In an era of tightened borders and a new emphasis on enforcement in the Trump Administration, foreign visitors to the USA must be very careful not to run afoul of the visa they are traveling on. One 28-year-old British tourist has learned the hard way as she remains locked up in an American jail over a purported visa violation.
British Tourist Sits In Jail After Being Accused Of Working In USA
Let’s review the story and then discuss the implications for transatlantic travel:
- Becky Burke lives in Wales
- As part of her backpacking trip to North America, she obtained free accommodation at various homes in the USA and Canada in exchange for “helping host families around the house”
- While she had no trouble entering the USA, in February she tried to travel from Seattle, Washington over the Canadian border to Vancouver, British Columbia
- She was denied entry to Canada because officials felt she was going to “work” illegally in Canada
- Then she was detained while trying to re-enter the USA, with a US official also determining that her “host family cultural exchange” constituted work
- The US Department of Homeland Security placed Burke in an immigration detention center 10 days ago, where she remains today
- Burke has been allowed to use a shared iPad to call her parents and others, but cannot receive any calls
- While the family has reached out to the British consulate in San Francisco, it claims “official channels can’t get a clear answer about what is going on”
- The Trump administration has expanded its “voluntary departure” program and theoretically it should be easy for Burke to get on a plane and fly back to the UK
- But such voluntary departure must be approved by a judge and the Trump administration has fired several judges that handle these cases
- The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working to free her from US detention and get her home
This news is making headlines across Europe, but only starting to filter through the US media. I find the ramifications stark: even if Burke was in the wrong (I’m not an immigration attorney and I cannot definitively say one way or another), this move could place a chill on all valid and legal travel to the United States.
I think it’s reasonable to question whether a chores-for-lodging arrangement violates the conditions of a tourist visa. But good-faith mistakes should not be met by imprisonment, especially of Western nationals who have no incentive to stay in the USA on a long-term basis.
My wife Heidi and I have talked about hiring a German au pair to help us with the kids and if we do move forward with that, we will make sure we are not running afoul of any US immigration laws…reasonable or not, ignorance of the law is not generally an excuse
CONCLUSION
A 28-year-old British national remains in a US detention center for purportedly violating her tourist visa by exchanging housing for chores.
For me the issue is not so much whether she violated the law or not, but once it was determined that she did violate the law, why would a British national have to sit for 10 days in an American detention facility instead of being put on a flight back to London. What purpose does it possibly serve and at what cost to taxpayers?
My concern is that more cases like this will have a chilling effect on international travel to the USA, dampening demand just when airlines are gearing up for a record spring and summer of transatlantic travel.
image: a DHS detention center in Arizona
“especially of Western nationals”
Did you just support double standard racial profiling?
I would put Japanese, Hong Kong, Sigapore, Taiwain, etc in the same boat…my profiling would be socio-economic-based, not simply region based.
My German wife went through hell getting her green card. How pointless. Why would any Germany want to move to America and stay illegally?
No different than any beaner or other person that comes here illegally. If you are saying Germany is a better place than Mexico or China you may have a point but it’s certainly not America. And it’s still home to the place that killed 6 million Jews in some individuals lifetime. That legacy will be a negative on the country for centuries to come.
Oh give me a break. America is great for plutocrats, but not for the middle class. No sane Western European would want to live in the USA over the Netherlands, France, Germany, or Denmark.
On a trip to France I had an individual tell me that his goal was to relocate to the US because of high taxes in France. He stated that there was no way for he and his wife, both medical professionals, could get ahead with that tax structure. I have no idea if this was valid but that’s what he told me.
Could be – but it’s easy enough for a doctor to get a visa here and coming over, a French doctor cannot just start a practice the USA…it requires a lot of re-certification. I have a German friend who is going through that arduous process now in LA. Again, though – two doctors: we are talking about wealthy people, not middle class.
Now you’re putting Asians in a boat.
This is not what snowflake America is trying to be even under Trump.
“socio-economic-based”
Are you just saying critical race theory without saying it.
No winning with you…tja.
I’m saying financially stable people from outside the USA have little incentive to over-stay in the USA.
I stand by that comment.
Nothing snowflake about that and it has nothing to do with “critical race theory.”
