006-7 BMIVUSA General tourism 16/10/06 3:33 pm Page 7
CUSTOMS USEFUL INFORMATION
U.S.A. Customs Regulations: Electricity
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2007
Personal Exemptions 110/120 volts AC, 60 cycles. Flat, two-pin plugs are used.
New Years Day Monday January 1
The following items may be brought in free of duty and inter-
Martin Luther King’s Day Monday January 15
nal revenue tax provided they are for personal use only, and Dates
President’s Day Monday February 19
not for anyone else, or for re-sale. Dates are normally written starting with month, followed by
Memorial Day Monday May 28
• Personal effects (e.g. wearing apparel; articles of personal day and then year. For example, December 25 2005 is writ-
Independence Day Wednesday July 4
adornment; toilet articles; photographic equipment). ten in the US as 12.25.05, not 25.12.05. Labor Day Monday September 3
• One litre of alcoholic beverages (e.g. wine, beer or liquor) Columbus Day Monday October 8
if you are an adult non-resident over 21 years of age. At Tipping Veteran’s Day** Monday November 12
the time of going to print (Oct ‘06) liquids may only be car- As at home, tipping is a common and expected practice. Thanksgiving Day Thursday November 22
ried on flights if purchased in the duty-free area. Suggested tips are: 10 – 20 per cent of the bill for meals in Christmas Day Tuesday December 25
• 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 3 pounds of smoking restaurants and the same to taxi drivers. New Years Day 2008 Tuesday January 1
tobacco, or proportionate amounts of each. About $1 per bag or suitcase carried by bellboys or ** In the USA, holidays falling on a Saturday move to
• Vehicles (e.g. automobiles, trailers, airplanes, motorcycles, porters at hotels or airports. Chambermaids should not be Friday, and holidays falling on a Sunday move to Monday
boats) for personal use if imported in connection with your tipped unless you stay for several nights. On these public holiday dates, all post offices, govern-
arrival. If going on an escorted tour, check beforehand whether tips
ment offices (including the US Embassy in London) and
are included. If not, the tour guide and others will expect a tip.
banks are closed. In addition, some museums, shops,
Currency Regulations
libraries, restaurants and nightclubs are closed. In addition,
There is no set limit on the amount of money (U.S. or for- Money
other holidays are observed in individual states and regions.
eign currency), travellers cheques or money orders, that you All major credit cards are accepted throughout the US.
may bring in, or take out of the United States. However, a When hiring a car or booking into a hotel, an imprint of a Taxes on petrol, cigarettes and alcohol, however, are built
report must be filed with U.S. Customs at the time you arrive credit card is usually taken in advance to cover extras. into the final price.
or depart, if you have in your possession an amount that Travellers’ cheques in US dollars are recommended. If
exceeds $10,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency. A these are carried, they will be accepted as cash in most Insurance
form may be obtained at Customs for this purpose. restaurants, hotels and shops. There is no agreement between the US and the UK for
It is recommended to arrive in the US with about $100 in medical or hospital care. There is no equivalent to the
Gift Exemption cash, including one dollar bills for tipping and paying taxis. National Health Service and medical expenses are very high.
A non-resident may claim, as free of duty and internal revenue Medical insurance is strongly urged, with the suggested cov-
tax, articles up to $100 in value as long as these gifts are intend- Shopping and taxes erage being a minimum of £1,000,000.
ed for other people. You also have to remain in the United Please note that electrical goods bought in the United States Anyone renting a car is also urged to take out insurance,
States for at least 72 hours, and the gifts must be with you at all may not work correctly in the UK, even when used with a as litigation claims are extremely common in the US and
times. This $100 gift exemption, or any part of it, can be transformer. The United States uses the NTSC broadcast payments are high.
claimed only once every six months. You may include 100 system which applies to items such as pre-recorded video
cigars within the gift exemption. Articles should not be gift tapes and video camcorders etc, not the PAL system as used
Brochures Available
wrapped, as they must be available for Customs inspection. If in the UK. Please ensure that your equipment at home is
The following brochures are available:
you are not entitled to the $100 gift exemption, you may bring compatible with such items. For pre-recorded DVDs, the
• Customs regulations for non residents
in, free of duty, articles up to $25 in value for either personal or USA is in Region 1 whereas the UK is in region 2. Again,
• Travellers’ Tips on bringing Food, Plant and Animal
household use. Neither the $100 gift exemption nor the $25 check if your DVD equipment at home is compatible. Products into the United States
exemption may be grouped together for members of a family. With a few exceptions, it is not normally possible to claim
• Importing a Car together with detailed information
It should be noted that a limit is imposed by some states back local and state taxes paid in the USA.
about U.S.
on the amount of alcohol that can be taken in. Customs can- Hotels in some destinations may charge an occupancy tax
Immigration & Customs Enforcement Attaché, U.S.
Embassy, 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE
not release alcoholic beverages above the limit as laid down in addition to city, state and federal taxes on beds. Car rental
or visit
http://london.usembassy.gov/ukcustom.html
by the state in which you arrive. companies may also do the same in some areas.
Great value
Drive the USA
car rental
With handy locations throughout the States including
many on-airport, Alamo’s got the USA covered.
There’s peace of mind too, with our great value inclusive
rates providing ideal protection to send you on your way.
So just relax and enjoy the drive – Stateside.
For the latest deals
click
www.alamo.co.uk
.co.uk
or call 0870 599 4000
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR BROCHURES, GO TO WWW.VISITUSA.ORG.UK OR CALL 0870 777 2213 VISITUSA TRAVELPLANNER 2007 07
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68