The visa policy of the United States consists of the requirements for foreign nationals to travel to, enter, and remain in the United States. Visitors to the United States must obtain a visa from one of the U.S. diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt or Visa Waiver Program countries. The same rules apply for travel to all U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands with additional waivers, while similar but separate rules apply to American Samoa. Overview Travel documents The U.S. government requires all individuals entering or departing the United States by air, or entering the United States by sea from outside the Americas, to hold one of the following documents: U.S. passport Foreign passport; for entry, a U.S. visa is also required except for: Citizens of the freely associated states (Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau) Nationals of certain neighboring jurisdictions (Canada and Bermuda generally; Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands under certain conditions; and Mexico under limited categories) Nationals of countries in the Visa Waiver Program (or of certain additional countries only for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands) U.S. permanent resident card (Form I-551) or temporary I-551 stamp U.S. travel document serving as a re-entry permit (Form I-327) or refugee travel document (Form I-571) U.S. advance parole authorization (Form I-512), or employment authorization document (Form I-766) annotated "valid for re-entry to U.S." or "serves as I-512 advance parole" U.S. military or NATO identification with official travel order U.S. merchant mariner credential indicating U.S. citizenship NEXUS card indicating U.S. or Canadian citizenship (only to or from Canadian airports) U.S. government-issued transportation letter or boarding foil (for entry only) Foreign emergency travel document or U.S. removal order (for departure only) For entry by land or sea from the Americas, individuals must present one of the documents acceptable for entry by air or one of the following: U.S. passport card NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST or Global Entry card indicating U.S. or Canadian citizenship U.S. or Canadian enhanced driver's license Enhanced tribal card, Native American photo identification card, or Canadian Indian status card U.S. or Canadian birth certificate, U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, U.S. naturalization certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate, only for children under age 16, or under age 19 in a supervised group Government-issued photo identification along with