I will be entering the US in October to work for about a year and half as a visiting researcher. I will be accompanied by my partner and his two children.
I am very scared on what to expect at the border because of all the stories I hear about detentions, refusals, etc.
My concerns are:
- Do they ask everyone to unlock their phones and download EVERYTHING in there for later analysis?
- Related to point 1., refusing to unlock and give access will make you suspect and they refuse entry?
- Do they also ask you to unlock your laptop? I have stuff encrypted there as I often have to process sensitive patient data for a project I am working.
- Do they do a complete biometric data collection of you and the kids?
Also, how do we conduct ourselves at the border entry to avoid getting absolutely shafted?
P.S.: I am not in a position to call off the trip. Visa is ready and tickets are brought.
I have traveled very often to the United States, and the biggest challenge is that the custom guard that you meet at entry is like a little dictator, who makes all the decisions on his own. It helps to be friendly to listen to him, but even then, if they decide that you should strip down to your underwear, there’s nothing you can do about it (I’ve heard that this happens). The worst thing is, that this was pre-Trump, so you can bet that it has gotten much worse. On the other hand, many people still enter the United States, so successful entry is still possible. My advice to you, make sure that all your papers are in order, double check that you have everything with you. They most likely would like to take a look at your phone, so you may consider getting a burner phone with a few apps and an email account installed, perhaps a Facebook app (It shouldn’t look too empty, that would be conspicuous). You could even get a brand new SIM card. Concerning your laptop, the fact that you have patient data, that is encrypted won’t impress them much, If they want to see it, you have to show it, and if you don’t, you won’t get into the country. Can’t you put the data into a cloud, and once you are there, download it? In short, prepare well, double check that you do not bring anything with you that could lower your chances of entry.
This definitely happens, but it’s nothing new. I have a piece of steel supporting my ulna after a bad fight (and I can’t fight anymore). It sets off metal detectors, or it used to in the 1990s and 2000s, and definitely the ones that cropped up after 9/11 in NYC.
TSA people are so great; very focused in their efforts to kinda be power-trippy dicks at times. I can confirm that if you want to be swimsuit-level strip-searched in an out-of-the-way corner in full view of everyone, just flying into America is how we do it; ask to skip the cancer box for extra fun. CALL it the ‘cancer box’ if you really wanna be sure. I’m thankful for my brief military stint as it has removed all shame from my being and I was able to get processed quickly enough each time.
I’m super-rural and super-white, so that may be the super-power helping me avoid the worst of problems, and I’m sorry their racism makes everyone else’s experience that much worse than even mine.