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Both Germany and Britain have revised their advice for citizens traveling to the U.S. to say that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry, and that visitors may be liable to “arrest or detention” if they break the rules.
Tourists from most European countries, including Germany, generally enjoy visa-free travel to the United States for up to 90 days.
But Germany’s Federal Foreign Office website was updated this week to explicitly state that “travelers should only enter the United States with a valid ESTA or visa that matches the intended purpose of their stay” and to warn that a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) authorization nor a valid U.S. visa constitutes a right to enter the U.S., as “the final decision regarding entry is made by the U.S. border official.”
“There is no legal recourse against this decision. German diplomatic missions abroad are unable to influence the reversal of a denial of entry,” it states.
“Criminal records in the United States, false information about the purpose of their stay, or even a slight overstay of their visa upon entry or exit can lead to arrest, detention, and deportation,” it says.
Behind the Change: The updated advisory follows the detention and deportation of German tourists in recent weeks.
A report in The New York Times last week said two German tourists were stopped in separate instances at the border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana.
Jessica Brösche was held for 46 days, and Lucas Sielaff was held for 16, according to the Times. A third case, in which a German green card holder and permanent U.S. resident, Fabian Schmidt, was arrested on re-entry to the U.S., also made the news.
“The Federal Foreign Office is taking the recent incidents very seriously. The travel and security advice for the U.S. was therefore last updated on Tuesday,” a spokesperson told Skift.
“In this context, it is important to note that an ESTA / visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the country,” the spokesperson said.
Britain’s Warning: As President Trump tightens visa vetting procedures and border controls, Britain has also revised its advice for citizens traveling to the U.S., now including a warning that anyone found breaking entry rules could face arrest or detention.
The latest travel advice for the U.S. published online by Britain’s foreign office stated: “You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry. The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.”
The guidance previous stated: “The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules.”
Britain’s Foreign Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why it Matters: According to the International Trade Administration, both Germany and the U.K. are in the top 5 countries with the highest number of visitors to the U.S., as well as India, Canada, and France.
In 2023, over 3.8 million travelers visited from the UK, and over 1.9 million visitors came from Germany, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office.
It’s unclear at this point whether these recent incidents will impact on the number of Germans visiting the U.S. this year.
Tensions over tariffs have already contributed to a decline in visitors to the U.S. from Canada, as Skift reported last week, and a looming travel ban may impact tourism from elsewhere around the world.
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