I can’t speak too much about France as I have no relatives who are doctors in France, but I have plenty of relatives who are doctors in Scandinavian countries. They with their kids live a very comfortable and worry free life on their higher than average incomes for their countries. It’s way less pay than the American doctors in my my family get, but they also have way less stress, better working conditions, shorter commutes, and need to pay and save far less for their kids’ education and start in life as adults. And all the American doctors in my family have the good fortune of never having had to borrow money for school. For other American doctors, it’s far worse with the debt burden.
I haven’t seen any poor French doctors myself struggling to get ahead. The ones I know seem to live pretty upper middle class lives.
How is Germany better than Mexico? That is after or before Hitler? Give me a break
An ordinary tourist coming to the U.S. for a week or two would have no trouble. Even she said she was exchanging accommodations for “helping host families around the house”. If she had a signed contract or email string exchanging these services, it is work being compensated.
A problem is that she is coming by land so they cannot force an airline to fly her back.
She should be fined, required to show proof of immediate return ticket, and deported. If she is low risk, such as having a regular job in the UK, like a current nursing job with the NHS or on leave from a store clerk job, she could be released to a hotel after paying the fine and buying the return ticket.
Could Matthew hire a U.S. au pair from Alabama or West Virginia that wants to see life in California for awhile?
Is it subtle and hidden discrimination that his family wants to hire a presumably white German and not someone from Nigeria, Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia or Ghana? Maybe unconscientious bias?
It’s a deliberate bias becuase I want my children to speak German better!
Jawohl!
Great decision! I had my sister here when I was stuck in Europe and it helped my son tremendously.
Aren’t there any German-speaking Namibians?
Visa…
German aupairs need US visas to work as au pairs in the US. Whether it’s faster in Germany than for a Namibian au pair to get the appropriate US visas, it used to be faster in Germany. But nowadays it’s chaos in more places,
Many of the US Senators living in the DC area (usually VA) 10-40 years ago had German au pairs to support their DC-area (usually VA) households.
Not really, English, Afrikaans, and local languages are far more prevalent. Most of the German speakers in Namibia live in Swakopmund and are white, thus negating the point you were trying to make.
Peter Thiel. But he’s Musk-like in his love for apartheid era South Africa and hating democracy. Keep him away from kids.
Maybe they should send her to Panama instead? I don’t see how her nationality affects the situation. She entered the country with an incorrect visa – assuming she enter with a tourist visa scheme, she is not allowed to “work” as broadly defined. If she just couchsurfed she would have been fine. The crouch of the situation is that she was doing some duties while staying with an arrangement through a company called Workaway, which does not help her.
Also, the quotes on the title are unnecessary.
I find the situation a little more nuanced than you do…and I think people like that should be allowed to self-deport immediately.
Once someone is within the jurisdiction of ICE, “normal” laws do not apply. You can’t just say” I want to go home” and they take you to the airport. Same reason why USCIS agents can search your laptop when you enter the US, even if you are a US citizen.
I understand the way the system works (a deplorable system), but I do find it nonsensical as well.
Maybe it’s time for the US to crack down on companies like this to avoid any future disputes.
I don’t know if I agree that there is anything wrong with exchanging chores for lodging under US law, but certainly the company that arranged this should be on the hook for caring for Burke, any bills she incurs, and making sure this does not happen again.
What she’s doing is bartering and “the IRS views the exchange of bartered goods and services as a form of income and expects it to be reported as such.”
Now…you can debate the lunacy of our tax laws but this is pretty straightforward…you can’t work when entering the country as a tourist.
I would argue that the company is guilty of tax evasion and should be shut down.
Bartering would go under Schedule C, Sole Prop. https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420#:~:text=You%20must%20include%20in%20gross,from%20Business%20(Sole%20Proprietorship).
So, it is considered taxable income, generally. There are some exceptions.
The term “barter exchange” doesn’t include arrangements that provide solely for the informal exchange of similar services on a noncommercial basis (for example, a babysitting cooperative run by neighborhood parents). In bartering, usually there’s no exchange of cash. An example of bartering is a plumber exchanging plumbing services for the dental services of a dentist.
Matthew, I’m a big fan of your blog, but I think the blame here isn’t on Canada or the USA as they are just enforcing the law it’s on the company and the person. Hopefully, she is able to get back to the UK ASAP.
The USA could change the law to allow bartering on tourist visas, but people would then need to file USA tax returns, unless the Income standard test is also changed.
This story has had a lot of coverage in Europe. Regardless of the nuances of the example it is not sitting well with those who may travel to the U.S.
As I predict….travel to the U.S. is going to be gutted in the coming months.
That is a GOOD thing, especially for servers who get stiffed by these deadbeats.
