3 ms·

On a general note, so far the cases I've read about are often when their story deviates even a bit from their stated purpose of stay. So if you say vacation, yo

On a general note, so far the cases I've read about are often when their story deviates even a bit from their stated purpose of stay. So if you say vacation, you better show hotel reservations from start to finish dates, return ticket and all. If prompted to share itinerary, but you were also planning on attending some meetup or conference here, visiting an uncle there, maybe going to Mexico or Canada and then back, that's where it gets murky and they could get you. I read about a case once of someone tricked into answering a work e-mail, for their employer located in their home country while in the US for vacation, and for that they denied entry to this person. Honestly I'm not sure what I'd say in this case. It seems that points of entry used by the typical traveler that enters through them, are better as they are more familiar with the local situation. If you are the odd one there, you might get singled out as they try to make sense of your story. So I'd prefer entering through an international airport close to where I'm going, than say, by car from Mexico. For now, I'd avoid entering through the south by car, but I don't think the same applies up north. For your case specifically, threeseed already shared good guidance. Make your trip make sense to outer observants, don't offer them unnecessary avenues of questioning, and keep documentation and contact numbers at hand.

CaptainZapp 1y ago
> So if you say vacation, you better show hotel reservations from start to finish dates, return ticket and all. I have no argument with the return ticket. Most countries insist that you have a return flight as a condition of entering. But having hotel reservations for the entire duration is just ludicrous. I often travel to places for which I have a reservation at the destination for a couple of nights and then take it from there. Going to Japan for almost a month with a 3 week JR rail pass makes it just about unthinkable to have the entire journey planned. So, I guess, no more US for me. Not that I'm currently tempted.
- mickelsen 1y ago
  Yeah, I usually don't keep reservations for an entire trip either, just the first couple of days if it's a longer stint. And usually the border people in all the countries I've been -including the US- only care about that, that you will be at least staying at the first place you state. You can change your plans later, that's normal, but given the extra scrutiny now, I'd avoid anything that could give them the chance of prying further.
discordance 1y ago
Here's a recent counter example. An Australian who was heading to the US on vacation was due to take a cruise departing from Miami was detained and deported. The reason given was that he took an "unusual route" from Australia via Asia. He mentions here that he took a premium economy fare that was cheapest with Cathay Pacific, hence the Asia stopover: https://archive.is/mCW2f https://archive.is/mCW2f

CaptainZapp 1y ago

> So if you say vacation, you better show hotel reservations from start to finish dates, return ticket and all. I have no argument with the return ticket. Most countries insist that you have a return flight as a condition of entering. But having hotel reservations for the entire duration is just ludicrous. I often travel to places for which I have a reservation at the destination for a couple of nights and then take it from there. Going to Japan for almost a month with a 3 week JR rail pass makes it just about unthinkable to have the entire journey planned. So, I guess, no more US for me. Not that I'm currently tempted.

mickelsen 1y ago
Yeah, I usually don't keep reservations for an entire trip either, just the first couple of days if it's a longer stint. And usually the border people in all the countries I've been -including the US- only care about that, that you will be at least staying at the first place you state. You can change your plans later, that's normal, but given the extra scrutiny now, I'd avoid anything that could give them the chance of prying further.

discordance 1y ago

Here's a recent counter example. An Australian who was heading to the US on vacation was due to take a cruise departing from Miami was detained and deported. The reason given was that he took an "unusual route" from Australia via Asia. He mentions here that he took a premium economy fare that was cheapest with Cathay Pacific, hence the Asia stopover: https://archive.is/mCW2f https://archive.is/mCW2f