Tips and Ideas for Visitors & Travelers Visiting USA

Posts tagged ‘visitors to america’

Visitors to USA Under the Visa Waiver Program

The U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows foreign nationals from the list of participating countries to enter the United States for a short-term stay and travel, tourism or business for up to 90 days or less without obtaining a U.S. Visitor Visa. The VWP program facilitates free travel to the United States by making travel easier and providing a stimulus boost to the U.S. tourism industry. All travelers belonging to VWP eligible countries may also choose to apply for a visitor visa also, if they plan to stay longer than the allowed 90 days of stay.

Foreign nationals belonging to the list of VWP countries must meet all eligibility requirements for travel under the VWP without a visa, please see the eligibility requirements for the Visa Waiver Program and read the frequently asked questions as the program excludes certain travelers from these countries. As a pre-qualification requirement, the VWP travelers are required to have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) authorization prior to travel and are screened at the port of entry into the United States. In addition, VWP travelers are also required to enroll in the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program (commonly referred to as US-VISIT) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Currently 36 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Taiwan recently is the 37th and newest nation added under U.S. Visa Waiver Program list, which allows Taiwanese visitors to USA to be able to enter the United States of America for 90 days without a US visitor visa. The number of inbound visitors and tourists to the United States is growing all the time as many American embassies around the world are stepping up efforts to promote the U.S. as a travel destination.

Here is a listing all the eligible countries/territories under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program:

  1. Andorra
  2. Australia
  3. Austria
  4. Belgium
  5. Brunei
  6. Czech Republic
  7. Denmark
  8. Estonia
  9. Finland
  10. France
  11. Germany
  12. Greece
  13. Hungary
  14. Iceland
  15. Ireland
  16. Italy
  17. Japan
  18. Latvia
  19. Liechtenstein
  20. Lithuania
  21. Luxembourg
  22. Malta
  23. Monaco
  24. Netherlands
  25. New Zealand
  26. Norway
  27. Portugal
  28. San Marino
  29. Singapore
  30. Slovakia
  31. Slovenia
  32. South Korea
  33. Spain
  34. Sweden
  35. Switzerland
  36. Taiwan
  37. United Kingdom

America offers the travel experience of a lifetime for many foreign nationals visiting on a holiday, to meet friends or be with relatives living in USA. The United States has some of the fabulous cities in world to see, there are many enchanting national parks have some of the best environmentally protected lands, it is also home to thousands of amusement parks, theme parks, water parks and zoos. Traveling coast-to-coast is a lifetime dream for many, but even exploring selected destinations is thrilling. New York on the east coast, also referred to as the Big Apple, is by far the top tourist attraction in USA. San Francisco on the west coast offers visitors the option to walk across the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Florida offers visitors great options such as Disney World in Orlando or the sizzling beach life of Miami.  Los Angeles offers tourists all the glamour that Hollywood has to offer, and one can experience the magic of Disneyland too. In the windy city of Chicago, the downtown and all the attraction around the magnificent mile by the lake is spectacular. Casino enthusiasts can have non-stop fun in Las Vegas, which has the best nightlife in America. Museum lovers must make it a point see the monument and many fabled museums in Washington DC. Boston features many fabled academic campuses and a history of its own to see and experience. Dallas and Texas offer a taste of the southern life and one can get a first hand feel of the rodeo also. For animal lovers, a visit to a zoo is a must, and the San Diego Zoo and the National Zoo in Washington DC are among the best in the world. Last, but not the least, Honolulu in Hawaii offers a tropical escape that is unforgettable if you love hopping the many tiny islands.

Check out the below video that offers a glimpse of all this excitement that visitors to USA can expect:

 

While the VWP program saves you a lot of time and money in obtaining a US visitor visa in advance, you are now rightfully prepared for visiting and traveling across USA once you purchase your airline tickets. But in navigating all these procedural steps, it is prudent to also purchase visitor medical insurance for the duration of stay as a temporary visitor in the U.S. or even outside you’re home country, if you plan to visit other nations en-route. America’s healthcare facilities are ranked topmost in the world, but the cost of medical care for a sickness or injury could by significantly higher than amounts encountered in your home country. Buying a visitors insurance plan can protect you from such risks and allows you to travel to USA worry-free.

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Visiting America is Easy

Visiting America is really easier than you think. Yes it is, and the below video produced by the U.S. Department of State show you the highlights step by step of how easy the process can be. So if you have had the urge to visit USA, or to backpack across the American hinterland, or planning a group business trip to a convention or just getting your relatives, friends or family to visit America, do not get bogged down, but explore the possibilities with the easy steps.

