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| Entry Regulations / General Information |
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Entry for German Nationals |
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In accordance with the "U.S. Visa Waiver Program", travellers holding a "non-immigrant visa waiver arrival form" (provided by the airline/shipping company) are exempt from holding a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. They must hold a machine-readable national passport that meets the requirements of the "U.S. Visa Waiver Program" - digital photograph and, respectively, integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information, depending on the date of issue of the passport - (machine-readable temporary passports are not accepted!) valid for at least the period of stay, tickets for their return or onward journey, and sufficient funds for their stay.
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Geographical Location |
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The USA occupies almost half of the North-American continent between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean as well as Alaska and Hawaii. The northern border is formed by Canada, the southern by Mexico.
The USA (official name: The United States of America) is a presidential republic with Federal states. The area is divided into 50 Federal states and the District of Columbia.
Also other numerous estates belong to the USA: American Samoa, Guam, American Virgin Islands, Mariana Islands, Midway Islands, Puerto-Rico, Wake Islands.
Total area: 7,827,620 km˛, with Alaska and Hawaii 9,529,063 km˛.
Administrative divisions: 50 states and the District of Columbia/DC with the capital Washington.
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Population |
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Population: approximately 263 million.
CITIES (metropolitan areas): Washington/DC (capital) approximately 600,000 (approximately 3.9 million); New York City 8 (18.0) million; Los Angeles 3.6 (14.5) million; Chicago 3.0 (8.1) million; Philadelphia 1.6 (5.9) million; Phoenix approximately 1.3 million; Dallas approximately 1.2 million; San Diego approximately 1.2 million; San Antonio approximately 1.1 million; Detroit 1.1 (4.6) million; San Francisco-Oakland 1.1 (6.25) million; Boston 590,000 (4.1 million); Houston 2 (3.7) million; St. Louis 385,000 (2.4 million); Minneapolis-St. Paul 366,000 (2.4 million); New Orleans 485,000 (1.3 million).
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Language |
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English is the national language. Visitors from abroad are also usually expected to speak and understand English. Even in hotels, tourist offices, restaurants, department stores and at airports on the East and West coast it is only in seldom cases that personnel is available, who speak other languages. In Florida as well as in the whole Southern part of the country, Spanish is also spoken and understood in frequent cases.
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Time Difference |
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Please note that in 2007, the changeover from winter to summer time will be performed earlier than in previous years, namely on 11 March 2007, whereas in Europe the changeover will take place on 25 March. During the period from 11 to 25 March the time difference between Central Europe and the US East Coast is accordingly only five hours (instead of six hours). This may cause problems for travellers to the US, for example with regard to dates processed by computer controlled calendar functions, or automatically generated travel schedules in North America. Travellers intending to visit the US during the interval mentioned above should, in order to be on the safe side, re-check the specified dates.
Central European Time (CET) -6 hours (New York) or -9 hours (California) or -10 hours (Alaska) or -11 hours (Hawaii).
From the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October the USA has the Daylight Saving Time, i.e. clocks are put forward by one hour.
As in Europe it is also summer time for most of this period, the same time difference applies (except for a few days in March/April, where the time difference is, e.g. in New York -7 hours or in October -5 hours.).
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Electricity |
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110/120V alternating current, 60Hz; American blade plugs are used. Adapters or dual converter are necessary.
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Postal Service |
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As there are relatively few post offices in the USA, travellers are advised to purchase a sufficient quantity of stamps. Stamp vending machines are found in hotels and shops; the prices charged for the stamps are higher by 25 per cent compared to the regular prices, however.
Air mail to Europe takes up to one week to arrive.
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Telephone |
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The international dialling code for calls from Western Europe to the USA is 001; in the case of calls from the USA to Western Europe the prefix "011" must be dialled prior to the relevant international country code (for example in the case of calls to Germany: 011-49). Telephone numbers beginning with "1-800" can be called free of charge, a service offered by most firms. The number of the operator responsible for the area of stay can be enquired via telephone 411 (charge: USD 0.35-0.85). The emergency number is 911. The operator, who can be reached by dialling "0", is responsible for answering questions and helping with problems. Reverse charge/collect calls can be made free of charge via specific telephone numbers of the U.S. telephone companies.
Many public telephones are by now exclusively operated with telephone cards offered by the individual telephone companies. An extremely uncomplicated option is the "prepaid telephone card" with a specific number of prepaid units. Phone cards can be purchased in supermarkets or at petrol stations. The dialling code listed on the card and another individual code must be dialled prior to the individual telephone number. Phone cards are offered by various telephone companies; travellers are advised to compare the charges levied. It is also possible to use a "calling card"; in this case calls are charged to the caller's credit card. Using phone cards for making calls to Europe is much cheaper than calling from hotels.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: police, ambulance and fire brigade: 911 in the cities, otherwise the operator (telephone "0") must be called.
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Mobile Phones |
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Mobile network technologies: GSM 850/1900 and iDEN.
A quad-band phone is needed for the GSM 850 network technology. Tri-band and quad-band mobile phones are capable to operate on GSM 1900 networks. A special iDEN mobile phone is needed for the iDEN network technology.
Information for users of mobile phones registered with German network providers: At present it is possible to use mobile phones connected to the E-Plus, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone networks in the USA due to international roaming agreements. Travellers intending to use other mobile phones are advised to contact their network provider for detailed information.
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Internet |
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Country code suffix: .us
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Public Holidays |
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1st January (New Year), third Monday in January (Martin Luther King Jr's. Birthday), third Monday in February (President's Day), last Monday in May (Memorial Day), 4th July (Day of Independence), first Monday in September (Labor Day), second Monday in October (Columbus Day), 11th November (Veteran's Day), fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day), 25th December (Christmas). Business calls should not be made on Friday afternoons during the summer months and before bank holidays; furthermore not on the second Monday in February (Lincoln's Birthday), Good Friday or on the Friday following Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November).
The main holiday season ranges from mid-/end-June to early September.
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Opening Hours |
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| Chrysler Building |
Banks - Mon to Fri 9a.m.-3p.m.; offices - Mon to Fri 9a.m.-5/5:30p.m.; shops - Mon to Sat usually 9/9:30a.m.-5:30/6p.m.; shopping centres until 9p.m., most shopping malls are also open during the weekends; small grocer's shops and alcohol shops are often open 24 hours.
Post office: Mon to Sat 9a.m.-5p.m. The main post offices in the big cities are open 24 hours a day.
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Clothes |
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In general the same clothes are needed when compared with Europe.
Most regions have a temperate climate in spring (April to beginning-June) and in autumn (September to October). Summer clothes, light between-seasons coats for the mornings and evenings.
In summer light summer clothes are sufficient. Light woolly garments are needed for mountainous regions. On the East coast, in particular in New York and Washington, there is very high humidity in summer months. As many office buildings, shops, public buildings and hotels are equipped with air-conditioning, always carry light jackets or cardigans.
It is recommendable to have protective clothing against rain. In winter snow may fall, although not in the South and in the southern part of California and in Hawaii.
In business life wear conservative clothes; in good restaurants jackets and ties.
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© 2001 All rights reserved TIP Gesellschaft für Touristik-Informations-Programme mbH, München Last updated: 14.03.2007 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright
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