We get many questions relating to tourist travel to the United States. Below is our collection of FAQs and links which we hope are of use:
- Do I need a Tourist Visa?
- I still have the Green card (I-94) or White card (I-94W) in my possession! What should I do?
- Where can I obtain official travel information for the U.S. ?
- How can I get in touch with U.S. Tourist Bureaus?
- Where can I find information about the National Parks of the U.S.?
- Will my British driver’s license be adequate for renting a car?
- How can I obtain a disabled parking permit for my car while visiting the U.S.?
- Should I get medical insurance?
- I am traveling with a Medical Condition or Disability
- What can I bring with me when I travel (food, medical items, tools, etc) ?
- What liquids can I travel with?
- How old do I need to be to buy an alcoholic drink or gamble in the U.S.?
- What’s the weather like where I’m going?
- How can I obtain tickets to tour the White House?
- How many British tourists visited the U.S. last year?
- What is the drinking age for alcohol in the United States?
- I have a British passport and want to get married in the United States. Can you help me?
- I have a complaint about my U.S. travel experience!
Do I need a Tourist Visa?
Currently, many British citizens traveling on a valid, individual machine readable or e-passport, with a return or onward ticket, and who are staying for less than 90 days, qualify for the Visa Waiver Program and can travel visa-free with only an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
There are conditions! Please review the information concerning visa free travel on our Visa Waiver Program eligibility page and about Criminal Records & Ineligibilties .
Official Travel Information
A great resource for visitors to the U.S. is the Transportation Security Administration’s TSA For Travelers website.
Some popular FAQ’s are as follows:
- Travelers with Disabilities & Medical conditions
- What Can I Bring ? (includes info on food, medical items, tools, etc)
- Permitted liquids list (3-1-1 rule and exemptions for Medications and Infant and child foods)
- Passenger Name Records (PNR) : FAQs
- The DHS-TRIP Redress Program for traveler redress
- Privacy: DHS Privacy Impact Assessment and System Of Records Notice (PDF, opens in new window)
- U.S. COVID-19 Travel Guidelines from VisitUSA
Travelers wishing to inform themselves about TSA programs and methods will find this on our TSA page. Some generic information is below:
- Secure Flight
Under the Secure Flight program, TSA prescreens required passenger data, full name, date of birth, gender, and Redress Number (if available), against government watch lists for international and domestic flights into, out of, within, and over the United States. In addition to facilitating secure travel for all passengers, the program helps prevent the misidentification of passengers who have names similar to individuals on government watch lists by providing an integrated redress procedure. - Customs and Border Protection
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provide Information for travelers to the United States who are visiting for the purpose of working, studying, business travel or immigration. Their website is at www.cbp.gov - Consular Affairs
The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is the official source of information about United States visa policy and procedures. - Biometric Identity Management Identification Services
The Department of Homeland Security’s Biometric Identity Management Identification Services is part of a continuum of security measures that begins overseas and continues through a visitor’s arrival in and departure from the United States.
I still have the Green card (I-94) or White card (I-94W) in my possession! What should I do?
If you have left the United States and are still in possession of the I-94 or I-94W it is in your best interest to forward it to the appropriate authorities (see the 2nd accordion entry) so that your record is corrected and that you do not experience any problems on future travel to the United States as a result.
Where can I obtain tourist information for the U.S. ?
Although the United States no longer has an official national tourist office in the United Kingdom there are several organisations which provide information, inspiration and assistance to international travellers to the United States.
Please note there is currently no central office for tourist information within the American Embassy in London.
VisitTheUSA.co.uk lets you explore the 50 states and U.S. territories before you go.
Learn more about what destinations fit your interests and what types of trips you can take.
The Visit USA (UK) Association was established over twenty years ago to promote leisure travel from the UK to and within the USA.
Visit USA (UK) has a membership of approximately 200 diverse organizations including airlines, hotel groups, tour operators, transport, attractions and states and destinations.
It provides information, travel offers and news tailored for travelers to the U.S. at www.visitusa.org.uk and in its annual Visit USA Travel Planner that can be accessed in digital format, or a printed copy ordered from their website.
Recreation.gov is your gateway to discover America’s Outdoors and more!
Discover which parks, forests, lakes, museums, and areas managed by federal agencies offer recreation opportunities near you or your destination.
Use interactive maps to get information, plan your trip, or to initiate a reservation on-line
ABTA is the UK’s largest travel association, representing both travel agents and tour operators. ABTA also provides advice to the travelling public.
U.S. Tourist Bureau Contact Details
For your convenience we provide contact details, including websites and social media, for U.S. State Tourism Boards are available as a single-download PDF document (57 pages). This list was last updated in June 2019.
