Things to note when traveling to the United States by car: How to fill in the U.S. entry card?

When traveling to the United States, you must be prepared for the cold return concept strategy, so that you can better visit the editor below. Next, congratulations on coming to the United States with you. The most important thing is how to fill out the arrival card.

1. Time difference: China is 12-13 hours ahead of the United States. The United States is large and spans 5 time zones. Therefore, when traveling long distances in the United States, you need to adjust your watch at any time.

2. Best travel time: The best time to travel in the United States is spring and autumn (March-May/September-November), and April-October is the best time to travel in the western United States. You can avoid the rainy season at this time, and the four seasons in the eastern United States are obviously suitable for travel.

3. Consumption level: The consumption level in the United States is higher than that in China. A 2L bottle of Coca-Cola is about US$1.50-2, a bottle of mineral water is about US$1, and a steak in a restaurant is about US$60 per person. In addition, consumption in the western United States is relatively cheaper than in the eastern United States.

About air tickets and luggage

Air tickets

There are two ways to fly to the United States: connecting flights and direct flights. Currently, except for Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, there are no direct flights to the United States from other cities in China. Cities with direct flights to the eastern United States include New York, Boston and Washington. Typical flights are 12 hours in the western United States and 14 hours in the eastern United States.

Direct flights: Direct flights to the United States are available from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Prices range from 6,000 to 8,000. Direct flights to the United States don’t require too much hardship on the journey, so if you’re looking for cost-effectiveness, you can spend a few hundred dollars more to fly direct.

Connecting flights: Generally speaking, if you are flying to the United States, connecting flights are cheaper than flying direct. You can choose to transfer in Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong. Flying to the United States from Hong Kong is cheaper than flying from Tokyo Narita Airport. For families traveling with kids, connecting flights is a good option. In addition to being cheap, you can also take a break and fly without being too tired.

Tips:

1. Don’t blindly pursue cheap air tickets: Some round-trip air tickets to Los Angeles in the United States will be very cheap, but you have to consider whether you want to take them with your own itinerary . Sometimes, the same entry and exit, plus domestic air tickets in the United States, may even be more expensive than entry and exit from different cities.

2. Pay attention to the seats on long-distance flights: For taller and fatter passengers, please pay attention to the seat width when choosing a flight, otherwise it will be very difficult to sit on long-distance flights. In the international area, you can choose your seats freely, and sometimes the seats for Asian guests are not very good seats. If you have special requirements for seats, you can apply for seat selection or upgrade.

3. Aircraft facilities: Most aircraft flying to the United States have USB charging ports and even provide wifi. This is still very convenient.

Luggage

Usually you can carry two pieces of 23KG luggage on international flights in the United States. However, it should be noted that domestic flights usually do not include checked baggage, and each piece of checked baggage requires an additional fee of $25. Therefore, when picking up your luggage, you must consider the baggage weight limits for the international segment and the domestic segment. It is recommended to bring a large suitcase, a carry-on suitcase or a carry-on bag. If you need to shop in large quantities in the United States, you may consider buying boxes and packaging directly in the United States.

Tips:

1. Remember not to bring things to others. After getting off the plane and getting your luggage, please do not tear off the luggage tag. Do not move until all members have their bags inspected.

2. U.S. airports require that checked luggage is not allowed to be locked, because the luggage is not checked in front of the owner, but in the background. You've locked your luggage. If you need to open it, the staff can only take a pair of large scissors and cut your lock open.

About visa

U.S. visa application process: 1. Complete form DS1602. Pay in person for appointment 3. Face to face.

If the first or second step is too cumbersome and you are afraid of making mistakes, you can hand it over directly to the travel agency. In addition to filling out forms, some travel agencies will also help you make appointments for interviews. I suggest you book one that loves to travel. The customer service is very patient and the signing rate is very fast. You can book directly on Fliggy.

Step one: fill in D

First log in to_zh/cn-NIV-paymentinfo.ASP,,,,If you apply for it by yourself, the US visa is complicated. If you fill out the form incorrectly, you can't change it, so you have to start over. So I suggest you leave it to a travel agency.

Interview

All materials must be placed in a transparent bag during the interview. Opaque bags or backpacks are not allowed into the embassy. No food, liquids, electronic devices, etc. is allowed. If you bring the above items, you will be refused entry by the embassy and will have to reschedule your interview.

About entry

Input process

First fill in the customs declaration form issued by the stewardess on the plane (the entire form must be filled in capital letters).

