Essential Tips and Checklists for Visiting the USA
Prepare for your USA trip with these detailed guidelines and checklists.
Did you know the USA is so vast that driving from one city to another takes six to eight hours?
Therefore, while visiting the USA can be an amazing experience, visiting such a vast place requires attention to detail. From travel insurance to the essential checklist you must follow for your trip, we have got you covered. Read along to learn more in detail.
What Should You Know Before Visiting the US?
Irrespective of whether you are visiting the USA for the first time or have been there before, you must be careful about preparing for your trip, considering it is an international gateway.
Here are some things you should know before travelling to the US:
● Research the Place
Remember that the USA is made up of many states, which makes it so big. So before visiting the US, choose your destinations and research them.
Create your holiday plan to get maximum time to visit the unmissable gems of different places in the United States.
No matter what the purpose for which you are visiting the States, researching the places is a must. This will help you understand key city factors and make an informed decision.
● Search Flights
You must make sure to search for flights well in advance. This is because flight tickets to the USA from India can be quite expensive, and certain airlines offer great deals on the cost of booking flight tickets if you pre-book them earlier.
So, just check the flights available for the USA and go through the deals to ensure they align with your budget and preferences.
● Gather Documents
Once you know your travel date to the US, you must gather the documents needed for visa processing and entry. To avoid the last-minute rush, gather the following documents early:
- A valid passport mentioning your US travel with at least six months left.
- Payment receipt for your visa application.
- Proof of strong home country ties (e.g., employment or parents/spouse staying)
- Recent passport-size photo that meets US government guidelines.
- Copy of original birth certificate.
- Additional supporting documents based on your visa category.
- US invitation letter, if applicable.
● Know Your Visa Matters
You must plan ahead for visa issues. Visa approval can take a long time due to interviews and document requirements. In case any discrepancies occur, it can take even longer than what is anticipated.
Visitors from many countries can enter the US without a visa under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. Thus, you should address such issues and resolve discrepancies beforehand to avoid future disputes.
● Make Pre Bookings
Having friends and family in the US is great. However, you must pre-book your accommodations in all of your US destinations if you don't.
The US has thousands of hotels and hostels for international travellers. However, the US is one of the world's most popular destinations, so its tourist attractions are always crowded.
● Get Travel Insurance
Travelling to a large country like the US requires travel insurance. It will let you have a relaxed mind and enjoy your international gateway to the fullest. You cannot afford to deal with unforeseen circumstances like medical emergencies, loss of baggage or valuable items, etc., while you are on holiday with your loved ones.
So make sure you buy travel insurance well in advance, however, only after efficiently researching their background and ensuring their reliability.
Which Checklists Are Essential Before Visiting the US?
To help you prepare for your USA trip, we have created a series of checklists:
1. Travel Checklist
- Passport: You need a valid Indian passport to enter the US.
- Payment Cards: Credit and debit cards are widely used in the US for basic necessities and utilities. However, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are also popular US payment methods.
- Health Insurance: Health checkups can be very costly in the United States. Make sure you have health insurance for medical emergencies in the US.
- Health Checkup: Before travelling to the US, get a full health checkup. It will help you avoid getting any expensive checkups in the States.
- Medicines for a cold/fever/cough: Bring cold/fever/cough medications in case of health issues during the trip.
- Laptops and mobile phones, along with their chargers
- Pen drives and external hard discs
- Calculator
- Headphones with mic
- Extra batteries
- Due to varying weather, bring extra clothes for winter, summer and fall.
- You can also bring extra blankets or pillows if needed. However, you must also ensure you do not exceed your luggage limit.