text: is it true that, coming from russia, a traveler to the u.s. must have $1000 in pocket, or won't be allowed in?   no, this is false.  i suspect you may have heard that from a  russian woman you met on the internet.  it is common for the scammers to tell men that they must have cash to show the passport office, immigration official, travel agency, etc.  it is simply a way of getting money from you.