Since the events of the 11th September 2001 and the destruction of the World Trade Centre, the US Government has paid special attention to airport security and provides regular advice to Americans preparing to travel abroad. Much American travel advice however, is directed at travellers, particularly those from the UK who are planning to travel to the United States.
British travellers who previously could enter the US and stay for 90 days under the Visa Waiver programme, now have to get an electronic travel authorisation prior to setting off for the United States. Anyone without an electronic authorisation will be refused entry to the United States so it is advisable to apply for the authorisation at least 72 hours before your flight time. In the United States, as to a lesser extent in Britain, there is a constant threat of terrorism, including those places frequented by foreign visitors. British visitors to the US are advised to be on the alert and to be aware of the dangers of car and street crime in cities such as New York.
The US Department of Homeland Security has given all international flights into the US a high security warning and there may be extensive security checks at airports when travellers arrive from abroad. Security checks on departure from the United States are often less extensive, although visitors returning to the UK could find that they are subject to extensive checks on entering their home country. Visitors are warned to be on their guard for terrorist attacks, particularly when they visit high profile public places such as the Empire State Building.
In America the law varies from one state to another, however, if you are a young person travelling to New York for the first time, you should be aware that in almost all states it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol. If you plan on travelling to Arizona it is advisable to carry your passport with you at all times as you could be stopped and without proper documentation, possibly arrested under the state’s new immigration laws. If you do have problems when you travel to the United States from the UK you need to explain that you are a British National and ask to speak to the consulate.
If you have UK emergency travel documents you should be aware that under the new Visa Waiver law you will no longer be eligible to enter the US with these documents. You should be aware that more than five million UK citizens visit the US every year; however, there are still a number of them that experience problems requiring the help of the British consulate. Between 2009-2010 there were more than 3,000 instances of lost or stolen passports, more than a thousand arrests and 126 cases of hospitalisation. While most visits to the United States take place without any problems you should know that many of them took place in New York and Florida, the two top destinations for UK visitors.