America welcomes tourists from all over the world. With fifty states spanning an entire continent, we offer a breadth of environments, activities, and cultures that few countries can match. From the untamed wilderness of Alaska to the stunning sunsets of the American Southwest, from the sunshine and beaches of Florida to the brilliant fall colors of the Northeast — and everything in between, there is something here for every traveler.
We want you to come. We want your visit to be wonderful. And we want you to arrive prepared.
The United States entry process has changed significantly in recent years. Navigating it confidently requires knowing what to expect before you land. This post is written for our international friends — from England, Europe, Brazil, and beyond — who want to visit America and want to understand exactly what will happen when they arrive.
Here is your complete guide, written honestly and without sugarcoating the parts that require your attention.
A Special Welcome to FIFA World Cup 2026 Visitors
This summer, the United States co-hosts the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside Canada and Mexico — and we could not be more excited to welcome football fans from every corner of the globe. The United States is hosting 78 of the 104 matches across 11 host cities including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Houston. Matches begin in June and the final is scheduled for July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
If you are traveling to America for the World Cup, this post is especially for you. Hundreds of thousands of international visitors will be arriving at U.S. airports over the coming weeks and months, many of them for the first time. Knowing what to expect at customs and immigration before you land will make your arrival smoother, faster, and far less stressful — leaving you free to focus on the football.
Welcome to America. Let’s make it a great tournament.
Before You Travel: Visa or ESTA?
Whether you need a visa to enter the United States depends on your country of citizenship.
The Visa Waiver Program and ESTA
Citizens of 42 countries — including the United Kingdom, most EU nations, and Australia — can visit the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a traditional visa, under the Visa Waiver Program. However, you must obtain an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization — ESTA — before you travel. This is not optional.
ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Authorization via ESTA does not determine whether a traveler is admissible to the United States — CBP officers make that determination upon arrival.
Apply for your ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. The current fee is $21. Most applications are approved within minutes, but allow at least 72 hours before your travel date. Your ESTA is linked to your passport and is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need a new ESTA.
Important: ESTA Changes Are Coming
CBP has proposed significant changes to the ESTA process, including requiring applicants to submit a current facial photograph, social media information from the past five years, family member details, and expanded biometric data. These changes are not yet in effect as of the time of writing, but they are coming. We will update this post when they are implemented. The message is clear: the ESTA process is becoming more involved. Applying well in advance of your travel is more important than ever.
Travelers Who Need a Visa
If your country is not part of the Visa Waiver Program — including Brazil, China, and most of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia — you will need to apply for a B-2 tourist visa through the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The process involves completing an online DS-160 application form, paying a visa application fee, and attending an in-person interview at the embassy. Processing times vary significantly by country and time of year — apply as early as possible, ideally several months before your intended travel date.
At the Airport: What Happens When You Land
When your aircraft lands at a U.S. airport, the process from plane to arrival hall follows a consistent sequence regardless of which city you have landed in.
Follow the signs for Immigration and Customs. These will be in English and typically well-marked throughout the terminal. All arriving international passengers go through the same process — follow the crowd from the aircraft and you will be going in the right direction.
Automated Passport Control Kiosks
Many major U.S. airports now have Automated Passport Control kiosks — self-service machines where you can complete part of the entry process before reaching a CBP officer. You will scan your passport, answer a series of questions about your visit, and have your photograph taken. The kiosk prints a receipt that you hand to the CBP officer. This speeds up the process considerably at busy airports.
The CBP Officer
You will stand in a queue and approach a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a booth. This is your primary inspection. Have the following ready before you reach the officer:
- Your passport
- Your ESTA confirmation (linked to your passport electronically, but have the number available)
- Your completed customs declaration form
- Your travel itinerary — where you are staying, how long you are visiting
The officer will ask you questions. These are typically straightforward: What is the purpose of your visit? Where are you staying? How long are you planning to stay? Do you have a return ticket?
Answer honestly, directly, and concisely. Do not volunteer information you were not asked for. Do not attempt humor with CBP officers — it is not the environment for it and can create unnecessary complications. Be respectful and cooperative at all times.
The officer will look at your passport, verify your ESTA or visa, and scan your travel documents. They will also collect biometric data.
Remember, the CBP officers process a lot of visitors every day. They appreciate “normal” and are looking for the abnormal or something that seems odd or suspicious. If you know why you are visiting, where you are staying, how long you plan to stay, and can show them your return ticket – you have nothing to worry about. Remember, we WANT visitors!
Biometric Data Collection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is required to collect biometric data from virtually all non-U.S. citizens when entering and departing the United States. As an international visitor, you will have your fingerprints scanned and your photograph taken at the primary inspection point.
This is standard procedure and applies to all international visitors regardless of nationality. It is not a sign you are under suspicion. It is part of the entry process for everyone. Cooperate fully — refusing to provide biometric data will result in denial of entry.
Your biometric data is stored in U.S. government systems and may be used to verify your identity on future visits to the United States.
Your Phone, Laptop, and Electronic Devices: An Important Warning
This is something every international visitor to the United States needs to know, and I want to be completely honest with you about it.
In January 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection implemented Directive 3340-049B, a comprehensive update to its policies governing border searches of electronic devices including smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and storage media.
The bottom line is this: CBP has the legal authority to search your electronic devices at the U.S. border without a warrant and without needing to give you a reason. There is no meaningful privacy right at the border when it comes to your phone, laptop, or tablet.
CBP defines two types of device searches.
- A basic search allows officers to look through information stored on the device without using external tools, and can be conducted at an officer’s discretion without any suspicion of wrongdoing.
