Ask HN: Are you finding it harder to enter the US in the last couple of months?

[kwar13]

I have a decent job offer in the USA which I am quite hesitant to take. I am a Canadian citizen but was born in Iran and seems like it's not going to go well at the border.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-more-canadians-with-iranian-backgrounds-stopped-from-entering-the-us/

[threeseed]

The fact that even allied countries have updated travel advisories should indicate clearly that the US border control has become significantly more strict.

So you should basically ensure everything is perfect i.e. scrub your social media presences, make your phone minimal but authentic, watch what you pack. And have all your documentation about your job offer ideally including someone they can call.

[kwar13 → threeseed]

Fair enough. Thanks. The chilling effect of "social media" is something else though...

[chris_wot]

You need to watch out. We have had reports from Australians attempting to enter into the U.S. with valid Visas and were sent back after 8 hours of interrogation.

The U.S. is not a place I would ever want to visit any time soon.

[defrost → chris_wot]

Current gov.au travel advice re: USofA: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/unite...

  Updated:16 April 2025

  Entry requirements are strict. US authorities have broad powers to decide if you're eligible to enter and may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason under US law.
  Check US entry, registration, transit and exit requirements.
  Whether you're travelling on a visa or under the Visa Waiver Program, ensure you understand all relevant terms and conditions before attempting to enter the United States.

  Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

  Australian citizens can now apply for the Global Entry program direct through US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP). The Global Entry program is a US Government program that allows faster border clearance entering the United States for some Australians subject to strict eligibility criteria.

  If you're visiting the United States for less than 90 days, you may be eligible to:
    apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and
    then enter under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
  Otherwise, you'll need to get a visa before you travel.

[aurareturn → chris_wot]

Not that I don't believe you but who is "we"?

[chris_wot → aurareturn]

The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald.

https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/an-australian-w...

FWIW, it's not just ordinary travellers. Australian Universities are restricting travel to the U.S. and academics are choosing not to travel:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/14/austr...

https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/trump-crackd...

Other reports:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/australian-w...

We aren't coming:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/15/us-se...

[sbalamurugan → aurareturn]

I work at an Australian university. I can confirm that we have instructions to reconsider travel to US. I personally am not travelling to US for the next 4 years for sure.

[mickelsen]

On a general note, so far the cases I've read about are often when their story deviates even a bit from their stated purpose of stay. So if you say vacation, you better show hotel reservations from start to finish dates, return ticket and all. If prompted to share itinerary, but you were also planning on attending some meetup or conference here, visiting an uncle there, maybe going to Mexico or Canada and then back, that's where it gets murky and they could get you.

I read about a case once of someone tricked into answering a work e-mail, for their employer located in their home country while in the US for vacation, and for that they denied entry to this person. Honestly I'm not sure what I'd say in this case.

It seems that points of entry used by the typical traveler that enters through them, are better as they are more familiar with the local situation. If you are the odd one there, you might get singled out as they try to make sense of your story. So I'd prefer entering through an international airport close to where I'm going, than say, by car from Mexico. For now, I'd avoid entering through the south by car, but I don't think the same applies up north.

For your case specifically, threeseed already shared good guidance. Make your trip make sense to outer observants, don't offer them unnecessary avenues of questioning, and keep documentation and contact numbers at hand.

[CaptainZapp → mickelsen]

> So if you say vacation, you better show hotel reservations from start to finish dates, return ticket and all.

I have no argument with the return ticket. Most countries insist that you have a return flight as a condition of entering.

But having hotel reservations for the entire duration is just ludicrous.

I often travel to places for which I have a reservation at the destination for a couple of nights and then take it from there.

Going to Japan for almost a month with a 3 week JR rail pass makes it just about unthinkable to have the entire journey planned.

So, I guess, no more US for me. Not that I'm currently tempted.

[mickelsen → CaptainZapp]

Yeah, I usually don't keep reservations for an entire trip either, just the first couple of days if it's a longer stint. And usually the border people in all the countries I've been -including the US- only care about that, that you will be at least staying at the first place you state. You can change your plans later, that's normal, but given the extra scrutiny now, I'd avoid anything that could give them the chance of prying further.

[discordance → mickelsen]

Here's a recent counter example. An Australian who was heading to the US on vacation was due to take a cruise departing from Miami was detained and deported.

The reason given was that he took an "unusual route" from Australia via Asia. He mentions here that he took a premium economy fare that was cheapest with Cathay Pacific, hence the Asia stopover: https://archive.is/mCW2f

[rootsudo]

No issue, routine entry and exit via international airport. Always welcome home. My passport is littered with stamps, though. I would suggest though if you’re worried entering once and if possible bring minimal devices outside a cell phone or laptop. Canada to USA shipping, while not inexpensive is that expensive to get most things over.

[theyknowitsxmas]

Apply for Nexus and always have papers on you proving your employment situation, visa, even if you work out of a Canadian branch.

[Gunnerhead]

I’m a Canadian living in the US with an H1B. I’ve exited and returned to the US multiple times including after Trump and thankfully no issues despite my extreme anxiety each time.

[bdamm]

Personally no issue, but I cross almost every day so the agents know me.

[fjfaase → nathanaldensr]

And what about the two young German girls that were strip searched in a detetion center because there was not return flight the same day? They were rejected entry because they had not booked accomendations for every night being back packers going on a world trip.

[kwar13 → nathanaldensr]

You make it sounds like I've never to the USA. I have lived almost all my life in Canada, have Nexus, went to a top US university, lived in USA almost 3 years of my life. Zero criminal record of any kind. I still got stopped maybe 40-50% of the time crossing the border just to meet my family.

The only "risk" I've ever posed to the USA is having "Iran" as my birthplace in my passport.

[pacomerh → nathanaldensr]

no no, it's totally reasonable to ask such question given the recent events.

[seizethecheese]

We seem to live in a world of nonstop media-induced panics. I always try to find source data.

Filtering this for SF field office, it looks like 2025 is normal: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters