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.

We're on holiday there at the moment, and it's wonderful 🤷‍♀️

Edited to add: ESTAs are currently $21pp though - and it's annoying that it'll go up to $40 soon. The $250 thing is dumb, even if it doesn't apply to me and my family.

A lot of people are being detained for spurious reasons. Personally I know that there would be a very slim chance of me getting in. I'm a criminal justice reform advocate and activist, my social media is FULL of all the stuff Trump hates, I'm autistic and LGBTQ, and would be going with my LGBTQ, also autistic mixed race kid with a very obviously 'foreign' surname... I NEED to go, but I can't take the chance. I think that many of the people commenting on here that there is nothing to worry about would probably fit into the category of having nothing to worry about in this regard - i.e. don't have all the 'woke' markers, demographics and social media feed. I think it's a good idea like you said to take a burner phone, and aside from that if I were you I'd weigh up if there is anything else about you that is likely to be flagged (demographics, job, etc.). If there isn't, you're likely to be fine.

Eh? I’m here now and no issue whatsoever. In fact it was quicker than other years!

I'm planning on going to New york for a wedding next year. We've been a few times. When my 1 and 4 year old is older id love for us to travel around the US for a bit. It's an amazing country. We go through immigration in Dublin airport instead of America which I think is better as I literally grab our bags in Philadelphia or Newark and jump into our car. All you need is your Esta and that's it. 🤷I've never had any bad experiences from their border patrol. You just answer a few questions about your holiday and go. I've found them to be a lot more polite than Belfast security.

I was in the US about 6 weeks ago. Immigration was quick and easy, the official was pleasant, no drama at all.

I went to a wedding on the east coast at the end of April this year.

Only needed an ESTA. entering the country was a much more "pleasant " experience this time round. In 2015 I was grilled , almost to tears.
This year I showed them the wedding invitations and where we were staying and how we know the wedding party. Also if I had any gifts to declare. (Chocolate obviously as it was just after Easter)
Plane was half empty on the way there and we had an excellent time.
Just wish I could afford to get back this year. Was really good fun.

That’s only if you have to get a visa. If you are travelling on an Esta there is no tourist tax

What advisories have they issued? My teen daughter is due to visit in October with school, I am watching the news carefully to see if it will be safe for her.

I wouldn't want to fly into Newark airport at the moment. Not with the short-staffing and power issues their ATC has had this year:

www.npr.org/2025/05/22/g-s1-68333/newark-air-traffic-controller-atc

ludicrous nonsense 👎🏾. arrived in the USA with my black partner on Friday. spent less than 2 minutes negotiating customs (we have current ESTA's; these don't guarantee entry, however). polite & friendly border control officer who stamped us in adding that we made a very stylish couple 👌🏾. stop with the politically motivated bullshit.

I’m here now.

Sailed through immigration with the DC even though DH wasn’t with us. My DSis arrived on the next flight with her DDs (also no DH) and her eldest daughter’s female, brown skinned partner with a recognisably south Asian surname. No problems.

The only difference I noticed was that the queue was longer than usual because they processed all the USA passport holders first before opening more desks to visitors - something that would be pretty welcome at Heathrow!

You mean Trump and his entourage?

Same thing happened to my son's friend, Canadian - he was held for 2 hours while all his devices were searched.

Thank you. This actually makes me feel much better about our upcoming trip

We went through San Francisco in 2023 and there was a two hour queue to do passports. Maybe they just need more staff.

If you are using an Esta no need to stand in line use the MPC app.
JFK in New York was 90 mins line v 8 mins using MPC in June. Can’t use MPC with a visa.
www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

Just back from US. A large proportion of the immigration staff are not white, so I'm not sure what you're implying.

What has changed? Has there been an apocalypse, or are you just unhappy that a country is finally securing its borders and being careful about who is being let in? Does your country have a more lax system for foreigners wishing to enter, and do you feel safer for it?

We’ve no wish to visit a country where its President continually threatens that we will become its 51st state.

We are planning a trip to Florida next year. Hadn’t even occurred to me not to, we’ve bee several times in the past. Lots of things I both agree with and disagree with as far as the current US government goes but the. That’s no different to how I feel about the U.K. there are plenty of countries who’s regimes I dislike more so we will go and have an amazing time.

Weird- I have literally just come back and there was no evidence of an alternative to standing in line. The MPC was for US passports only .

In fact, this is what it says:

'Available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA'

The website says that the MPC is available for returning ESTA users, but the TripAdvisor message boards suggest that people have used it for first time entry on a new ESTA but with a passport that they had entered the US on previously.

Not all airports offer it (most of the big international ones do) and you might not always see an MPC line.

You’ll need either data available on your phone or hook into free wifi on arrival to complete the MPC process.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k14671531-o40-MPC_for_uk_passports-New_York_City_New_York.html

Yes we are returners but I know from an Orlando facebook group first timers have used MPC successfully. Worth a try anyway.
JFK have signage up re MPC. Orlando in January didn’t we asked and they directed us to diplomatic line.