I am planning to develop a website that offers local/tourist information about cities in the US and I was wondering if it would be possible for me to use a .us domain for it, while I am located in The Netherlands. I've already registered the domain using my US based hosting provider. Does anyone know if this is allowed?
Registrants in the usTLD must be either: 1.A natural person (i) who is a United States citizen, (ii) who is a permanent resident of the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories, or (iii) whose primary place of domicile is in the United States of America or any of its possessions [Nexus Category 1], 2.A United States entity or organization that is (i) incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories, or (ii) organized or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia or any of its possessions or territories (including a federal, state, or local government of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, and non-commercial organizations based in the United States) [Nexus Category 2], or 3.A foreign entity or organization that has a bona fide presence in the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories [Nexus Category 3]. Source: nic.us
Thanks for your help, I found the following about having a bona fide presence in the United States of America: Whether a prospective registrant has a 'bona fide presence in the United States' will be determined on a case-by-case basis in light of all relevant facts and circumstances at the time of application for a usTLD domain name. This requirement is intended to ensure that only those individuals or organizations that have a substantive connection to the United States are permitted to register for usTLD domain names. Factors that should be considered in determining whether an entity or organization has a bona fide presence in the United States shall include, without limitation, whether such prospective usTLD domain name registrant: Regularly performs activities within the United States related to the purposes for which the entity or organization is constituted (e.g., selling goods or providing services to customers, conducting regular training activities, attending conferences), provided such activities are not conducted solely or primarily to permit it to register for a usTLD domain name; Maintains an office or other facility in the United States for a business, noncommercial, educational, or governmental purpose and not solely or primarily to permit it to register for a usTLD domain name - or Derives a material portion of its revenues or net income from sales to purchasers located in the United States https://secure.fcsinternet.com/domainregister/bona_fide.html It seems ok then for me, as the website will be related to the US.