“The home of the brave and the land of the free” is a famous line you hear so often in movies and US speeches. The United States of America holds a plethora of treasures both natural and man-made wonders that have attracted people from all over the world. The States vary across the continent which makes every destination worth remembering. There are a few things you need to know about the country to help you avoid hassles and misunderstandings:
Prepare Your Passport
Most travelers making a beeline for the USA will be required to have at any rate a half year’s legitimacy on their visa or passport. This is the reason you ought to consistently ensure that your passport is legitimate and modern. Be that as it may, residents from specific nations just need an identification legitimate for the length of their stay.
Visa Requirements
It’s significant for travelers to the US to understand the requirements for entering the country. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits nationals from specific countries to enter the US for various reasons for as long as 90 days without a visa. When your country of origin allows you to enter the US under the VWP, then you should apply for authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This can be done conveniently through their official site, https://www.estaform.org/ in order to know your status and requirements to get the authorization. Also, you can only access the form through this site and you’ll be required to disclose some important information for the Homeland Security Agency.
Immigration and Customs
If you’re traveling internationally and you happen to pass through the US, you are required to pass through the US Customs. In fact, there’s no ‘transit’ in the country, as all are required to deplane and move through customs. This implies that you’ll be checked that you have the required documents for the States, regardless of whether you’re just staying for a few hours in between flights, and your luggage is checked in through to your country of destination.
Regardless of whether you’re in a connecting flight domestically, it’s important to note that your first port of entry will be the place you passed through customs and immigration. In light of that, you should have a few hours in between flights to take into account immigration, customs, and re-checking your baggage.
TSA Locks for Bags
When traveling in the US, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implements strict rules for safety and security. Every checked-in luggage is screened, and if the TSA agents think that it should be checked physically, they are allowed to tear the lock and open the bag. You will be notified through a note that your bag underwent such an inspection. In order to save locks, it’s ideal to utilize a TSA-affirmed one. These locks can be opened with a master key, which means the TSA official doesn’t have to break it.
Tipping
Tipping is an infamous minefield for first-time travelers to the US, the old “do I, don’t I, is it previously included?” story. It’s an unwritten principle that 15-20% is normal in restaurants. This is because minimum pay is low in the US, so tips are a significant financial source for some employees. Tips are also common hospitality businesses as well, for example, for barkeeps ($1-2 for each drink), maids ($1-5 every night), attendant (subject to the difficulty of your request), valets ($1-5 each time he brings your vehicle), concierges (a couple of dollars), cab drivers (10-15%), and so on. It’s recommended that you always keep small bills on-hand so you’ll be ready with the tips.
Get an Insurance
Despite the fact that travel insurance is a need for any travel abroad, it’s highly recommended when you go to America. The nation’s health service is wildly costly, to the degree that you’ll be pondering whether you really need medical attention or you can stick it out. It might be good to invest in travel insurance and keep a printed copy when you travel.
Tax Excluded
Cities and states have their own tax matrix so you’ll be paying depending on those factors. To be safe and convenient, you can go for a 10% assumption of the uplift. A resort can charge some type of resort fees to cover pools, tennis courts, internet, and other ‘additional items’, which adds to what was advertised.
So when planning to go to the US, make it easy for you by remembering these tips. You can also read up online for some of the most famous sites and cities that would surely make your trip worthwhile. America has the collection of the most diverse scenery and iconic sites that never fails to leave its visitors in wonder.