Let’s face it, those “chores” were probably sexual favors to the type creeps that open their house to something like this. Has shady behavior and potential problems written all over from the start.
Congratulations to Canada for seeing through this scam.
Dear Dave, Your mind is really dark and twisted…
Nothing new, it’s what you’d expect from a MAGA boy.
Trump sucks so bad the beaners don’t want to come here. Look at the immigration numbers, one can only hope he continues to do things to MAGA and they stay in their sh#thole lands, eat tacos & bananas while we pick our own fruit and clean our own toilets.
Who is going to clean our toilets and pick our fruit? You?
Well there are going to be government workers needing jobs when the gravy train runs out. Can’t keep giving them handouts forever and they are type that cried about being in an office.
Touche though I’d refrain from the “cleaning toilets” remark. But yes, our groceries (fruits and vegetables) will most definitely be more expensive because no American will want to the back-breaking work, working through heat and rain. I’d bet even if you paid them $20/hour they wouldn’t do it.
“Who is going to clean our toilets and pick our fruit? “
Evidently air traffic controllers, and your grandparents whose social security has been looted by Big Balls and his henchmen.
“Beaner?” You are a real scumbag racist bigoted piece of sh*t. I hope you choke on your own tongue, you miserable Trumpanzee. It’s too bad that your father didn’t pull out in time and that the better part of you dripped down your mother’s leg
I’m pretty sure Canadians could care less about having “Thanks” from a racist and misogynist Trumper who enjoys imposing suffering on their nation for no reason.
What suffering has anyone had to deal with? Maybe some people that should have never been hired in the first place losing their jobs. But they are getting paid to leave and will get UC.
Otherwise it is more fearmongering by liberals and junkies worried their free ride is coming to an end. And having “mental health” crises because they are weak, sad individuals that are F’d in the head and are lazy POS that expect the government to fix all the poor decisions in their life.
Reading comprehension is not your strong suit. I was stating that Canada could care less about thanks from you when you support a man who imposes tariffs for no reason other than to cause suffering.
“… sad individuals that are F’d in the head!” It’s you, David!
Your narcissism shines through in your comments.
I recommend therapy for your past traumas. Something very harsh about your past experiences with illegal immigrant and bananas…
Get well soon.
Young, gay Taiwanese men have been doing that for years – basically sleeping their way across the States in exchange for room and board. Young Taiwanese women often go to “study Japanese in Japan” aka work in hostess bars.
Dave- What planet are you on? It’s like saying that all Italians are in the mafia when there are 300 mafiosos in a country of 56 million. I still hear this but it’s from people with limited intelligence and warped minds.
Sounds like Canada sounded the alarm before US authorities did. I have trouble feeling sorry for her- she got herself into this situation,
And Trump has nothing to do with it.
Canada’s border agents are even worse than the USA ones…that’s saying something!
But if Trump’s DOGE effort led to the termination of the judges that would rule on getting her out of the USA, then there is some level of culpability there.
Canadian border agents have a different agenda than American. When I cross the border, I try to address their concerns. Canada doesn’t seem to care about fruits but America does.
What is their agenda?
They hate Americans bringing gifts to Canada. They don’t want any guns brought there and will often ask “do you have any guns?” They don’t want cheaper, unmounted tires to be brought in.
I’ve traveled the world for 30 plus years, many visits to 3rd world hell holes. The hardest time I ever had at immigration was entering Toronto coming off a flight from DC. I finally told the guy to send me back. I don’t give an eff. It was an overnight visit, for a business meeting.
It’s also ironic that many of the 3rd world dumps I visit would never let me in without proper documentation and a visa. Yet the past 4 years the gates into the US were wide open. Come one..come all.
Trump firing judges who handle these cases – so thereby keeping her in jail for days – is very much his doing.
Far safer to avoid Trumpton altogether while Criminal Trump remains in power.
This almost happened to a friend whose mother was coming over from Europe to help her with the birth of her child. Border patrol at IAH accused her of coming over to “work,” since she was displacing someone else who might have been paid to do the same. After an hour or more of questioning, they eventually relented and let her in.
These tales are sobering.
In a good way, knowing they are doing their job.
In the above listed case, they had a valid concern about an American losing a job to a foreigner, therefore the laws exist for a reason.
Come on, you can’t be serious. A mother coming to help her daughter with a newborn is not going to be displacing someone being employed. People all over the world help out after a birth,
When my kids were born, their mum’s parents came over for a couple of weeks but we absolutely would not have hired a nanny for those two weeks if they had not come.
