USA Documents And Formalities

Requirements

All non-US and non-Canadian citizens need valid passports to enter the US and re-enter their home countries. Canadians can enter and leave the US with proof of citizenship and photo ID (a driver’s license and birth certificate should suffice), but a Canadian passport is highly recommended. The US does not allow entrance if the holder’s passport expires in under 6 months after the date of their departure; returning home with an expired passport is illegal and may result in a fine.

New Passports

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US 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. For more information, see the following websites: http://www.passports.gov.au (Australia); http://www.ppt.gc.ca (Canada); http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie (Ireland); http://www.passports.govt.nz (NZ); http://www.ukpa.gov.uk (UK); http://www.state.gov (US).

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 in a part of your baggage separate from other documents.

If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and the nearest embassy or consulate of your home government. 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 irretrievably lost.

Visas, Invitations, And Work Permits

Visas

As of August 2005, citizens of certain non-English-speaking countries need a visa in addition to a valid passport for entrance into the US. Citizens of Canada do not need visas; citizens of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and most European countries can waive US visas through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Visitors qualify for VWP 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 (an arrival/departure certificate issued upon arrival), are traveling on an approved air or sea carrier (most major carriers qualify—contact the carrier if you are in doubt), and have no visa ineligiblities (e.g., a criminal record). Visitors in the VWP must possess a machine-readable passport to be admitted to the US without a visa. See http://travel.state.gov or contact your local consulate for a list of countries participating in the VWP. For stays of longer than 90 days in the US, all travelers (except Canadians) must have a visa; travelers eligible to waive their visas and who wish to stay for more than 90 days must receive a visa before entering the US.

Each applicant for a visitor visa must pay a non-refundable fee of $100. In some cases, there may be a reciprocal issuance fee, depending on the applicant’s nationality. This fee is refundable if your application is denied. How long you can stay in the US on a particular visit will be determined by a US official upon your arrival but is usually six months for tourism and business trips. Visas can be purchased at any US Consular office or at the Consular office with jurisdiction over an applicant’s country. Expect an application to take anywhere from three days to four weeks or longer to process at different consulates.

Double-check entrance requirements at the nearest embassy or consulate of the US (listed under US Consular Services Abroad, on) for up-to-date info before departure. US citizens can also consult http://travel.state.gov.

Entering the US to study requires a special visa. For more information, see Beyond Tourism .

Work Permits

Admission as a visitor does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit, or Employment Authorization Document. To apply for a work permit, you must file an INS Form I-765 online or by mail to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. There is a nonrefundable filing fee of $175. For more information on this process, visit the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website at http://uscis.gov.

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 is usually an adequate combination. Never carry all your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss, and keep photocopies of all of them 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 (20% or more off rooms in many chain hotels), food, and transportation (e.g., 5-15% off Alamo Car rentals); access to a 24hr. emergency helpline; and insurance benefits for US cardholders (see Insurance). Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students. 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 but limited discounts. 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 US$22 or equivalent. ISICs and ITICs are valid until the new year unless purchased between September and December, in which case they are valid until the beginning of the following new year. Thus, a card purchased in March 2006 will be valid until December 31, 2006, while a card purchased in November 2006 will be valid until December 31, 2007. IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, seewww.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, consult the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org).

The International Student Exchange Card (ISE Card) is a similar identification card available to students, faculty, and youths aged 12 to 26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits (covers up to $2,000 in medical expenses), access to a 24hr. emergency helpline, and the ability to purchase student airfares. An ISE Card costs $25; call ☎800-255-8000 for more info, or visit www.isecard.com.

Customs

Upon entering the US, 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. Note that goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” merely means that you need not pay a 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, and be sure to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad.