Will we be allowed entry into the US??

[Haleesi45]

Hi, we are a Muslim family. My husband and I booked tickets to take our teenagers to New York during the Christmas hols. They were so excited but now post election...I'm worried we won't get a visa or worse be refused entry at JFK.

Ridiculous

I'm not Muslim.

But I remember travelling to visit USA before Trump was president,

And then travelling to the USA when trump was president.

I definitelty got much more of a grilling and an interrogation, when trump was president.

Have you forgotten trumps famous travel bans already.

He implemented them last time

No but he put travel bans against people from certain countries

Yes, countries that have a high terrorist risk. So no ban on muslims. Just bans on people (whatever their religion) entering the US from very high risk countries.

People do like to scaremonger and pretend that anyone in a hijab or named Mohammed was refused entry though.

You're really taking the all hell break loose narrative from the Democrats too seriously lol.

Besides you're going in December he doesn't take office until January but irrespective it's ridiculous to think you would not be allowed in because you're Muslim. Did he stop Muslims entering last time he was president?

He doesn’t become president until January so as long as you have visa no issues

Should be fine, OP, he won't be President at that point.

Do your ETSAs now, you also can’t renew your passports (otherwise you have to redo the ETSA as it’s linked to your passport number).

If for any reason they are rejected it can take months to get a Visa approved. Do your ETSA now this evening, go through the official website not a handling company as they charge you more.

It’s not completely ridiculous to be worried. I was cabin crew and regularly saw colleagues pulled into secondary at immigration for simply having a Muslim name. And they had visas, never mind an Esta. It was usually because they had the same name as someone on a “wanted list”, but they said it happened every time they went. US immigration can be a pain in the butt. But New York is one of the more sensible. And I’m sure loads of Muslim people get through without problems anyway.

People have short memories. In 2017 Trump banned Muslims with a connection to a number of countries. The idea of travel disruption is not ridiculous he did before.

You are being silly. There never has been a Muslim ban, the restrictions are/will be on countries where people could potentially pose a risk to US security.

And some people don't read the original post. OP is coming at Christmas. Trump won't assume office until January.

US immigration is rough.

One time I went down from Canada to the USA. My Canadian friend drove us down. He wanted to go down for the weekend.

Honestly I've never been as interrogated in my life! As at border control there.

I had my eyes scanned, fingerprints taken, sniffer dogs in and out of our car. Then they took me to a side room and grilled me for forty minutes.

The worst thing was , I told my American friends about this later on.

And they looked at me suspiciously and said " why. What did you do to get that treatment. You must have done something.

They thought I must have done something to deserve it.

Whereas when I talk to non Americans, they totally understand. They say "it happened to me too!"

It will be your passport that would be the problem, not your religion. If its UK passport you should be fine. If you wear a hijab it will be clear you're Muslim, but if you don't they may not even realise - it's not on your passport etc.

You don’t need to put hotel details on the ESTA application. You do need proof of where you’re staying when you arrive - the hotel booking for instance (and they will check).

Always a good idea to have the ESTA in hand before booking flights and accommodation though.

Damned by faint praise there.

Your memory is rather short wrt Muslim travel bans. Or maybe you like splitting hairs about passports from certain countries.

She isn't being g ridiculous

Why are so many posters saying this is ridiculous?

This was one of Trump's first policies last time he became president and affected one lot of my cousins trying to visit my other cousins in the US.

Have you been to Cuba in the last few years? I can’t remember the exact details but a friend who had couldn’t get an ESTA for their planned trip to NY and had to apply for a visa instead. It took them ages to get it sorted.

This thread shows how much people don't know about something, but like to talk.

I personally know Muslim people who have been turned away from entering the US after being questioned, and two for having one parent from countries they raise an eyebrow at (no, not the ones you'd automatically think of!). All of this after ESTAs and one even after a work permit!

You cannot normally apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you were in the following countries on or after March 2011:

• Iran
• Iraq
• Libya
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you travelled to or were in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.

If you are not eligible for an ESTA, you must instead apply for a US visa.

————-

If you need to apply for a visa then it can be a very long procedure.

I wonder why that's in place for Cuba?

Cuba was designated a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ by the US on that date.

It's a bit strict though to say that people can't even visit Cuba and then visit the USA on an ESTA.

But they go all out !

You should be fine. Astonishing though that people are so dismissive of your fears. I travel with a work colleague who has a french passport and is north African looking. He has never been in trouble with the law, I have known him 15 years.

He is stopped and questioned on entry to the US everytime. It's fine but pretty depressing each time.