She broke the rules relating to their ESTA. Sounds like a her problem as for work in Canada work is “ Work is any activity that:
you are paid to do, or
you are not paid to do but is a job that:
you would usually be paid for, or
would be a valuable work experience for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (for example, an unpaid intern).”
That’s from the government of Canada website.
Kind of surprised at all the hostility in these comments, particularly given the intersection of digital nomads and points hobbyists in this space. Lot of people just doing this as a form of travel hacking.
I tend to agree that there is some nuance here, although “helping around the house” probably sealed her fate. But you can imagine all sorts of hypotheticals: would it be ok to let someone stay in your house without you, no conditions? would it be ok if you exchanged houses with someone in another country? if either of those scenarios is ok, is it not reasonable for them to look after themselves? etc.
That being said, these arrangements always struck me as dangerous — not because of Trump, but simply because of how immigration can interpret rules. Wouldn’t try it in the US, wouldn’t try it in Canada, wouldn’t try it in the UK.
Very fair comment.
Good quote from the BBC:
Immigration experts tell the BBC that once Ms Burke informed Canadian officials of her plans and they denied her entry, a suspension of her visa waiver and detention on the US side was probably unavoidable.
Many countries strictly interpret what constitutes compensated work – even if no money changes hands.
—
End of quote
BBC was probably her goal in coming here.
Here is another recent detention, this one at the southern border, with somewhat different “facts”:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/ice-german-tourist-detained-immigration
Is it relevant here that these detentions are happening at land crossings? Is it because the individual is not already at an airport and therefore would have to be transported by ICE? (Hard to imagine they’d be released on their own recognizance). I’m not saying this means the treatment is proportionate or correct, just that the logistics at a land border are different. And for whatever reasons, the culture of enforcement always seems different too. True of both Canadian and US border officials.
If they arrest Americans, why not foreigners?
https://fox59.com/news/national-world/ice-agents-raid-nj-seafood-store-detain-us-military-veteran/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/three-members-of-american-family-thrown-into-milwaukee-detention-center-for-speaking-spanish/ar-AA1y8Mrl
Meanwhile, a Nazi South African does whatever he wants in the US government…
It’s the world upside down.
But you aren’t an American so why do you care?
I certainly don’t care about the “people” in Ukraine other than them stealing our tax dollars the senile old bastard gave them.
We don’t need foreign tourists here and even worse, Hispanics wanting to move here. We need to stop moving to Costa Rica and you stop moving here, deal?
Dave- Sounds like you forgot to take your meds…for the past few years!
Try Visa fraud in Australia and see what happens…..
The same thing that happens in the USA! It’s made very clear that tourist visas are for tourism. Tourists may not work on either a paid or voluntary basis. If you’re caught you get your ass deported and excluded. Most countries have the same or similar rules. If you wish to work, apply for the correct visa, or face the consequences.
Same with many Asian countries. American anti-LGBT hate group activist/religious screwball Katy Faust got banned from Taiwan for lobbying against gay marriage. (She spoke at a political rally, and held workshops (aka work) which foreigners aren’t supposed to do on a visitor’s visa). The hilarious part is that she proclaims to be fluent in Mandarin but had to use a translator in her speeches.
Helping around the house in exchange for room & board is, by strict definition, “paid work”, and strict definitions are precisely what immigration officials are paid to enforce. Unfortunately Becky is almost certainly going to be deported and likely face a long ban from reentering the United States, which may also effect her ability to travel to some other countries. It’s up to travelers to ensure they don’t violate the conditions of their visa, or visa waiver. The silly bureaucratic delays in getting her home from detention are an entirely different issue. The inability of British consular staff to find anyone in the US government who knows what they’re talking about is a natural consequence of the chaos inflicted upon the public service by a federal government whose only plan is “tear it all down!”.
It is ridiculous. It’s an example of the big government bureaucracy Trump is trying to get rid of. The same type of stuff has happened for many years under multiple administrations. The bureaucracy puts in ridiculous rules so something that should be simple is draconian. Illegals were given cartels Blanche for years and are still given free tuition, housing, food, and support by many states yet citizens and tourists are harassed by tsa and customs.
Europe criminalizes people for tweeting about rape gangs or illegal immigration and people have been arrested for reading the Bible aloud in Finland. The whole bureaucracy in the west is corrupt and disjointed. At least Trump wants to reduce the bureaucracy but the deep state and bureaucrats like the status quo,
You are very naive, David.