Get off the plane, follow the crowd to the arrivals hall, look at the signs, and take the foreign/non-resident (non-citizen/foreigner) aisle.

Please enter your personal information before entering a row of monitors. If the card printed on the monitor shows O, you can enter the country directly through the express channel, and X can enter the country through the customs inquiry channel (generally there will be staff on site to guide you, so don’t worry).

Tips:

1. U.S. customs inspections are very strict and it is prohibited to carry fruits, meat, contraband, soil, animals and plants, etc. Pirated crops are not allowed into the country. Even legal works such as books, video tapes, computer software, artwork, etc. Limit one per person.

2. Please keep it for about 1-2 hours when entering the United States. (When multiple international flights arrive at the same time, check your luggage, etc. Customs clearance in the United States is slower.)

About insurance

My personal test recommends Allianz. Allianz Travel Insurance has a high reputation in China and is one of the world's leading insurance groups. It has comprehensive coverage and reasonable prices. It also provides comprehensive medical treatment, emergency rescue and various travel accident protections, which is suitable for the needs of overseas travelers. It has basic protections such as higher medical insurance, self-driving car insurance, financial risks, weather changes, legal risks, aviation insurance, etc.

Tips:

Data show that the average cost of private clinics in the United States is US$285, and the minimum daily hospitalization fee is US$1,980. If admitted to ICU, up to $6,000. In addition, financial security cannot be ignored. Credit card theft is a new risk that Chinese people need to be aware of when shopping in American cities and towns, so it is very important to buy insurance.

5. Tips about money

Currency

1 USD 6.39 RMB. It is recommended to bring 3,000-4,000 US dollars with you for the first time to the United States, and then bring VISA and Mastercard cards. It is convenient to swipe cards in many places in the United States, but very few ATMs have the ATM logo.

Tips:

1. If the itinerary has been booked, you only need to go to the United States for daily consumption. It is recommended to bring around US$3,000; if there is a lot to pay locally, you can bring US$4,000.

2. If the amount exceeds US$4,000 per person, it must be declared.

Tip.

What do you need to tip? Including restaurant waiters, hotel porters, housekeepers, hotel concierges, taxi drivers, tour guides, bar waiters, taxi drivers, etc.

How much do you usually tip? The general tip is 10%-20% of the consumption. For example, if you spend 100 US dollars, you need to pay a tip of 10-20 yuan.

Tip:

In hotels and restaurants, tips are generally included in your consumption and settled automatically, so no additional tip is required.

6. About self-driving transportation

The United States is a country on wheels, and the main mode of transportation in the United States is self-driving. In addition to self-driving, there are also buses, taxis, car rentals, chartered cars, etc.

Charter a car

If you are traveling independently and want to visit different attractions in one day, and the attractions are relatively far away, then you can choose to travel by car. Compared with public transportation, chartered cars are more affordable. If your English is not good, you can also choose a Chinese driver.

Before renting a car, you can communicate with the driver in advance about the route and pick-up time, so that you can be more worry-free whether traveling or traveling.

Self-driving

Plan your self-driving itinerary.

When driving in the West, be sure to plan your trip well. The program includes information on routes, hotels, car rentals and more. And you need to set aside more than 3 months of preparation time. In order to avoid being tired and pressed for time while driving every day, please plan your self-driving route carefully.

Self-driving route

Highway 1 - This road winds between the California coastline, extending from Los Angeles to San Francisco. There are cliffs on both sides, and it is rugged and winding for as long as More than 600 miles, it contains a strong American flavor.

Route 66 - When it comes to road trips in the United States, how can there be no Route 66? Today, many sections of Route 66 are abandoned. You can still go west by alternating interstates in Route 66 (such as I-55 from Chicago or I-70 from Missouri) or the National Scenic Byway known as Historic Route 66.

Certificate

Foreigners driving in the United States must carry four valid documents with them: passport, driver's license, vehicle registration card, and insurance card.

Rent a car

Usually rent a car one month in advance, and then you can pick it up at the airport. If you want to find your own car rental company, you can rent from Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, etc.

1. The car rental company should check the car carefully before picking up the car to avoid claiming compensation from you when returning the car. Then install the GPS, driving recorder, and cigarette lighter charging interface.

2. Drive your child using a child seat. Children under 2 years old cannot sit in the front seat. Children aged 7-8 years old need to wear seat belts. Children under 1.1m need to use baby chairs.

3. Pedestrians have priority. In the United States, pedestrians have the absolute right of way. If a pedestrian crosses the street, drivers must stop and give way regardless of the circumstances, even if there is no sidewalk.