Do please remember that none of the U.S. Tourist boards are qualified to answer visa-related information. To find out more about visas, please consult our visa information.
Where can I find information about the National Parks of the U.S.?
The National Park Service Website provides general information about visiting National Parks in the U.S. together with an alphabetical list of parks with detailed, park-specific information.
In addition you can pre-book thousands of camping sites and tours through Recreation.gov
Will my British driver’s license be adequate for renting a car?
The U.S.A. has an agreement with most countries whereby the renter’s full national driving license may be used for a period of up to one year in the U.S.A. This applies to the full U.K. driving license. Provisional licenses are not acceptable.
Most car rental companies require that you have held a full license for at least one year, regardless of age. The minimum age for renting a car is normally 21 although it can be as high as 25. Often an additional charge is levied on drivers who are under 25 years of age.
International Driving Permits (see: postofffice.co.uk) are generally not required in the U.S.A but it is helpful to carry one. If they are taken, they are only valid in conjunction with a full national driving license. They should not be accepted on their own. It is recommended that drivers who possess a full national license that is in script other than Roman, i.e. Cyrillic or Arabic, should also obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Young drivers may wish to obtain an International Driving Permit to use as a photo ID, in place of a passport, for entry into bars and nightclubs where the minimum age for entry is 21 years.
If you have endorsements on your license, do check with your rental company that these do not present a problem.
We suggest that you check the requirements of your prospective automobile rental company by contacting them direct.
How can I obtain a disabled parking permit for my car while visiting the U.S.?
Please see our our disabled parking permits for visitors page.
Should I get medical insurance?
It is always recommended to obtain medical insurance when travelling abroad. You should also check with your carrier or travel agent as to their recommendations.
Hospitals in the United States offer excellent service but will ask for insurance details.
However they will not turn away patients in dire need who cannot pay as a federal law known as “EMTALA” (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act) prohibits hospitals from doing so.
I am traveling with a Medical Condition or Disability
For the very latest please see the Transportation Security Administration’s TSA For Travelers page on Disabilities and Medical Conditions.
How old do I need to be to buy an alcoholic drink or gamble in the U.S.?
The minimum age for buying and consuming alcohol in the U.S.A. is 21 years, as it is for gambling or entering casinos. Photo ID may also be required for entry to bars and nightclubs (see International Driving Permits above).
What’s the weather like where I’m going?
The Weather Channel, a 24 hour cable channel, and the national newspaper USA Today are among a number of websites providing current weather reports and 5 day forecasts for U.S. cities.
How can I obtain tickets to tour the White House?
The American Embassy in London cannot provide tickets to tour the White House nor can the British Embassy in Washington, D.C..
Some websites still show outdated information!
You may wish to consider tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, where visitors are able to arrive on the day and obtain a timed-entry tour pass. Your passport is required for entry. You can also book a Pentagon Tour.
Non-US Nationals will need to submit the British Embassy’s address instead of their home address. Further assistance regarding the online booking process should be directed to the Pentagon Tour Office via telephone: +1 703-697-1776
How many British tourists visited the U.S. last year?
The International Trade Administration’s Tourism Industries Office has issued a report indicating that there were 4.9 million visits to the U.S. by United Kingdom residents in 2015 out of a total of 77.5 million. See also the Tourism Industries one-pager Fast Facts 2015 (PDF, 1 page). (As of June 2017 this is the latest data available).
Many other travel statistics can be found on the Tourism Industries Office website.
What is the drinking age for alcohol in the United States?
In the United States the drinking age is set federally at age 21. However it is up to individual States to enforce that law and the requirement to present identification varies. If in doubt, we recommend you always carry your passport.
I have a British passport and want to get married in the United States. Can you help me?
If you as a British passport holder or British citizen want to get married in the United States you need to check the information provided by the Foreign & Commonwealth office on Getting Married Abroad. You should also get in touch with the British Embassy in Washington or the nearest British Consulate in the United States.
What can I bring with me when I travel (food, medical items, tools, etc) ?
For the very latest information please see the Transportation Security Administration’s TSA For Travelers page on What Can I Bring?
What liquids can I travel with?
For the very latest please see the Transportation Security Administration’s Liquids Rule webapge which also describes the exemptions for Medications and Infant and child foods.
I have a complaint about my U.S. travel experience!
The DHS-TRIP Redress Program is a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during their travel screening at transportation hubs—like airports and train stations—or crossing U.S. borders.
DHS TRIP uses an online form that you complete using your computer and an Internet connection.