The crucial point of this story is we can’t adjudicate this issue. It makes the united states government look like a failed nation of big talking bullies that can detain without due process. The whole world is watching…
Maryland is exactly right. I predict this will place a chill on inbound international travel into the USA.
Same thing happened recently to a German tourist….https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/04/world/german-detained-ice-intl-latam/index.html
MAGA! :(:(:(
Ah, if you hire an au pair, we’ll expect more trip reports!
The US currently is is a disgrace. We should be ashamed of the animals that are in charge. The Economy will tank
and wait to see how the chips begin to fall
She was denied by Canada first. Canada is part of the British Commonwealth. There’s more to the story than you or the media is reporting. And why is this a Trump immigration or firing corrupt federal employees issue? Why isn’t this a Trudeau issue? Don’t politicize violations of the law. We hear it every day since January 20, if you come to the USA and break the law, you will be punished. Obviously, Canada felt she was going to break the law there, which probably means she was already breaking the law in the USA. Maybe not transporting fentanyl, but working illegally. Common sense says she should be allowed to return home, but there’s another reason they are holding her. Don’t jump to conclusions.
What is your theory?
She was denied entry (that is, turned back) at the Canadian border. She was not thrown in prison. The US agents sent her to jail, where she’s been languishing for 10 days and counting. Kinda different, no?
What was said upthread is probably true – her fate was probably sealed once she shared that she intended to “work” (do household chores) and (I assume) she probably added she has been doing that throughout her trip so what’s the big deal?
Legally speaking, there’s no such thing as ‘the British Commonwealth’. The Commonwealth of Nations doesn’t have anything like a unified visa policy – if you think that a Mozambican citizen can sail through the passport egates at LGW, think again!
Funny how liberals are so quick to blame the USA first- this is apparently all on Canada and the UK. As AJ noted Canada is part of the British Commonwealth. And no one has proved that fired judges (much less Trump- even indirectly) are in any way responsible for this.
We don’t know nearly all the facts and everyone wants to jump ugly on Trump and the US. Sad.
BTW try Visa Fraud in Japan while you’re at it. Ask a certain Mr. Ghosn how their laws work next time you’re ready to jump ugly on the US.
DHS put her in a detention center. There aren’t available judges to send her back. This administration is in charge of that. Simple enough for you?
Apparently the part about being in US immigration detention has escaped us.
Not my concern if she got in trouble, that’s on her. My concern is our government being able to adjudicate. That is all.
As far as a chill on inbound international travel- utter BS. I just left Hawaii and it was teeming with Canadians. This story appears nowhere and will affect nothing.
I suspect that the UK wants this bee-och back just as much they want Harry and Meghan to return. “Your problem now Yanks!”.
As usual you don’t know sh*t Maryland. You’re surmising to suit yourself in your usual cowardly fashion.
Prove that there aren’t enough judges, prove that that is Trump’s fault and prove she’s being held there for that reason.
I’ll wait.
Thank you once again for the profanity. And you failed to explain why you believe in am a coward again. You must be quite popular in the trailer park.
So you can’t prove a darn thing? It figures. Coward.
What would you have me prove? I accused no one. Again, she is in a detention facility here. They need a judge. Well somebody needs to appoint one.
Your hatred and resentment are blinding you.
Wrong Maryland, You made accusations you can’t prove and there isn’t any proof whatsoever she needs a judge, What she probably needs (and I admit, unlike you, because none of us have all the facts) it’s a “probably”- is for the UK to step up to the plate on her behalf. Why they haven’t and why Canada refused her entry are facts that are yet to be determined.
But go ahead and blame Trump if it makes you feel better- it’s the cowardly thing to do. And it’s so easy.
@Cairns, Trump fired at least 20 in February:
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/15/trump-immigration-judges-fired-019634
https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-court-judges-fired-firings-d35eed0f685739c4a19d4c8baf39113a
And 80 agreed to government payout offers to leave:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/us/politics/immigration-judges-payouts-trump.html
Each judge handles between 500-700 cases per year.
You are always welcome here, but please don’t swear at Maryland.
Cairns, show me where I blamed trump? Because I did not!
Maryland I stand corrected- you didn’t blame Trump- my apologies. But I’ve yet to see proof the’s waiting on a judge,
Apology accepted.
