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It sounds like they don't like people staying for 2 months with only $600 liquid funds. Consider it from the perspective of a loan - if someone you don't know

It sounds like they don't like people staying for 2 months with only $600 liquid funds. Consider it from the perspective of a loan - if someone you don't know well asked you for a loan, and said it was secured against "cult-booblahs" and that they were meeting with another member who traded in "cult-booblahs" this afternoon to sort it all out, it probably isn't going to go too well. From security's perspective, they are going to be immediately thinking one of: some weird drug lingo/money laundering situation, some weird pyramid scheme, or some cultist or anarchist dealing in imaginary currency. You've just made a simple question far more difficult than it needs to be. It kind of raises the questions - why would someone with only $600 cash in the world be entering a rather expensive country for two months? From security's point of view, why would someone with only $600 cash have thrice that or more invested in some weird investment scheme? Finally, how does the founder of a bitcoin exchange have so little liquid assets/accessible emergency credit? As an FYI, the author mentions they're from the UK or Ireland, and we were asked the same questions in both places (ensuring you have enough funds to support yourself) upon entry so this isn't US specific. Bringing enough cash to support yourself is expected (you could have said you are collecting a $10,000 loan rather than bitcoin and you probably would have still been refused - visitors should be able to demonstrate they can support themselves for their trip without relying on some deal going through once they're in the country). I hope travel insurance covered the cost of the unfortunate trip.

narcissus 15y ago
Yep. I can't remember the last time I was not asked this question whenever I was going into a country for anything more than a day. As the article mentioned, he was asked about credit cards: this definitely has been my saving grace and on at least one occasion, I was asked to see how much credit I had available to me. For me, at least, it helped that I had a fairly high limit, and my latest statement to show that I wasn't close to that limit. One other thing that works in your favour is a return flight as well as prebooked/preplanned accommodation. If you can show that you already have 'where to stay' worked out (this includes a phone number and address, especially if staying with friends), and that you have already worked out how to get home, that kind of stuff makes things a lot easier. In my experience, at least.

narcissus 15y ago

Yep. I can't remember the last time I was not asked this question whenever I was going into a country for anything more than a day. As the article mentioned, he was asked about credit cards: this definitely has been my saving grace and on at least one occasion, I was asked to see how much credit I had available to me. For me, at least, it helped that I had a fairly high limit, and my latest statement to show that I wasn't close to that limit. One other thing that works in your favour is a return flight as well as prebooked/preplanned accommodation. If you can show that you already have 'where to stay' worked out (this includes a phone number and address, especially if staying with friends), and that you have already worked out how to get home, that kind of stuff makes things a lot easier. In my experience, at least.