Under the Visa Waiver Scheme, designed to speed up immigration procedures, citizens of Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and most European countries in possession of full passports do not require visas for trips to the United States of less than ninety days. Visa waiver forms are handed out on incoming planes, and are processed during immigration control at your initial point of arrival on US soil. The form requires details of where you are staying on your first night, and the date you intend to leave the US. You should be able to prove that you have enough money to support yourself while in the US. You may experience difficulties if you admit to being HIV-positive or having AIDS or TB. Part of the form will be attached to your passport, where it must stay until you leave. The same form also covers entry across the land borders with Canada and Mexico.
Citizens of all other countries should contact their local US embassy or consulate for details of current entry requirements. Even those eligible for the visa waiver scheme
must
apply for a free tourist visa if they intend to stay in the US for more than ninety days. Whatever your nationality, visas are not issued to convicted felons or to anybody who owns up to being a communist, fascist or drug dealer.
Customs
All passengers arriving in the US must present a completed
customs declaration form
(also handed out on incoming planes). Customs officers check whether you're carry ing any fresh foods and ask if you've visited a farm in the last month: if...
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US embassies and consulates elsewhere
AUSTRALIA
Embassy: 21 Moonah Place, Canberra, ACT 2600 tel 02/6214 5600,
Consulates: Melbourne: 553 St Kilda Rd, VIC 3004 tel 03/9526 5900,
Sydney: 19-29 Martin Place, NSW 2000 tel 02/9373 9200,
...
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Canadian visitors
Canadian
citizens are in a particularly privileged position when it comes to crossing the border into the US. For a brief excursion, you do not necessarily need even a passport, just some form of ID; if you're obviously setting off on a longer trip,...
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Foreign embassies and consulates in the US
AUSTRALIA
1601 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036 tel 202/797-3000
CANADA
Embassy: 501 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20001 tel 202/682-1740,
Consulates: Boston: Three Copley Place, Suite 400, MA 02216...
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Extensions
The date stamped on your passport is the latest you're legally allowed to stay. Leaving a few days later may not matter, especially if you're heading home, but more than a week or so can result in a protracted, rather unpleasant interrogation from...
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Work and study
Only the US Immigration and Naturalization Service can grant permission to
work
in the country. Contact your local embassy or consulate for advice on current regulations and INS addresses; however, unless you have relatives (parents or...
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