Requirements to Travel to the United States

The United States is a vast country, holding the third position as the largest country in the world. This means that it is a big land with a lot to see.

The COVID-19 pandemic had made it almost impossible to visit any country, let alone the United States. Luckily; countries are opening their borders to tourists as more and more people continue to be vaccinated against the deadly virus.

Still, there are some strict requirements to travel to the United States for visitors before entering certain countries, and it is vital to be aware of these restrictions before planning a visit.

This article discusses the requirements to travel to the United States. to help you plan a successful trip to the land of opportunity. If the main city you plan to visit is New York, check the best places to visit in New York.

Can Tourists Travel to the United States?

Yes, the United States travel restrictions have been lifted for tourists who are fully vaccinated. Citizens from the European Union, China, Iran, South Africa, India, and Brazil can visit the United States as long as they are vaccinated and meet the requirements to travel to the U.S.

Please note:

If you plan to travel to the United States, keep in mind that due to the situation caused by COVID-19, both the security recommendations and the requirements and restrictions for entering the country may vary.

To be fully informed, we advise you to consult the following official sources:

– International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Requirements to travel to the United States for Tourists

There are several requirements to travel to the United States one has to meet before getting allowed to visit the U.S. as tourists. These requirements include:

Vaccine and Negative COVID-19 Test

As of now, it is mandatory for all tourists visiting the United States to be fully vaccinated and show a negative coronavirus viral test. That’s not all; they have to be vaccinated in vaccines that the FDA approves, such as Johnson & Johnson, Coronavac, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Pfizer.

Visitors vaccinated with unapproved vaccines such as Sputnik V, Soberana, and Abdala are not allowed in the country. Also, the tourists will be required to show their negative COVID-19 tests. The test should be taken within three days of the day they leave to travel.

For now, there are no clear guidelines for children who are still not eligible for vaccines, meaning children below two years are allowed into the country whether they are vaccinated or not.

It is critical to note that the vaccinated people must have spent at least two weeks after the final dose before visiting the country. Once the conditions have been met, the tourists can get into the country without having to quarantine.

COVID-19 Coverage Travel Insurance for the United States

While travel insurance is not one of the mandatory United States entry requirements, it is still vital for a tourist to have one while visiting the country. Journeys are unpredictable, and anything could happen.

Travel insurance covers medical risks, flight disruptions and travel risks. Consider whether the insurance covers COVID-19 related problems or not. Even when one is vaccinated, there is still a little risk of developing complications related to the virus. Therefore, having travel insurance that covers COVID-related problems could be a plus for you.

We recommend you take out travel insurance for the United States with COVID-19 coverage to accompany you during your adventure.

Heymondo travel insurance offers these coverages:

Travel insurance

Visa to Travel to the United States

A visa is one of the most vital United States entry requirements. A travel visa is pretty much like permission from the government to enter a certain country. For example, if you are flying to the United States, you need a travel visa for the U.S. You cannot use a travel visa for the U.K. to travel to the United States.

Depending on the category of visa you use to travel to the U.S., it may allow you to do the following:

• meet relatives or friends
• spend a short time with them
• visit the elderly or sick relatives in hospitals or care homes
• attend weddings
• house warming, graduation
• baby shower, shopping,
• Get medical help, etc.

You are, however, not allowed to conduct journalism, start working, or attend school if you are using a visitor’s visa.

Applying for a United States travel visa is fairly easy, and if you have valid reasons, you’ll definitely get one. However, it is crucial to note that not everything is done online. At some point, you’ll need to visit the U.S. embassy in your country for an interview.

How to apply for a Visa for the United States

Generally, the standard visa application procedure for a United States visa is as follows:

• Choose the type of visa you want, depending on what you want to do in the U.S.
• Complete the non-immigrant visa application form that can be found on the consular electronic application website.
• Pay the application fee, often around $160 up to $190, depending on the type of visa you are applying for.
• Schedule an interview at the United States embassy in the country you live.
• Attend the interview and be sure to carry your passport, the visa application form, the application fee payment receipt, and your photo. In the interview, you’ll be required to explain your intent for visiting the United States and your ability to pay the costs required while you are there.
• Wait for processing, and you’ll get the visa once it is ready.

As aforementioned, there are different types of visas that you can use to gain entry into the United States. They include:

United States Immigrant Visa

United States immigrant visa is the type of visa issued to individuals who want to permanently reside in the United States Generally, most people applying for this visa intend to live and work in the country.

The employers or relatives of a person wishing to live in the U.S. file the application on their behalf through USCIS. However, specific individuals, for example, workers with special working abilities or investors, can file by themselves.

Once the process ends, the applicant becomes a citizen of the United States and can work, vote, or do anything else done by individuals born there. Find more information about the United States entry requirements for an immigrant visa here.

United States Non-Immigrant Visa

The non-immigrant visa is issued to visitors who wish to visit the country on a temporal basis. For example, if you want to visit the United States for tourism reasons, medical or temporal work purposes, you could use a non-immigrant visa. This type of visa is the most common, and one can apply by themselves at the embassy or the U.S. consulate.

However, if you want to go to the United States to work or study, you might require certain authorization or documentation before applying for the visa. Follow this link to learn more about US non-immigrant visas.

ESTA Visa

ESTA is a short form for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This automated system determines if certain visitors to the United States could travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

VWP allows visitors from 39 countries to travel to the United States and even stay for up to 90 days without requiring a visa. Some of the counties allowed to travel under the VWP program include:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Australia
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Portugal
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

You can know who can travel to the United States with an ESTA visa from this official source.

I-94 Form

The I-94 form is a paper or electronic record issued to foreign visitors wishing to enter the United States The form is one of the United States entry requirements, and it is used to keep track of visitors (non-citizens) entering and leaving the country. The document is vital as it proves you entered the United States legally and indicates the date you will leave the country. The form is filled once the visitors land in the U.S.

Understand that it is an electronic process, and you need to feel in the following details on the form,

• your name
• birth date
• country of citizenship
• passport number
• the country you live in,
• the city the visa was issued
• date the visa was issued
• and the address the visitor will use during the stay in the United States
• you’ll also need to fill in your departure record.

Return Ticket

A return ticket is one of the most important requirements to travel to the United States. You need to have a ticket to go back home once you are done with your trip in the U.S. Without it, you cannot enter the country.

Enjoy your trip to the United States

Hopefully, this article has helped you identify who can travel to the United States and the requirements to travel to the United States.

Enjoy your trip to the United States, and don’t forget the vitals you require to travel, including vaccine requirements, a negative coronavirus test, ESTA or Visa, return ticket, I-94 form and of course, you should have a travel insurance that covers COVID-19 related expenses, such as medical expenses, repatriation home, medically prescribed PCR tests and extra lodging expenses due to a medical quarantine (when testing positive).

With Heymondo travel insurance you will have all of that plus a very handy APP to manage any accidents and get in touch with the 24 hour assistance team simply with your mobile.

Enjoy your trip!