Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark and Finland have recently updated their travel advisories regarding travels to the United States. Tourists are therefore advised to strictly adhere to US travel regulations and instructed that there is no guarantee that they will be allowed to enter the country since 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 have been denied entry – leading to tourists worldwide facing uncertainty regarding travel to the US.
Travelling to the US: Current Status
Around 50 countries, including the countries mentioned above, are part of the United States’ visa waiver programme. This allows travellers from the participating countries to enter the country for tourist purposes without a visa. However, an electronic travel authorisation (“ESTA-authorisation”) must be obtained in advance. Whereas 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 only rarely been cases in which tourists have been refused entry despite presenting a visa or such ESTA authorisation alongside a valid passport. However, several cases have recently been reported in which travellers have been denied entry or were detained pending deportation.
Updated Travel Advice from Germany
The German foreign office advises travellers to make sure to travel with a valid ESTA authorisation 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 travelling,
can lead to arrest, detention and deportation on entry or exit. The German authorities also clarify that a Visa or ESTA authorisation 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 were not allowed entry despite carrying a valid ESTA authorisation and a passport.
Furthermore, recent events seem to indicate 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 marihuana offences in 2022. Reports state that Schmidt’s condition in detention has declined, and US customs confirmed that he has been brought to a hospital. As of now, Schmidt still remains in custody.
International Travel Advice Updates
The United Kingdom has also published travel recommendations explicitly advising travellers to comply with entry and visa conditions. It is also pointed out that the authorities enforce regulations strictly, and violations can lead to arrest.
Moreover, Denmark and Finland recently advised non-binary citizens planning to travel to the US to contact the American embassy beforehand. Travellers 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 authorisations 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 travellers from Germany who have a different gender designation or an X as a 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 US border officials. This includes photos, social media apps and location data, and it applies to travellers from any country. This regulation is not new, but recent events indicate that border controls have been making greater use of it recently. 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 said to be 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 criticised 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.
Travelling to the US: Recommendations
Tourists are advised to inform themselves thoroughly and regularly about entry requirements and to take special care when applying for a visa or ESTA authorisation to ensure that all information is complete and correct. It is also crucial for travellers to be able to accurately communicate their intended purpose of stay, 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.
