To think it's crazy to be planning a holiday to the USA right now

[Fragmentedbrain]

I know border control there has never been a relaxed experience but the risk of being detained arbitrarily for weeks or longer seems unacceptably high now.

Yes, if that's the case does seem to be a bit foolish to plan a trip there.

Who has been detained arbitrarily for weeks?

Isn't there a new $250 tourist visa charge now too?

Don't be daft. Why would they detain you for weeks? Who has this happened to?

Am I missing something?

yes but most do under an ESTA which will increase to a max of $40 (no idea when)

If you've got dark skin they will put you through the Spanish inquisition at border control.

White skin, less so.

I can cope with the stern faces and no smiles or sense of humour at passport control.

I’m afraid to say it’s all your skin colour. My South Asian friends had an absolutely horrendous time. They will eventually get through.

A lot of staff have been incredibly nasty and not acting legally

No. The only people being detained for weeks are those already in the country illegally. Anyone trying to enter illegally from Europe just gets sent back on the next flight out.

The tourist visa only applies to those that need a visa. UK citizens dont need tourist visas, just an ESTA.

Most people qualify for an ESTA (visa waiver) which is a lot cheaper, although due to go up to $40. Although if you've been on holiday to Cuba since a certain date, you have to get a visa IIRC - that's one people often don't realise.

There have been several cases of tourists being detained and/or deported quite arbitrarily, but each of them had some issue, even though none of them warranted detention.

If you are an ordinary tourist on an ESTA you will be fine. As long as you don’t try to joke with border officials or over explain in response to their questions. Purpose of visit - tourism. What are you planning to do/see - Empire State Building, Disneyland, whatever. One word answers - no need to explain or chat. Make sure you have hotels booked.

The visa fee (hint… it’s in the name…) only applies to people requiring visas. I don’t think it has even been introduced yet.

Here now and it’s no different to what it’s been the last 20 years I’ve been travelling here. My black Muslim husband who has been briefly detained for questioning on some previous visits, sailed through immigration.
never heard of any visitors tax either.

I won't be going under the current regime as people with similar jobs to be (involving minority rights) have been detained at the border. If the border guards check online, they will easily find out what I do and have published. Which makes me a bit sad as I have family in America who I haven't seen since before covid and I like visiting the US and travelling around.

Its not worth the risk - and I could get there in 15 mins!

UK citizens dont need tourist visas, just an ESTA.

True for most but not all UK citizens. Check the instructions…

Why would anyone want to enter the U.S. illegally when they come from Europe? I wouldn't think that happens much at the moment.

Many of my family have just been to visit relatives, had no problems at all, I was concerned a little but it was totally unfounded. If it was just a holiday they probably would have chosen somewhere different based on the media but visiting family sealed it and they had an amazing time.

I've just been . Visiting family. It took quite a long time to get through immigration but they were being courteous to everyone. Weirdly, it was all the women who were fingerprinted.

It's obviously the part of the US I was in but it was surprisingly and reassuringly openly, defiantly Woke.

A fair number of tourists have been detained. The main risk seems to be if you don't have hotel accommodation for every night of your visit but also resisting showing social media on your phone when asked.

So you could have gone under the previous regime and visited your long lost family and not been sad, but you didn't.

Just in case you do decide to go, and they do take a look through your phone...

HI! YOUR PRESIDENT IS A NONCE.

Thanks OP.

Yes, I saw them yearly until covid and they aren't long lost. Talk about adding your own interpretation to something...

I hadn't had time to travel for various work and personal reasons post-covid, and now under the current regime I don't feel comfortable taking the risk.

If I go I'll do what Helen Lewis does and take a blank temporary phone with basic Google maps and whatnot