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.

He won’t be in power yet, so I assume you’ll be fine. I personally wouldn’t set foot in the States currently. I’m disgusted by the election results, and wouldn’t feel comfortable going somewhere that is busting at the seems with Trump supporters. Yuck

Thank you for this @SabrinaThwaite

I was in Syria before the war...in 2008. I'm a British Pakistani with a UK passport.

It’s not only about which country your passport is from, it’s also about whether you have travelled to those countries including on your British passport. If you have, you will
need to get a VISA as cannot travel on an ESTA.

Thank you for pointing out that for some people travelling to the US isn't as simple as one might think.
I have a friend who fell foul of this & couldn't get an Esta for the reasons you mention. They had left it too late to get a Visa so couldn't travel.

I think if you match the name of somebody on “the list” it’s pretty much an equal opportunity screwing around process.

A former colleague of mine was always pulled for secondary and a grilling when entering the US…

He was White, British passport, airline crew, entering as working crew using the correct Visa….but every *** time we as crew entered the States with him we had to leave him behind at immigration whilst we continued through the arrival process..

Since this happened multiple times a year/month he’d even discussed it with officials during the Visa renewal interview in London and they’d issued him with an explanatory letter but on the day there no way around the process…

I was in Syria in 2010 (visiting family, who are not terrorists, just to clarify!) and was able to access the US in 2023 for a work meeting. So can reassure slightly on that point :)

Yes, this happened to one of my students when I was escorting a student trip to NYC. Had the same (very common) name as someone on the no-fly list. Think Mohammed Aziz. He was hauled off into a side room for three hours, and all I was allowed to do was wait for him while sending the rest of the group on with another member of staff. He was terrified.

It would be very easy for Trump to extend this list excluding more people from applying for an ESTA. Would be an easy way to make it difficult for more Muslims to visit the US since visas are expensive and time consuming. I am currently excluded from an ESTA by this rule (incidentally brought in by Obama rather than Trump) and I am not Muslim and don’t have Muslim heritage.

I think people are being a bit dismissive in this thread but it’s probably better to go sooner rather than later and before Trump is properly in charge again.

What I don’t get is why Biden hasn’t amended it. Plus the ridiculous Cuba thing

Off we go with all the Trump haters who clearly have no idea of his policies, just hearing half a story and not bothering to fully research.
Trump didn't ban all Muslims from entering, just from specific countries such as Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Libya Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. Most are seeking asylum.

It was a democrat present that brought in the initial list which was a bit shorter. I believe Cuba is just to punish Cuba’s tourism industry as tourism is a major source of foreign currency for Cuba.

It’s caught a lot of people out. Such a shame.

American immigration were so awful to me in the 1980s I never went back. I'm a butch lesbian and the fool who was doing my check decided I was a gay man. And was homophobic to me. Luckily I was a surly know it all student activist, which may not have helped much looking back!
We ended our exchange when he said a lot of foreigners arrive in the US on holiday and never go home. I think I said " Mate I live in London, it's better than your country." I'm surprised he didn't just deport me on the spot.
Canadian immigration by contrast have someone who walks down the queue saying "Welcome to Canada."

That's exactly what we said!

Just to warn you that twice when I have been to USA with Asian friends they have been stopped for a "random" security search before getting on plane. Clearly not random as only they were stopped. Annoying but allow a bit of extra time as security hate you questioning them.

Usually if you've lied on it yeah

Ok, but it's still based on those 7 countries which we can all agree are either terrorists havens or pretty much failed states right?

Please tell me which country on that list is on your bucket list for 2025 vacation?

Also how does it differ from the long standing restrictions on people who have travelled to Cuba?

Has OP told you she has been to any of those 7 countries because what I see is an irrational blanket fear that she will be refused entry simple because she is Muslim not because she stated that she has been to one of those countries.

And as you rightly said she would have to apply for a visa not esta so it's not a blanket random Muslim ban, it's very specific if you have travelled to or are from those 7 countries you need to apply for a visa for more assessment.

Why are you being so rude? I merely pointed out that it extended beyond having a passport from those countries. I personally know a few people that have been impacted by this. One person (white, British) who worked in Iraq and another family where the mum and dad are originally from Iraq and are now all British citizens but they have visited their family in Iraq, including when one of their parents were dying.

As it happens, the OP has visited Syria in the past although it was outside the timescale that the rules apply to.

Yes, the person I know who was refused an Esta had been to one of those countries to visit family. She is born & raised in the UK but has grandparents etc still living abroad.
It happens & is probably the main reason why people from here are visiting those countries.

Update: we got our Estas! Thanks everyone. I am anticipating a grilling but hopefully we will be allowed in!

Fingers crossed any grillings are swift and hope you have a great trip xx

Glad to hear, you're not likely going to have any issues so don't stress about it. Have fun.