The USA is a wonderful holiday destination, if only because it’s so big. America is forty times the size of the UK, which means that you’ll never be short of new places to explore. There’s also no real language barrier, so you get to experience a different country and culture, but without needing to worry about learning a new language.
One of the most popular things to do in America is to go on an epic road trip to visit as many places as possible, but there are plenty of other adventures that you can go on as well. The first adventure, however, is getting there. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of paperwork to go through before you can even step foot past customs.
Your Passport
If you want to visit any country, you will need a valid passport. Check your passport well before your holiday, so you don’t end up with any nasty surprises on the day of your trip. As long as the date expires after you get back, you can travel to and from the US just fine. Other countries have different requirements though, so do your research.
The USA also requires you to have a biometric passport. If you’re not sure whether your passport applies, check for a little golden image of a camera on the front cover. Otherwise, if your passport has been renewed after 2010, it will be biometric.
Visa or ESTA
You also need either a non-immigrant Visa or an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). Currently, the process for getting a Visa is very slow and you may not get approved for months.
However, if you’re a citizen of the UK, then you’ll be able to apply for an ESTA instead. This will allow you to enter the country and the process is typically much quicker than applying for a Visa. You can find out more here.
COVID-19 Restrictions
Since November 2021, the US Government has relaxed travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers. Unless you are exempt from the vaccination requirement (children under 18, for example), you will need to prove that you are fully vaccinated.
You also need to take a COVID-19 test no more than three days before your trip. If it’s positive, don’t go. If it’s negative, you need to show your negative result. If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, you need to display documentation of recovery instead.
Travel Insurance
This isn’t technically a requirement, but it’s highly recommended to get travel insurance before going to any other country. Travel insurance covers cancellations, some missed departures, baggage issues, and emergency medical expenses. Essentially, it lets you travel with some more peace of mind.
It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’re travelling to America. This isn’t because the USA is necessarily more dangerous than other countries, but because the healthcare system is so expensive. Without insurance, an accident or sudden illness can easily end up costing tens of thousands of dollars, or even more.
Nobody wants something to go wrong on their holiday, but travel insurance can turn a disaster into a manageable situation.
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