🗽 United States of America

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Recent disaster alerts (UN/EU GDACS)

Orange Tropical cyclone Tropical Cyclone ISAIAS-26 Ended 11 Oct 2026 Affects: United States of America Source: GDACS

Updated 4 Nov 2026. Alerts change quickly: check GDACS and your government's advice before you travel.

Practical information

Entry

Visa rules depend on your passport: ESTA (the visa waiver) is only for eligible nationalities. Most travellers who cannot use it need a visitor visa (B-1/B-2): fill in the online DS-160 form, pay the visa fee, and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate (interview waivers have become rare); check the State Department page for exceptions. Apply early - appointment waits can be long. A new 'visa integrity fee' became law in 2025; check on the official State Department site whether and how it applies to your application. A visa does not guarantee entry: the border officer decides, and your I-94 record shows how long you may stay. Use only official .gov sites; never pay anyone who 'guarantees' a visa.

ESTA - official application site (CBP) OfficialThe official ESTA application, for eligible nationalities.
US Department of State - Visitor visa (B-1/B-2) OfficialRequirements, fees and steps.
DS-160 online visa application OfficialThe official visa application form.
US Customs and Border Protection - travel OfficialWhat to declare and what to expect at the border.
I-94 - check your admission record OfficialSee your authorised stay after you enter.
Visit The USA OfficialOfficial tourism guide (Brand USA).

Culture and practical - take note

Tipping is part of the price: about 15-20% in restaurants, and a few dollars for taxis, hotel porters and housekeeping - servers rely on it. Prices on shelves exclude sales tax, added at the till. Drinking age is 21; open alcohol in public or in cars is illegal; smoking is banned in most indoor places. Americans are friendly and direct; keep a polite distance, make small talk, be punctual, and say 'please' and 'thank you'. Jaywalking, speeding and driving without a licence bring fines; seat belts are mandatory. Healthcare is very expensive - buy travel insurance with strong medical cover. US border officers may inspect phones and bags. Halal food is available in big cities. Natural hazards (hurricanes, wildfires, extreme heat, winter storms) vary by region and season - check the weather service.

National Weather Service OfficialOfficial US weather forecasts and warnings.

Emergency

911 for police, fire and ambulance.

Good to know

Dollars, cheques and cash machines

The currency is the US dollar. Canadian advice says most banking transactions require a US bank account, and that card and cash machine fraud, including card cloning, occurs; it suggests using machines in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business. Large sums of cash or similar assets carried into or out of the country must be declared to US Customs and Border Protection.

Source: Government of Canada travel advice: the United States (checked 4 Nov 2026)

Local laws and customs

Federal law, alcohol and cannabis

UK advice says visitors are subject to both state and federal law, and breaking either can put visa status and future travel at risk; carry a passport showing permission to be in the country. The national legal age to buy and drink alcohol is 21. Illegal drugs, cannabis included, carry severe penalties, and Canadian advice notes cannabis remains illegal under federal law even where some states allow it.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice: USA, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Source: Government of Canada travel advice: the United States (checked 4 Nov 2026)

Taxis and scams

Card fraud and highway ploys

Canada's travel advice reports debit card cloning and other fraud involving cards and ATMs in the United States, so watch how others handle your card and choose well-lit or staffed ATMs. A highway ploy near airports and tourist destinations is also described: someone points out a problem with your vehicle and grabs valuables once you stop. Use hazard lights and drive slowly to a busy place such as a gas station or police station. UK advice adds that gangs may single out vehicles driven by people who look like tourists.

Source: Government of Canada travel advice: United States (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Source: UK FCDO travel advice: USA, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)

Who can help

local government

Emergency number 911

Helps with: The nationwide US emergency number. USAGov says to dial 911 immediately in an emergency; for an emergency in another area, contact the local law enforcement agency there.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the United States who is in an emergency.

Phone: 911

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Brand USA (Visit The USA)

Helps with: The nation's destination marketing organization. Its VisitTheUSA.com site gives trip-planning information and links to visa and entry requirements. It lists no helpline on the pages read.

Who qualifies: Anyone planning a trip to the United States.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

NYC311

Helps with: New York City's main source of government information and non-emergency services. Reachable on 311, or (212) 639-9675 from outside the city, by text to 311-692, or by TTY.

Who qualifies: Anyone in New York City, residents and visitors. For emergencies call 911 instead.

Phone: 311

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (visitor centers)

Helps with: Miami's official visitor site lists 18 visitor centers across Greater Miami and Miami Beach, plus a bureau phone line open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Miami or Miami Beach who wants local visitor information.

Phone: (305) 539-3000

Address: 201 S Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2200, Miami, FL 33131

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Visit Orlando visitor information line

Helps with: Visit Orlando's contact page gives a phone line and live chat staffed by vacation planners, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern.

Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Orlando or planning a trip there who wants visitor information. Visit Orlando is a private non-profit tourism association, not a government office.

Phone: 407-363-5872

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (VisitLasVegas.com)

Helps with: The authority behind VisitLasVegas.com, the visitor website for Las Vegas. The site lists its Paradise Road address and a toll-free number; the page does not mention a visitor center.

Who qualifies: Anyone visiting or planning a trip to Las Vegas.

Phone: 877-847-4858

Address: 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04