COVID-19 restrictions may affect the following. Be sure to check official sources for the current situation.
Visa/immigration issues
Since the rules change, it’s incumbent of the traveler to research and understand the latest requirements. These can be determined from the US Customs and Border Patrol site &/or the US Department of State site.
Visitors to the USA require a visa or be enrolled in the visa waiver program. The visa or visa waiver merely grants permission to land in the USA. The length of stay will be determined by the agent at the point of entry, and will be noted on form I-94.
A B1 &/or B2 visa would be stamped in your passport following an interview at a US embassy in your home country. Application for the visa waiver program can be achieved online.
With a B1/B2 visa, a visitor may be allowed up to 6 months for a single stay. After this time, the visitor must either exit the USA or apply for an extension of stay using form I-539.
Many B1/B2 visitors have reported visiting Canada for a period of time and re-entering the USA to restart the clock on a ‘new’ 6 months stay. However, there have been anecdotal reports that some visitors were refused re-entry because it was determined they were trying to get around the system.
Participants in the visa waiver program (also known as the ESTA program, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization ) may be granted a stay of 3 months maximum, with no way of extending the stay. After this time, the visitor must exit the USA. Be sure to access the official ESTA web site ( https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ ) to avoid paying unnecessary fees to a third party or scammer.
Drivers license
Your drivers/driving license from your home country will be accepted in virtually all US states. Specifically, your home license should cover you for the equivalent class of vehicle. A few states also require an international driving license (IDL), although the latter is merely an English translation of your home license. Some states specifically say that they do not recognize an IDL because it’s not a license per se. So be sure to bring your real driving license.