Entering the United States

Citizens of Canada must now provide a passport to enter the United States. However, a visa is not required for Canadian citizens.

Citizens of 28 other countries can enter under a reciprocal visa waiver program. These citizens can enter the United States for up to 90 days for tourism or business with a valid passport; however, no visa is required. These countries include most of Western Europe, plus Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. For a full list of reciprocal visa countries (and other late-breaking new for travelers to the United States), check out www.travel.state.gov. Visitors on this program who arrive by sea or air must show round-trip tickets back out of the United States within 90 days, and must be able to present proof of financial solvency (credit cards are usually sufficient). If citizens of these countries are staying longer than 90 days, they must apply for and present a visa.

Citizens of countries not covered by the reciprocal visa program are required to present both a valid passport and a visa to enter the United States. These are obtained from U.S. embassies and consulates. These travelers are also required to offer proof of financial solvency and provide a round-trip ticket out of the United States within the timeline of the visa.

Customs

U.S. Customs allows each person over the age of 21 to bring in one liter of liquor and 200 cigarettes duty free into the country. Non-U.S. citizens can bring in $100 worth of gifts without paying duty. If you are carrying more than $10,000 in cash or travelers checks, you are required to declare it.

Traveling in the United States

Once in the United States, foreign visitors can travel freely among states without restrictions. A few states maintain agricultural checkpoints at state borders to prevent transport of fruit or plants, but Utah is not one of these states.

© W.C. McRae and Judy Jewell from Moon Utah, 8th Edition