I’m pretty sure “Dave Edwards” is a Russian bot. Also, I thought I was reading a travel (log, but sorta just looks like it’s just Americans and a Russian bot bashing each other.
Matthew – thanks for confirming why I dont like you. you are such an elitist.
Elitist. LOL. Sure, pal.
You make a lot of good points. However, working for lodging is… working. The most unfortunate part here is the extended detention and delays. Don’t think for a second that this only happens in the USA. Same happened to a friend traveling to the UK a couple decades ago to help out at a friend’s performance car shop. He’s a hobbyist, wasn’t getting paid, but was detained and then shipped back to America.
This is not anything new or unique to the Trump administration.
Immigration detention centers have been filled for decades with grandparents awaiting deportation who inadvertetly said that they were coming to “take care of the kids while the parents go to work”, which led to them being found inadmissable as they were displacing a potential local worker from employment.
Honestly, I would estimate that we used to handle at least 5-10 of these removals from the US/Canada every single month and that was during the Obama/Bush days.
The most unhinged comment section I’ve seen BA for a long time
cairns and Dave E have worked themselves into a frenzy.
Now that “inflation” and the price of eggs aren’t a selling point, they are with their Lord Trump in cheering for a recession of their Lord’s making. Why do they hate America so much.
Why is this even a discussion? If she held a typical B1/2 Tourist Visa, U.S. B visa holders cannot engage in active work online or in person for an American or a foreign company, organization, or any other entity. This also applies to those who work online as “digital nomads.” If it becomes clear that a B visa holder is working unlawfully, their visa status would be jeopardized, leading to serious legal and immigration issues.
FAFO
Why do we call chores for a bed work?
Matthew: Please ban ‘Dave Edwards’ from this blog for using racist slurs and other racist statements. Unacceptable.
All of the other MAGA lies and propaganda are bad enough, but explicit racist slurs cross the line. Enough!
@JohnnyBoy: I find this a difficult issue. I don’t like banning racists just because they are racist. I like to leave such comments because it shows us that racism, or at least unfounded prejudice/bigotry, still exists. We should see that, especially in this new era of politics in America. I may be hopelessly naive, but it is my hope that Dave and others will come around one day and travel is the best way they can overcome such infantile prejudices. What do you think?
I don’t disagree with most of what you state, but there are some red lines in ‘free speech’ that most everyone recognizes, or at least did until recently. One of them is the use of racist slurs.
If I posted a rant using the “N word” almost anywhere on a public site, it would be taken down immediately, and I would likely be banned.
Is that the right way to go about it? Yes, in my view. I found some of your statements to be mildly racist, but they are definitely in the realm of ‘free speech”, and are not hate speech. Whereas slurs of the type above are definitely that. There is plenty of hate speech to be found in the nether regions of the internet. It need not be on a travel blog.
When household chores cannot be performed in exchange for lodging on a tourist visa, I wonder whether AirBnB rules requiring cleaning, laundry, yard work, etc. in lieu of a big cleaning fee could similarly be forbidden for USA visitors who enter on tourist visas/ESTAs.
Doesn’t the (presumably for-profit) agency that arranged the British citizen’s exchanges of household chores for lodging services have an obligation to inform its clients about visa requirements? It might be interesting to examine their website, application requirements, T&Cs, etc.
OTOH I’m aware that it’s common in some countries for young people to do a gap year or internship/traineeship in a foreign country that involves some form of work in exchange for room and board, possibly travel, or minimal salary. There are also a lot of university study abroad programs of various durations that include internship arrangements. I hope the sponsoring educational institutions are giving correct visa advice.
The land border between Seattle and Vancouver has always been strict on European nationals who have limited finances. Also sometimes they don’t realize that a quick trip to Vancouver will NOT reset the 90 day limit to stay in the USA.
So, I’m curious. You are coming to the U.S. for “business.” You are having meetings with globally connected firms in the U.S. You are working. Where is the line? Do we just end it all and isolate ourselves completely? I guess this is “America First.”
We have a similar situation here in Calif. A German woman (who had a confirmed ticket to return to Germany in something like a couple of days from her coming to the US via the San Ysidro border crossing) . She has been detained by ICE for almost a month (at our taxpayer expense). She was planning to fly home at her expense, now we taxpayers are picking up that tab as well.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/04/world/german-detained-ice-intl-latam/index.html
Why are we locking up British and German tourists, when they are supposedly our allies? They are not terrorists, smugglers and they are not taking american jobs.