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.
As a US citizen, I personally welcome you. But, out of concern for your safety, if it’s at all possible for you to stay well away from here, I would strongly advise you to do so.
To quote Subnautica, “Are you certain whatever you’re doing is worth it?”
If you absolutely must, purchase a burner phone and travel with that. Mail your real SIM, phone, and SD card to yourself or someone you trust
For cameras, purchase brand new storage or take none with you and mail the real SD cards to yourself or someone you trust.
For laptops, remove your hard drive and mail it to yourself or someone you trust. Travel with a new hard drive, a fresh OS installed, and the bare minimum files.
You can also encrypt your storage before mailing it. But, unless you know what you’re doing, you run the risk of losing that data. Make sure you know how to decrypt the drive/files and test your procedure before you rely on it.
Good luck.