# Going to America **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173 "2003-12-10T17:32:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adamthewarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@adamthewarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adamthewarrior)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/1 "2003-12-10T17:32:40Z")
So I’ve finally decided to make the trip to America, Arkansas to be specific. What I want to know is what do I need to do, in terms of visas and such, I’m pretty confused at the moment. I am to be staying with a family I know over there, for roughly a month, in case that makes any difference. Thanks. -adam ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/2 "2003-12-10T17:40:29Z")
It would help if you told us where you are from (i.e. your citizenship). ---
**Author:** ![adamthewarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@adamthewarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adamthewarrior)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/3 "2003-12-10T18:04:53Z")
Sorry, I’m English and living in England. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/4 "2003-12-10T18:17:21Z")
Check with the [American Embassy](http://www.usembassy.org.uk/) in London (or Cardiff or Edinburgh, whichever’s closest). Since you are from the UK, you shouldn’t need a visa, just your passport due to the Visa Waiver Program. But contact the Embassy just to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/5 "2003-12-10T18:22:04Z")
The U.K. is a visa waiver country, so most visitors from there will only need a passport. You can find full details [here](http://travel.state.gov/nonimmigrantvisas.html). ---
**Author:** ![adamthewarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@adamthewarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adamthewarrior)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/6 "2003-12-10T18:25:56Z")
Thank you, **Neurotik.** It seems I don’t need a visa after all. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/7 "2003-12-10T18:27:00Z")
Certainly when I went to the US in March this year, there was no requirement for a visa, but I think I remember reading since then that the Visa Waiver scheme has been amended or suspended for UK citizens? Check with the US embassy (it’s easy to find - it’s the building surrounded by concrete blocks, razor wire and paranoid security guards…) ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/8 "2003-12-10T18:28:49Z")
No, it hasn’t been amended or suspended. You might be thinking of the requirement for machine-readable passports, but that won’t come into effect until next year. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/9 "2003-12-10T18:34:32Z")
OK, I was wrong about that. What I read was that the USA has brought in rules that even those entering under the Visa Waiver scheme must have **machine-readable** passports (which all new UK passports have been since the EU-format ones were introduced). And in any case, they have extended the deadline for this for UK visitors. Read about it here: [http://www.britishairways.com/travel/usawaiver/public/en\_gb](http://www.britishairways.com/travel/usawaiver/public/en_gb) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/10 "2003-12-10T18:34:32Z")
OK, I was wrong about that. What I read was that the USA has brought in rules that even those entering under the Visa Waiver scheme must have **machine-readable** passports (which all new UK passports have been since the EU-format ones were introduced). And in any case, they have extended the deadline for this for UK visitors. Read about it here: [http://www.britishairways.com/travel/usawaiver/public/en\_gb](http://www.britishairways.com/travel/usawaiver/public/en_gb) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/11 "2003-12-10T18:46:06Z")
Double post, and **ruadh** beat me to it anyway. Anyway, enjoy your trip, **adam** … ---
**Author:** ![adamthewarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@adamthewarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adamthewarrior)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/12 "2003-12-10T19:15:31Z")
Thanks, everyone. The MRP issue won’t affect me as I’ll be there and back by October 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/13 "2003-12-10T22:52:05Z")
Arkansas is nice, but it’s not really the most _exciting_ part of the US. I hope you get to do a little travelling while you’re here! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/14 "2003-12-11T02:25:24Z")
Avoid Hot Springs… ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-america/218173/15 "2003-12-11T06:42:35Z")
Don’t bring fruitcake, peanut butter or chocolate bars with you. 😃