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🇺🇸 United States

United States is no. 3 in our list of the 50 most visited destinations, with 72.4 million international arrivals in 2024. Below: visa rules for every passport, cash limits at customs and the tourist traps official travel advice warns about.

Rank 3 of 50 by international arrivals (72.4 million, 2024) · Source: UN Tourism

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Visa rules for your passport ↓

Explore United States: things to do, shopping, food and getting around

New York City first, plus national-park fees for overseas visitors. Every item links to the page it was taken from; official tourism-board and government pages first.

Things to do

Places to visit

  • Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

    New York City

    Take the ferry to the monuments, see the exhibits and climb to the viewpoints.

    Source: Visit The USA (Brand USA) – New York City

  • Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art

    New York City

    Central Park for walks and skyline views; the Met for world-class collections across centuries and cultures.

    Source: Visit The USA (Brand USA) – New York City

  • Times Square and the Empire State Building

    New York City

    Times Square for lights and street performers; the Empire State Building's 102nd-floor deck shows all five boroughs.

    Source: Visit The USA (Brand USA) – New York City

  • Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and other national parks

    From 2026 non-US residents aged 16+ pay a $100 per-person fee on top of the entrance fee at 11 of the most visited parks, or buy the $250 non-resident America the Beautiful annual pass. Free-entry days are now for US residents only.

    Source: U.S. National Park Service – Nonresident fees · nps.gov

Shopping

Cheap ways to get around

Nightlife

Food

General tips

Summarised in our own words from the linked pages, official tourism boards and transport authorities first; items marked "Not official" come from other guides. Prices and opening times change, so check the source before you go. Last checked 23 Oct 2026.

Common tourist traps and how to avoid them

Scams and risky spots named in official travel advice for United States, plus a few reported in public visitor reviews (labelled), in our own words.

  1. Pickpocketing and purse-snatching

    How it works: Thieves work crowded places and public transport.

    How to avoid it: Carry only what you need and keep valuables hidden.

  2. Rental-car break-ins

    How it works: Rental cars are easy to spot; thieves break in for luggage or passports left inside, even in the trunk.

    How to avoid it: Never leave passports or valuables in the car, and park in lit car parks.

  3. Drink spiking

    How it works: Drinks can be spiked in bars and clubs.

    How to avoid it: Watch your drink and do not accept drinks from strangers.

  4. Social-media posts and protests

    How it works: Officers can check phones and social media; posts or joining protests (even online) can be treated as a breach of status and lead to refusal of entry or deportation.

    How to avoid it: Avoid commenting on political events and stay away from demonstrations while visiting.

  5. The "border hop" to reset your stay

    How it works: A short trip to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean does not give you a new 90 days; overstaying your I-94 date can mean detention and a ban.

    How to avoid it: Check your I-94 departure date online and leave on time.

  6. Sleeping in the car on the roadside

    How it works: People sleeping at roadside rest areas or leaving items on display have been targeted.

    How to avoid it: Stay on main roads, keep nothing on show and sleep in proper accommodation.

  7. Costumed characters in Times Square

    How it works: People in cartoon or superhero costumes join your photo, then demand money (visitors report $10–50 each) and can get pushy; one visitor said a helper held on to their phone until they paid.

    How to avoid it: Say no before any photo and never hand your phone to a stranger. NYC's consumer agency says you don't have to pay costumed performers, even after a photo; if harassed, find a police officer or call 911.

    From visitor reviews, not official Times Square, New York City. Sources: reddit.com · reddit.com · nyc.gov. Researched 23 Oct 2026; there is no official page to re-check, so this date is not updated automatically.

Areas flagged in official advice

  • Unfamiliar or quiet urban areas at night (violent and gun crime is higher in cities)
  • Areas with demonstrations or curfews
  • Hurricane, wildfire and tornado zones in season

Official advice: FCDO: no areas advised against. Smartraveller: exercise normal safety precautions.

Emergency numbers in United States

Other traps paraphrased from official travel advice: FCDO travel advice – Safety and security · FCDO travel advice – Warnings and insurance · FCDO travel advice – Getting help (emergency numbers) · Smartraveller (Australian Government) · FCDO page updated 18 Aug 2026 · Last checked 4 Oct 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Cash you can bring in and take out

Customs rules for banknotes and other cash when you enter or leave United States.

US federal currency reporting (31 U.S.C. 5316)

Bringing cash in
Report currency and monetary instruments totalling more than USD 10,000 to CBP (FinCEN Form 105) when entering.
Taking cash out
Same reporting duty when leaving the US with more than USD 10,000.
Local currency (USD) in
No limit (reporting only).
Local currency (USD) out
No limit (reporting only).
Foreign currency
No limit (reporting only).
  • For families or groups the USD 10,000 threshold applies to the total carried together, not per person.
  • Failure to report can lead to seizure/forfeiture of the money and civil or criminal penalties.
  • Travellers using Mobile Passport Control can file the report electronically.

Official source: cbp.gov · fincen.gov · Last checked 4 Oct 2026

United States visa rules by passport

The general rule for each passport, from official sources. Open a passport to see conditions and options that depend on where you live.

Visa-free46 passports
Embassy visa113 passports
Entry suspended39 passports

Verified rules for United States: 198 of 198 passports; awaiting verification: 0; not yet covered: 0. A rule that is awaiting verification or not yet covered is not a negative visa decision: it only means we haven't confirmed it on an official source yet.

Nearby destinations

Official travel advice

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Plan your trip to United States

Verify with the embassy before you book. Visa rules change without notice. We link every rule to its official source and last checked it on 23 Oct 2026, but the embassy, official e-visa portal and your airline have the final say. MyVisaPort is not a visa agent and is not affiliated with any government.