I'm a Canadian traveling to the US next month. I haven't traveled internationally before and I'm not sure how money works. Am I able to use my credit card in the US? I have a $2000 limit, will USD transactions apply to that via the exchange rate or something else? Is my card able to be preauthorized by a US merchant? Can I withdraw from US ATMs using my debit card?
1508
Recently my wife and I traveled to Italy and before we left we got about 85% of our money in travelers checks and the other 15% we carried on in cash. When we arrived there, no one would take our travelers checks and many places did not accept credit cards. Eventually, we found some currency exchange places that would take the travelers checks and give us Euro's, but at a 7-15% fee, which was not really a very fun surprise.   While I was under the impression that it is safer to use travelers checks, it seems that they were not really accepted (the usual explanation being fraud). So the question is, is it best to just exchange your currency at home and carry all of it with you when you travel or are there other alternatives to carrying cash that are safer and cost effective?
85709
I am looking to open up a new credit card. Throughout college, I had a credit card from a store, but since I don't really shop at the store anymore, I am not really getting value out of the card (besides that it gives me a limit that I pay off in full every month to build credit).  What criteria should I consider when looking at various credit cards before choosing one to open? I am hoping to get a card that has some type of reward option like cash back or points to something, but I'm not really sure where to look. Is there a site that compiles the various types of credit cards that would allow me to look in one spot as a starting point?
58913
Sorry about my wrong terminology, thank you for the corrections, I am revising my question a little so hope it is a little clearer. Thank once again.  We plan to travel to the US (Colorado) from the UK in early February 2018 under the VWP. Our return flight to the UK is scheduled for mid-June 2018. We plan to purchase an RV and then spend 60 days in the Western US then travel overland into Canada for approximately 40 days (asking US immigration to log us out when we leave). We understand our 90-day allowance will continue to 'run down' whilst we are in Canada. Our questions are:   Will our initial 90-day allowance expire when we are 'logged out' by US immigration. If not, does it matter? If our entry into the US expires whilst we are in Canada, is there any process for a UK citizen to apply for some sort of visa that would guarantee entry into the US for another 25 days or so? After spending approximately 40 days in Canada (therefore 100 days after we originally entered the US), will we be able to simply apply for re-entry into the US at an overland crossing from Canada (and will the initial VWP entry in February have any bearing)? We will then spend approximately 25 more days in the US, heading back to Colorado to sell the RV and fly back to UK around mid June 2018.   While I understand that the B2 visa option would solve this issue, getting that process completed (timescale, interview in London, etc) makes it impractical for us in this case.
88697
I have a credit card with a $700 limit and I am curious how to optimize credit gain with it. Right now, I use it once a month (usually on something small like a drink from a convenience store or something) and pay it off immediately. I am basically using it like a once-a-month debit card for tiny purchases.  I do this because I always hear that loading up your credit card to its limit looks bad (as if you "need" to use it, and are therefore more risky). Is what I am doing optimal or can I improve my credit in other ways?  This card also has an annual fee (something like $30) so part of me also wonders if I am wasting money. I don't particularly use/need credit cards, but I don't want to lose out on building credit, either, in case I want a house someday. I have student loans but I don't know how much those actually help.  I pay off all my debts each month otherwise.
57510
My friend, a Chilean citizen, is entering the US via waiver program to spend 3 weeks in USA in a couple of weeks. She already got her ESTA approval, the plane ticket, all hotels are already booked (but paid by me, not her).  How much money would she need to bring with her when entering US? Do they still check this? She would of course have credit cards with her.
103712
I am from Japan. I have moved to UK recently on a spouse visa.   I still have my Japanese bank account which I have been using even before I came to UK. I have saving in that account and also my parents transfer me some money per month in my bank account in Japan. I have an International Debit Card on this account.  I am withdrawing this Money in UK via ATM / Debit Card.  In this case, do I have to pay taxes in UK or declare this as income in some form.
71367
I was on Instagram and saw someone's post about making extra cash.  I inboxed her for details and she said her manager will deposit funds into my account, then I would send them $2000 to split between the both of them.  She stated that I would need to overnight my bankcard to her so her manager can process the deposit.  She didn't ask for anything (neither SSN nor routing or account number) but the bank card only.  I assume that it is a scam.  Can anyone elaborate on this type of scam?  She claim it's not a scam.
