Would you visit USA in the current climate?

And the latest…..

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/tourists-social-media-trump

Tourists to the United States would have to reveal their social media activity from the last five years, under new Trump administration plans.

The mandatory new disclosures would apply to the 42 countries whose nationals are currently permitted to enter the US without a visa, including longtime US allies Britain, France, Australia, Germany and Japan.

In a notice published on Tuesday, the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) said it would also require any telephone numbers used by visitors over the same period, and any email addresses used in the last decade, as well as face, fingerprint, DNA and iris biometrics. It would also ask for the names, addresses, birthdates and birthplaces of family members, including children.

The administration has also demanded that prospective foreign students unlock their social media profiles; those who refuse will be suspected of hiding their activity. Several high-profile foreign-born students have been detained for voicing support for Palestinians. The social-media policy also applies to anyone applying for an H1-B visa for skilled workers, which are now also subject to a new eye-watering $100,000 fee.

As recently as last week, the administration told consular officials to deny visas to anyone who might have worked in factchecking or content moderation – for example, at a social media company – accusing them in blanket terms of being “responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the US”.

It has suggested reducing visa lengths for foreign journalists from five years to eight months, and has started demanding any visitors who are not from the 42 visa-exempt countries pay a new $250 fee.

CBP claims the authority to search the devices of any prospective entrant to the US. Although entrants can refuse, they may then be denied entry. While CBP said in 2024 it searched about 47,000 devices of the 420 million people who crossed the US border that year, experts said the number may be much higher under the new Trump administration.

That's nuts. If you're entering as a tourist you'd have to give all phone numbers, access to all social media profiles and a list of all family members. And that's when you're applying for a visa/etsa

You think they're rugby fans? 🤣

Good thinking Tommy

Going to Canada in March/April and planning a few trips across the border to Vermont ,Niagara Falls and Seattle , really looking forward to it.

I am in the US at the moment. Did immigration here rather than Ireland as I flew via another country. No issues, immigration officer was very pleasant. I lived in the US in the 90s on a H1B, and on J1 before that. Never over stayed. Been back for a work trip or conference once or twice a year for the past 4 yrs. Can be hit or miss with the person at immigration that you deal with. I have to say I didnt want to go this time with the recent Greenland aggression. But once here not a mention of Trump and I am in Red state. Its shockingly expensive this time round though, especially eating out and alcohol, just in regular bars. In the hotel, a Sheraton, its insane. burger is $22. Budwiser beer $18 and house wine is $18 a glass.

I lived there, quality isn't comparable to standards here. And don't get me started on their sugary breads!

It was already expensive to eat good quality there.

Geez, that’s a gem. Did you ever think of publishing these kernels?

I was over there recently. The price of everything is just astronomical, even with the weaker dollar.

Didnt see or hear anything political.

I think if I wasnt going for work I wouldnt go. All the carry on the last while just makes me feel bad going over there, and anyway if I had to pay for stuff myself over there I would be broke. $9 for a bag of crisps was the best one. Not to mention 20% tip is now the minimum required tip everywhere.

Yeah as soon as you step off the plane you'll be chanted at by MAGA people and ICE will have you up against the wall.

Do a quick google of your name to see if somebody with your name has any criminal links - just in case you're stopped at the border. US weddings are a great laugh with their "open bar" culture so don't fret too much about that. They finish early though so treat it like a sprint, not like a marathon as in an Irish wedding. Eating out is very expensive and the tipping of 20%, even for what is usually s**t service, is the new norm.