Travel to the United States

It depends on your nationality. Citizens of the 41 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries — including most of Western Europe, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Chile — can travel for up to 90 days with an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) applied for entirely online. All other nationalities need a B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visa, applied for in person at a US embassy. Use the eligibility checker on this page to confirm your status.

The official US government fee is $40.27 per applicant ($4 processing fee + $36.27 authorization fee), effective since 30 September 2025. Evisa Rocket adds a $20 service fee covering form review, multi-language support and 24/7 chat assistance, for a total of $60.27 per traveler. The same fee applies to adults, children and infants. There are no hidden charges, no subscription, and no recurring billing.

Each individual stay under ESTA is limited to 90 days from the date of arrival. The authorization itself is valid for 2 years (or until your passport expires, whichever comes first), with unlimited entries during that period. The 90-day limit is strict and cannot be extended except in genuine emergencies (medical, natural disaster) approved by USCIS. If you need to stay longer, apply for a B-2 tourist visa before traveling.

More than 80% of applications are approved within minutes. The remainder can take up to 72 hours if the system flags them for manual review by US Customs and Border Protection. Apply at least 72 hours before your scheduled departure to avoid stress, and never book a non-refundable flight before you have an approved ESTA. We email you the moment your decision is ready.

It depends on the region. April–May and September–October are ideal for most of the country — mild weather, fewer crowds, lower prices. Summer (June–August) is peak season for national parks, the Rockies, Alaska, New England and Hawaii. Winter (December–March) is ski season in the Rockies and peak season in Florida and Hawaii; the cheapest time to visit New York and Chicago. Avoid the desert Southwest in summer and Florida during hurricane season (June–November).

For a first trip, the classic itineraries are: New York City (4–6 days), California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Yosemite — 10–14 days), the Southwest (Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Utah's Mighty Five — 7–10 days), Florida (Miami, Orlando, the Keys — 7–10 days), and the National Parks (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier — 7–10 days). Repeat visitors often head for the lesser-known regions: New Orleans, Nashville, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Hawaii.

Budget guidelines: backpacker $80–120 per day (hostels, food courts, public transit). Mid-range $200–350 per day (3★ hotels, restaurant meals, occasional Uber, internal flights). Luxury $500–1 500+ per day (4–5★ hotels, fine dining, business-class flights, private guides). A 2-week mid-range US trip for two people usually runs $6 000–$9 000 including international flights — competitive with similar-length European trips.

Yes. All US states accept a valid foreign driver's license for short-term rentals (up to 90 days). Some states or rental agencies recommend or require an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your home license, especially if your license is not in English or the Roman alphabet. You must be at least 21 to rent; under-25 drivers usually pay an additional young-driver surcharge ($25–$30 per day).

Yes — strongly recommended, almost mandatory in practice. The US has the world's highest healthcare costs: a routine ER visit easily reaches $3 000–$5 000, a broken leg can run $25 000+, and an air ambulance back home can hit $100 000. Buy comprehensive travel insurance with at least $1 million in medical coverage and emergency repatriation cover, before you fly. Your home health insurance is almost certainly not valid in the US.

Yes — the main tourist destinations (NYC, California, Florida, the National Parks, DC) are safe and visited by tens of millions of international travelers each year. Crime rates vary enormously by neighbourhood within a single city; ask your hotel which areas to avoid after dark, use Uber rather than walking late at night in unfamiliar areas, and don't leave valuables in parked rental cars. Gun-related incidents make headlines but tourist exposure is statistically very low.

No. ESTA prohibits paid work, internships, freelance income from US sources, journalism for hire, and degree-credit study. You may attend business meetings, conferences, negotiate contracts, and conduct short consulting (paid by your foreign employer). For paid US employment you need a work visa (H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.); for degree-credit study you need an F-1 student visa.

If your ESTA application is denied, you cannot use the Visa Waiver Program for that trip. You must apply for a traditional B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visa at a US embassy or consulate — in person, with an interview, and a $185 fee. Common denial reasons include past travel to restricted countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya etc. since 2011), prior US visa refusals, undisclosed criminal records, or simple typos in the application. We help you re-apply for a B-1/B-2 visa if needed.

Yes. ESTA covers all 50 US states and all US territories: Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. The same 90-day limit and entry rules apply. Hawaii and Alaska are reached by domestic US flights from the mainland — no separate authorization needed.

Your biometric passport (linked to your approved ESTA), proof of onward or return travel (return ticket), proof of accommodation (hotel booking, invitation letter, or first-night address), and ideally evidence you can support yourself financially (recent bank statement or credit card). A printed copy of your ESTA approval is optional — the authorization is electronically linked to your passport — but useful to carry as backup. The CBP officer at the airport has full discretion to grant or deny entry.