10658
I just moved from Canada to US and want to add my USA address and credit card with US billing address to PayPal, but not able to do this. I read this  from 2011, and it looks like I need to open new PayPal account.  Is it only way to do this?   I prefer to use the same account with Canadian and US credits card on it.
20788
I saw  recently where a man withdrew $600,000 USD in cash from his bank.  I'm sure many folks here would advise against this move for obvious (and perhaps not-so-obvious) reasons.   My question: suppose you did this and then, some months later, changed your mind and wanted to re-deposit with a bank.  I assume the gent cannot simply walk into a bank with $600,000 USD and deposit it, right?  Wouldn't money-laundering alarms be raised?  Wouldn't the IRS like to know where the money came from?
33613
I'll be visiting the UK in a few weeks, and I understand that the UK credit/debit card system works on a "chip-and-pin" system. As far as I can ascertain via Google, US cards don't have this system on them. I've also read on some websites that certain readers will not process cards without the chip-and-pin, but I'm not sure how widespread such readers are.   With that in mind, is it likely that my US-issued card  will be generally usable in the UK and other countries with the chip-and-pin system, or should I be ready to exchange cash? In addition, does credit/debit make a difference in this regard?
15981
I wish to travel to the US and think I am eligible to do so under the Visa Waiver Program. I found a lot of information out there but am still having some trouble understanding how this works.  What is the US Visa Waiver Program? What is an ESTA?
92479
Early in June I'll be travelling to the US..  I've heard various bits of news about the rules for taking laptops to the US. That they won't be allowed in hand baggage, or they won't be allowed at all, or no change has taken effect yet, or that they only apply from certain starting points.   What are the rules for taking a laptop on a flight from the UK to the US?  Where can I find up-to-date information on this?
113484
With just under a week to go until I head for Europe I made an epic faux pas.  Instead of ordering a Visa debit card with 1500 Euro added to it, I have ended up with 1500 Euro in cash.  I cannot take it back to the currency exchange place as they will charge me a fee to put it onto a card etc.  I do not really want to be travelling around Europe with 1500 cash in my hand especially when I will be staying in hostels where it could be stolen.  Is there any Euro cards or banks where I could dump the cash and then access it when I need it ?  I will start my trip in France and will be there for 3 weeks.  Like a temporary bank account?
100244
My Bank of America checks contain my routing &amp; account number, which I've used in the past to make purchases online, among other things. Anyone whom I pay with a check has this information. It seems like this account info is even more sensitive than my credit card #, since with Visa I am protected with a Zero Liability policy, but I do not know that to be the case for my checking account.  I may be naive, but there's a lot of people I've paid with checks whom I would never give my credit card (e.g. people I've bought from on Craigslist). I'm now wondering if it's irrational to do this.
74412
I am visiting my brother here in the US, and I am staying for 3 weeks. I used esta in order to come to the US. We want to visit Montreal (Canada) for two days and come back to the US. (We are going there by car)  Will I have problem coming back to the US? I mean esta doesn't expire for at least 2 more months, but if I leave the states, and come back two days later, would esta still be valid? can I come back? Thanks!
33796
I want to transfer money to an American bank account, but I am in Canada.  What is the cheapest way to do so?   has:    - $700 limit, $4 charge Vanilla wire transfer (My bank requires it be done in person and charges $30 per transaction, limit $3000) Cheque: ($40 fee?)   Any gotcha's (i.e. HIDDEN FEES) and / recommended methods?
39108
I was admitted to the US as a visitor for a period which expires soon.  Until tonight, I had solid plans to return to Europe soon, prior to the expiration of the visa entry, but that is no longer an option.  I do not wish to overstay or do anything that would cause problems with future admissions or visa applications.  However, I can't go back to Europe because of new travel restrictions put in place by the US government (/resulting flight cancellations).    My passport still has years of validity left.  What is the best course of action? Is there any official guidance on this subject?  I am a little concerned that contacting officials to explain the situation would just lead me to be flagged for prompt enforcement action, but I don't want future problems.    Related:  and .    Update: OP now planning an escape to Canada.  The question still stands, though.