Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, and Finland have recently updated their travel advisories regarding travel to the United States. Tourists are therefore advised to strictly adhere to US travel regulations and be aware that there is no guarantee they will be allowed to enter the country, as the final entry permit is at the discretion of the border official. This follows recent instances where foreign nationals have been detained at a US border or denied entry, leading to tourists worldwide facing uncertainty regarding travel to the US.
Traveling to the US: Current Status
Around 50 countries, including those mentioned above, are part of the United States’ visa waiver program. This allows travelers from the participating countries to enter the country for tourist purposes without a visa. However, an electronic travel authorization (“ESTA-authorization”) must be obtained in advance. At the same time, a visa is necessary for purposes other than vacation and for every tourist from a country that does not participate in the waiver programme. In the past, there have been only rare cases in which tourists have been refused entry despite presenting a visa or ESTA authorization alongside a valid passport. However, several cases have recently been reported in which travelers have been denied entry or were detained pending deportation.
Updated Travel Advice from Germany
The German foreign office advises travelers to make sure to travel with a valid ESTA authorization or visa, which precisely meets the intended purpose of their stay, and informs them that
- previous convictions in the US,
- false information on the purpose of the stay,
- or even a slight overstay when traveling,
can lead to arrest, detention, and deportation on entry or exit. The German authorities also clarify that a Visa or ESTA authorization does not guarantee entry into the United States and that US border officials make the final decision on entry. Since the beginning of 2025, several German tourists have been detained or denied entry despite carrying a valid ESTA authorization and a passport.
Furthermore, recent events suggest that even Green Card holders can be stopped and detained by border control. At the beginning of March, German Green Card holder Fabian Schmidt was stopped and interrogated at Boston Logan Airport due to past charges relating to marijuana offenses in 2022. Reports indicate that Schmidt’s condition in detention has deteriorated, and US Customs has confirmed that he has been taken to a hospital. As of now, Schmidt remains in custody.
International Travel Advice Updates
The United Kingdom has also published travel recommendations explicitly advising travelers to comply with entry and visa conditions. It is also noted that the authorities enforce regulations strictly, and violations can result in arrest.
Moreover, Denmark and Finland recently advised non-binary citizens planning to travel to the US to contact the American embassy beforehand. Travelers who do not have a binary gender indication in their passport or those whose current gender differs from the gender confirmed at birth could be refused entry since, for ESTA authorizations or visa applications, the gender identity (male or female) that existed at the time of birth must be stated and match the passport shown at border control. These regulations also concern travelers from Germany who have a different gender designation or an ‘X’ as their gender designation on their passport.
Entry and Searching of Electronic Devices
Travelers should also be aware that electronic devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops, can be searched by U.S. border officials. This includes photos, social media apps, and location data, and it applies to travelers from any country. This regulation is not new, but recent events suggest that border controls have been increasingly utilizing it in recent times.
In early March, French scientist Phillippe Baptiste, who was planning to travel to a conference in Houston, was denied entry at the border. The reason for this is reportedly that the scientist stored confidential information on his mobile phone, thereby violating a non-disclosure agreement. However, it is also suspected that a chat in which he criticized President Donald Trump’s political approach to science was the reason for the denial of entry.
In another recent instance, a Lebanese physician working at the renowned Brown University in Rhode Island was also denied entry because her mobile phone allegedly contained recently deleted photos of Hezbollah leaders.
Proposed Changes to ESTA: Mandatory Social Media Disclosure
In December 2025, US Customs and Border Protection published a proposal that would require ESTA applicants to disclose all social media usernames and handles they have used in the past five years. The proposal also seeks to collect email addresses from the past decade, phone numbers from the past five years, and detailed information about family members. Additionally, applicants would need to upload a facial photograph alongside their passport photo.
Important: These changes are not yet in effect. The proposal is currently under public comment until February 9, 2026, with final implementation expected in spring 2026. The current ESTA process remains unchanged.
German citizens planning to travel to the United States for the FIFA World Cup in June and July 2026 should be aware that the new requirements may be in place by the time they apply for travel authorization. Our immigration law team can advise travelers on preparing their applications and ensuring compliance with current and upcoming US entry requirements.
The proposed requirements stem from Executive Order 14161, signed in January 2025, which mandates enhanced vetting of foreign nationals for national security purposes. If implemented, the changes would extend the social media screening already required for standard visa applicants to countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme, which has been in place since 2019.
If the proposal becomes law, failure to provide complete and accurate information could result in ESTA denial. This raises practical concerns for travelers who may have forgotten old accounts or changed contact details over the years.
Traveling to the US: Recommendations
Tourists are advised to thoroughly and regularly inform themselves about entry requirements and to take special care when applying for a visa or ESTA authorization to ensure that all information is complete and accurate. It is also crucial for travelers to be able to communicate their intended purpose of stay accurately, state their intended accommodation, and provide return dates. Incidentally, it remains to be seen how recent entry practices will be established in the future and how tourists can best prepare for a trouble-free holiday in the United States.
