Burlington Entry Requirements

Children, including infants, need their own passport and visa/ESTA if required by nationality. Children traveling with both parents generally need no additional documentation. Children traveling with one parent should carry a notarized letter of consent from the non-traveling parent(s) authorizing travel, including contact information. Children traveling alone or with adults who are not parents/legal guardians must carry notarized consent letters from both parents/guardians, plus copies of parents' IDs. CBP may question children and adults separately. Custody documents should be carried if applicable. Adopted children should carry adoption papers. Keep children's birth certificates accessible. Unaccompanied minors (traveling alone) must follow airline policies and may face additional immigration scrutiny.

Dogs and cats entering the U.S. must meet CDC and USDA requirements. Dogs must appear healthy on arrival and be at least 6 months old. As of 2024, new CDC dog import rules require: valid rabies vaccination (administered at least 28 days before arrival), microchip, CDC Dog Import Form submitted online 2-10 days before arrival, and additional requirements based on country of origin (high-risk rabies countries have stricter rules). Cats have no federal rabies vaccination requirement but must appear healthy. Some states, including Vermont, may have additional requirements. Pet birds require USDA import permit and quarantine. Other animals have varying requirements - check USDA and Fish & Wildlife Service regulations. Airlines have separate pet policies. Service animals have different rules under ADA. Prepare documentation well in advance.

Tourist visas and VWP do not permit work or study. B-1/B-2 tourist visas typically allow 6-month stays but cannot be used for employment or enrollment in degree programs. Extensions may be possible by filing Form I-539 with USCIS before your authorized stay expires - processing takes months and is not guaranteed. Working requires appropriate work visa (H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.) obtained before entry. Students need F-1 or M-1 visas. Exchange visitors need J-1 visas. Each visa category has specific requirements and application processes through U.S. Embassy/Consulate. Overstaying your authorized period, even by one day, can result in visa cancellation, deportation, and bans on future entry (3-year ban for overstays of 180+ days, 10-year ban for overstays of 1+ year). If you need to stay longer, apply for extension or change of status well before your current authorization expires. Consult an immigration attorney for complex situations.

Business visitors on B-1 visas or VWP (ESTA) can attend meetings, conferences, negotiate contracts, and conduct similar business activities but cannot be employed by a U.S. company or receive U.S.-source salary. Carry documentation: letter from employer explaining trip purpose, invitation from U.S. business contacts, conference registration, proof that foreign employer continues to pay salary. Business visitors cannot perform productive work. For actual employment, work visa required. Treaty traders/investors from certain countries may qualify for E-1/E-2 visas. Intra-company transferees may need L-1 visas. Specialized workers may need H-1B. Determine correct visa category before travel.

Previous visa denials, overstays, deportations, or criminal convictions can affect admissibility to the U.S. Even minor offenses or very old convictions may cause problems. Certain crimes (drug offenses, crimes of moral turpitude, multiple convictions) make individuals inadmissible. Previous immigration violations can result in bars to reentry. If you have any criminal record or previous immigration issues, consult an immigration attorney before applying for ESTA or visa. Lying on applications or to immigration officers is a serious offense that can result in permanent ban. Some inadmissibilities can be waived through formal waiver applications, but this requires legal assistance and advance processing. Be honest on all applications and with CBP officers.

Travelers connecting through Burlington to Canada must still clear U.S. immigration and customs, even if staying airside. You need valid documents to enter the U.S., plus valid documents for Canada (Canadian eTA for visa-exempt nationals, or Canadian visa). Allow sufficient connection time for immigration processing. If driving from Burlington to Canada, you'll exit the U.S. and enter Canada at a land border crossing - carry all required documents for both countries. U.S. exit procedures are minimal, but Canadian entry requires inspection. Check Canadian entry requirements separately.

U.S. citizens, including dual citizens, must enter and exit the United States using their U.S. passport. This applies even if your other passport is from a VWP country. Dual citizens cannot use ESTA or foreign passports to enter the U.S. Failure to use U.S. passport can result in delays and complications. Children born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens regardless of parents' nationality and need U.S. passports for entry. If you've lost U.S. citizenship through formal renunciation, carry proof. Non-U.S. dual citizens should use the passport that provides most favorable entry conditions (e.g., VWP passport if one nationality requires visa and other doesn't).