United States Travel Guide

Guide

Border crossings

• Canada to the Lower 48

  Road and rail crossings connect Canada with the United States at many points from the Pacific Northwest to Maine. Pick the actual port before you leave, rather than treating the border as one generic checkpoint: operating hours, traffic, bridge or tunnel arrangements, and available inspection lanes vary by location. Keep your passport and any required U.S. travel authorization ready for inspection.

• Mexico into the United States

  The busiest practical routes are around California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, but the same rule applies everywhere: use an official port of entry and expect CBP inspection before continuing inland. If your admission requires an I-94, it is electronic at the land border and can be requested in advance through the I-94 website or CBP Link app.

• Alaska by land

  There is no direct road connection from the continental United States to Alaska. The usual overland route passes through Canada, so the trip involves Canadian entry requirements as well as the later U.S. inspection when you cross back into Alaska.

• Cruise and ferry arrivals

  A cruise ship or international ferry still arrives through a U.S. seaport and its passengers are inspected by CBP. Do not assume that staying on the vessel makes the port irrelevant, especially if you plan to leave the ship or continue on a separate itinerary afterward.

Transit routes

• Make the first U.S. airport your immigration stop

  On a normal international itinerary, you clear CBP at the first U.S. airport where you land, even when the ticket continues to another American city. Leave enough time for inspection, baggage collection, customs, and the recheck or transfer process before the domestic connection.

• Domestic flights are useful for the distances

  For a country this wide, flying is usually the sensible way to connect regions such as the Northeast, the West Coast, Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii. Once admitted, a domestic connection is an internal trip, but normal airline security and document checks still apply.

• Long-distance rail is a slower alternative

  Amtrak links major cities and regional corridors, including cross-border services from Canada. It suits travelers who want the journey to be part of the trip, but it is not a substitute for checking the immigration arrangements at the specific international station or land crossing.

• Preclearance can change where the U.S. inspection happens

  At designated foreign airports, CBP officers inspect travelers before they board a U.S.-bound flight. After preclearance, travelers generally arrive in the United States like domestic passengers and can continue to a connection without another CBP inspection.

Entry point notes

• ESTA is for travel authorization, not guaranteed admission

  Visa Waiver Program travelers apply through the official ESTA system and must hold an e-Passport. CBP still decides admissibility after arrival, so carry the documents that support the purpose and length of your trip and answer inspection questions consistently.

• Land-border I-94 records are electronic

  Foreign visitors no longer receive the old paper I-94 stub as the normal process. At a land border, travelers who need an I-94 can apply ahead of time through the official website or CBP Link mobile app, then check the online record after admission.

• Preclearance is not available everywhere

  The current CBP preclearance network covers selected locations in Canada, Ireland, Aruba, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Abu Dhabi. If your departure airport offers it, follow that airport's instructions and allow time for U.S. inspection before boarding.