passports issued between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006 require either a digital photograph or an integrated data chip, and passports issued after October 26, 2006 require an integrated data chip. See http://travel.state.gov/visa for a list of countries participating in the VWP as well as the latest info on biometric deadlines.

For stays of longer than 90 days in the US, all foreign travelers (except Canadians) must obtain a visa. Travelers eligible to waive their visas who wish to stay for more than 90 days must receive a visa before entering the US.

Check entrance requirements at the nearest embassy or consulate of the US for up-to-date info before departure. Entering the US to study requires a special visa. For more information, see the Beyond Tourism guide .

Work Permits

Admittance to a country as a traveler does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit. See the Beyond Tourism guide.

Identification

When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, including a photo ID. A passport and a driver’s license or birth certificate will usually suffice. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss and keep photocopies in your luggage and at home.

Student, Teacher, And Youth Identification

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation; access to a 24hr. emergency help line; and insurance benefits for US cardholders (see Insurance). Applicants must be full-time, secondary, or post-secondary school students and at least 12 years old. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity.

The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers teachers the same insurance coverage as the ISIC and similar discounts. To qualify for the card, teachers must be currently employed and have worked a minimum of 18hr. per week for at least one school year. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC. Each of these identity cards costs $22. ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, try www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org).

The International Student Exchange Card (ISEC) is a identification card available to students, faculty, and children ages 12 to 26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits, access to a 24hr. emergency line, and the ability to purchase student airfares. An ISEC costs $25; call ☎800-255-8000 (in North America) or ☎480-951-1177 (anywhere else) for more info or visit www.isecard.com.

Customs

Upon entering Hawaii, you must declare certain items from abroad and pay a duty on the value of those articles if they exceed the allowance established by the US customs service. Goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” means that you won’t pay tax in the country of purchase. Upon returning home, you must likewise declare all articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles in excess of your home country’s allowance. In order to expedite your return, make a list of any valuables brought from home and register them with customs before traveling abroad. It’s a good idea to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad.