As a graphic designer, the idea of traveling to the United States for work is exciting. The United States is a vast and diverse country that offers an abundance of creative inspiration and potential for growth as an individual.
If you are planning to travel to the US for work sometime soon, here are a few tips to follow to ensure that you have a memorable and successful time. With everything from navigating the visa requirements to packing your bags correctly, here is what you need to know before traveling to the United States to work as a graphic designer.
Check Visa Requirements and Passport Validity
The visa requirements needed when traveling to the United States will differ depending on the country that you are traveling from, the amount of time that you are traveling for, and the reason that you are traveling.
As a graphic designer traveling for work, you will need to apply for a work visa, and this will need to be backed up or sponsored by a company within the United States that you are going to be doing work for. This kind of visa is known as a category B1 visa, as iVisa explains.
In addition to this, passport validity is also important, and you need to renew your passport before you leave, depending on when the passport expires or how many open pages you have left.
Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not very popular when you are traveling locally or traveling short distances because there isn’t much that could go wrong. However, when it comes to traveling abroad, especially if you are traveling for work with your own equipment, travel insurance can be useful should you run into any problems. Travel insurance can help with:
- Trip cancellation
- Travel delay
- Emergency medical expenses
- Lost or stolen baggage
- Loss of travel documents or passport
- Emergency services
- Accidental death
Travel insurance can give you peace of mind while you are traveling out of the country. When purchasing travel insurance plans, always be sure to review the policy terms and coverage limits so that you know what you are paying for.
Learn About the Currency and the Exchange Rate
The dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world at the moment, and this means that it is likely that no matter what country you are traveling from, you will have to work with an exchange rate to understand how much you are spending.
The US dollar is accepted nationally throughout the United States and is the only currency that is used. Before you leave to go and work in the United States as a graphic designer, keep an eye on the dollar exchange rate so that you know what to expect when you get there.
Pack Plug Adapters for Appliances and Devices
Depending on where you are traveling from, it is likely that you will need to have plug adaptors for any appliances or devices that you want to use while you are in the United States.
There are two main types of plug outlets known as Type A and Type B. Type A is a two-blade plug with parallel pins that are flat. Type B plugs have the same flat parallel pins as Type A outlets, but they also include a grounding pin.
Research the Weather
The weather in the United States not only changes with the seasons as it would in any other country, but since it is such a large country and covers such a vast surface area, the weather can differ from state to state or even city to city.
Before you leave, make sure to check the weather where you are going so that you can pack the correct clothing for your trip.
Organize Accommodation and Transport Beforehand
Going to the United States to work as a graphic designer means that you will likely be there for more than just a couple of days. This means that you should prepare and organize your accommodation and transport beforehand.
By doing this, you will know exactly where you’re going to stay and how you will get around, and not have to worry about it last minute when you get there. Some cities offer excellent public transport while others rely more on private vehicles or taxi systems.