- An advanced search uses external equipment to copy or analyze data, and requires supervisory approval and reasonable suspicion of a law violation or a national security concern.
Officers may request your passcode. You are expected to present your device in a condition that allows inspection. CBP may share any data it retains with other federal, state, local, and foreign agencies.
In practical terms, the number of travelers whose devices are actually searched is small — in Fiscal Year 2025, CBP searched the electronic devices of 55,318 travelers out of over 419 million processed at ports of entry, representing less than 0.01% of all arriving international travelers. The vast majority of visitors pass through without any device inspection whatsoever.
However, the authority exists and is used.
Here is what you should know before you travel:
CBP cannot intentionally access cloud-only data — you may be asked to put your device in airplane mode before any search, which disconnects it from the cloud.
Special rules apply for attorney-client privileged materials, journalistic content, and medical files — if you carry such materials, inform the officer.
Your device can be detained for further inspection — beyond five days requires supervisory approval; beyond 15 days requires higher-level approval. You should receive a receipt if your device is retained.
If you are concerned about the privacy of your personal or professional data, consider what is on your devices before you travel. Some business travelers to the United States now carry dedicated travel devices with minimal personal data for this reason.
Secondary Inspection: What It Means and What to Do
Some travelers are directed to secondary inspection after their initial encounter with the CBP officer. This does not necessarily mean you have done anything wrong.
Officers at primary inspection have broad discretion to refer travelers for secondary inspection. Reasons include issues with documentation, potential immigration questions, random screening, or simply if the officer believes further inspection is warranted.
If you are directed to secondary inspection, go calmly and cooperate fully. Bring all your documents. Answer questions honestly. Secondary inspections are resolved without consequence for the vast majority of travelers referred to them. Becoming agitated, argumentative, or uncooperative will not help your situation and may make it significantly worse.
The Customs Declaration Form
All arriving international passengers must complete a U.S. Customs Declaration form — CBP Form 6059B. On many flights this is distributed as a paper form during the flight. At many airports, you can also complete it at an Automated Passport Control kiosk upon arrival, or through the CBP One mobile app before you land.
The form asks standard questions: your name and passport details, your U.S. address during your visit, what countries you have visited in the past 30 days, whether you are bringing in goods worth more than $800, whether you are carrying more than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments, and whether you are bringing in any food, plant material, or animal products.
Answer every question honestly. This is a legal declaration and making false statements is a criminal offense. CBP officers are experienced at identifying inconsistencies.
The $800 duty-free exemption means you can bring up to $800 worth of goods purchased abroad into the United States without paying customs duty. Above that amount, you will owe duty on the excess. Declare everything — CBP’s job is not to penalize honest travelers, it is to identify dishonest ones.
Cash declarations: if you are carrying $10,000 or more in cash or monetary instruments — in any currency — you must declare it. This is not illegal. Not declaring it is.
Agricultural Restrictions: Do Not Bring These Into the United States
The United States takes its agricultural biosecurity extremely seriously, and CBP enforces these rules without exception. Certain items that are perfectly legal in your home country are not permitted entry into the United States.
Items that are generally prohibited or heavily restricted include: fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry products from many countries, live plants and seeds, soil, and certain dairy products. Processed and commercially packaged foods are generally permitted but may still be subject to inspection.
If you are bringing any food items, declare them on your customs declaration form. The CBP agricultural specialist will tell you whether the item is permitted. If it is not, it will be confiscated — but declaring it means no fine. Failing to declare and being caught means a civil penalty that can reach several hundred dollars for a first offense and significantly more for repeat violations.
The agricultural inspection dogs you may encounter at U.S. airports are specifically trained to detect food and plant material. They are very good at their job.
A Frank Word About the Current Environment
I want to be honest with you, because I respect you and I want your visit to America to go smoothly.
The United States has significantly increased the scrutiny of international visitors in recent years. Border enforcement is stricter than it was five years ago. CBP officers have broad authority and exercise it. The entry process is more rigorous, and in some cases more time-consuming, than visitors from friendly nations may have previously experienced.
None of this means you should not come. The overwhelming majority of international visitors — millions of people from every country on earth — enter the United States every year without any difficulty whatsoever. The process is manageable when you are prepared, honest, and cooperative.
What it does mean is this:
- Come with your documents in order.
- Apply for your ESTA well in advance.
- Have your hotel information and return ticket accessible.
- Complete your customs declaration honestly.
- Be respectful and cooperative with CBP officers.
- Be aware that your electronic devices may be subject to inspection.
If you do all of these things, you are almost certain to walk out of the arrivals hall without incident and begin a wonderful visit to this remarkable country.
After Customs: You’re In
Once you clear customs — handing your declaration form to the officer at the exit, or passing through the agricultural inspection if required — you are officially in the United States.
Welcome. We are glad you are here.
The arrivals hall will have ground transportation options, currency exchange, and in most major airports, a range of services to help you get oriented. Your hotel concierge is one of your best resources for getting around, local recommendations, and any questions about your destination.
America is a big, extraordinary, complicated, beautiful country. Fifty states, thousands of miles, and an almost incomprehensible variety of landscapes, cultures, and experiences. However long you are staying, I hope you see something that surprises you, eat something you have never tasted, and come home with stories worth telling.
That is what travel is for.
Buddy and Jordan
Are you planning a visit to the United States and have questions about the entry process? Leave a comment below and we will do our best to help. And for our international friends who have already visited — we would love to hear about your experience in the comments. For more practical travel advice, join our Newsletter — new posts every week.