Go, but pay attention.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about United States
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Aliens entering the United States must obtain a visa from one of the U.S. diplomatic missions. Visitors may be exempt if they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt or Visa Waiver Program countries.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorists are very likely to try and carry out attacks in the US. Terrorism attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by tourists and foreign nationals such as: crowded places and mass gatherings transportation networks sporting and cultural events places of worship and religious sites hospitals and clinics, schools and universities Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities. The US Department of Homeland Security provides alerts within the US and its territories. If there is a life threatening emergency, call 911. US authorities regularly report that they have disrupted planned attacks and made arrests. Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
The US is a very diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT+ people differ hugely across the country. Check state and local laws for the areas you plan to travel to. Refer to entry requirements which may apply to LGBT+ travellers (see entry requirements ). Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →Right now
In the news the last few days
- Dozens of Springfield Haitians held in Butler County Jail face uncertain future2026-09-04
- Haitian college student who lost temporary protected status dies after walking into traffic2026-09-03
- Justice Department Seizes More Than $560 , 000 In Cryptocurrency Donations For Hamas2026-09-03
- US State Department warns Americans over Oman terrorism , armed conflict2026-09-02
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers worried about visiting the United States often fixate on social media narratives regarding nationality and perceived hostility toward British citizens. In reality, these fears are unfounded. The provided discussions contain no evidence of physical danger, crime, or specific scams targeting tourists in Austin, Nashville, or Chicago. Concerns regarding being shamed or mocked for an accent or nationality do not reflect the actual experience of visiting these cities. There are no reports of violent crime or safety risks that necessitate hiding one's identity or avoiding travel to these urban centers. The fear of anti-British sentiment is a product of online discourse rather than a tangible street-level threat.
“I know it's cool and trendy hate all things British in USA (culture, accents, the people, TV, food) and this getting me very worried for my safety and my own well being.
— r/travel
“Are these fears unfounded or are they things that I should take very seriously? should I hide my nationality and accent to be on the safe side?
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B · 120V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911
Tipping
Tipping is widely practiced in the United States. Standards vary, but gratuities are always given to servers in restaurants and bars, taxi drivers, parking valets, and bellstaff in hotels. When traveling in the U.S., try to keep some $1 and $5 bills in your wallet for small tips.
SIM / Data
The three largest mobile phone networks in the U.S. are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile. These all have good coverage of practically all urban/suburban and many rural areas of the country, although each network has strong and weak areas. There are many mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) that rebrand service on the major carriers' networks.
Cash vs. Card
The U.S. currency is the United States dollar ($), divided into 100 cents (¢). Foreign currencies are almost never accepted, though some major hotel chains may accept traveller's checks in other currencies. Some establishments close to the Canadian and Mexican borders accept their currencies, though usually at poor exchange rates. Japanese yen is sometimes accepted in Hawaii.
Zoom in
46 United States cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (7 sources)
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09