Every year, many foreign citizens travel outside their home country, and millions choose USA as a destination country. International visitation to the United States has grown year over year since 2004, with many visitors to USA looking forward to experience the beauty and sights that America offers. According to the U.S. Travel and Tourism office, top countries from where visitors to USA arrived from in the recent years include Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Brazil, France, South Korea, China, Australia, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand.  Travel and tourism provides many billions of dollars in net surplus each year for the U.S., as many million visitors to USA choose visiting America’s scenic holiday spots, or its bustling cities, or visit family and friends living in America, or escape the crowds on an idyllic beach resort, America offers a variety of things to do and places to see for these short term visitors to USA.

While most of you plan to apply for a US visitor visa and buy your airline tickets in advance, it is equally important to purchase visitor medical insurance for the duration of stay outside your home country. America has one of the best health care facilities in the world, but the cost of care without a qualified visitors health insurance plan can be prohibitively high for many. Protect yourself and your loved ones visiting USA by selecting a US based visitor insurance plan and enjoy the visit!

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Visitors to USA – Welcome to America

America welcomes visitors to USA from around the world. International visitors to USA add greatly to American cultural, education and economic life. USA continues the tradition of welcoming visitors to the United States, with secure borders and open doors. Visitors to USA can enjoy and experience the myriad avenues of sightseeing and travel, and all that America has to offer. VisitorsToUSA.com welcomes all temporary and short term visitors to America, and wishes them a happy journey and relaxing stay while in the United States.

Tourism in the United States is a large industry that serves millions of international and domestic tourists yearly. Tourists visit the US to see natural wonders, cities, historic landmarks and entertainment venues just as Americans seek similar attractions, as well as recreation and vacation areas. Today, there exists a wide range of tourist attractions in the United States such as amusement parks, festivals, gambling casinos, golf courses, historical buildings and landmarks, hotels, museums, galleries, outdoor recreation, spas, restaurants, race tracks and sports stadiums. According to a recent U.S. government travel and tourism report, the number of foreign tourists who visited the US in 2010 was well over 60 million, these foreign visitors to USA created a whopping economic impact of USD $1.34 trillion for the year.

Many visitors to US also include parents, relatives and friends who come to America to visit and spend some time with their kith and kin. Visitors to USA need to get a U.S. visitor visa from the U.S. Consulate in their home country prior to travel to the United States. If your home country falls in the list of countries that belong to the U.S visitor visa waiver program, you might be exempted from this requirement. Please read and review below links for additional related information. It is also not currently mandatory to obtain a visitors insurance USA, at least for certain nationalities. However, it is always prudent to obtain visitors insurance coverage as costs of health care and emergency medical help is high in America.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts created the above film for the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is featured at international ports of entry at major airport in U.S., and throughout consular waiting areas around the world at U.S. embassies and consulates. The film previews all America has to offer: diversity from all regions and walks of life within the United States. America is a melting pot of different cultures, religions, lifestyles, careers, cities, landscapes, sports, technologies, and entertainment, this brilliant video above offers a kaleidoscope on many aspects of American life, including culture, geography, entertainment, science, and more.

Further Reading:

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Increase in Inbound Visitors and Tourists to USA

Domestically, the U.S. travel and tourism industry is barely out of the recession here in USA, lot of U.S. citizens have cut back on travel within the United States. But, on the bright side is inbound travel by international visitors and foreign tourists visiting USA. In 2010, the numbers according to the annual Commerce Department report as reported by USAToday.com look encouraging with a 9% year over year increase in the U.S. visitor inflow into the United States.

Also included in the report was the department’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries estimate of the economic impact of the inbound visitors to USA to the U.S. economy as USD 1.34 trillion. International visitors to USA spend on hotel accommodations while visiting USA, travel and tourism expenses visiting places in America, eating and drinking in restaurants and bars across the US, shopping for all the goods at the various malls and outlet stores in America. Another number documented in the report is the average amount spent by foreign visitors to USA and international travelers to US on leisure travel is twice the number of foreign business travelers to the US, and also they spend more money than their domestic counterparts. Also, each year, substantial number of non-US citizen visitors coming inbound on a US visitor visa include parents, relatives and friends of US citizens and permanent residents on green cards residing permanently in the US as immigrants and expats.

Here are some interesting stats on the origin and destination of the visitors and tourists. The countries from which the most visitors to USA come from are Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom (UK), Japan and Germany, in that order. Within the United States, the top city for foreign visitors are New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, Hawaiian islands, and Las Vegas. Globally, the following countries accounted for the greatest increases in visitation from international tourists: China, South Korea, and Brazil.

With the cost of health care already high and rising in USA, Visitor Insurance USA should be made mandatory for all international visitors to the U.S. as these travel medical insurance plans provide visitors health insurance coverage and protection from risks associated from sickness or illness or injury while a visitor in USA.

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