Business or Leisure?
July 17, 2016 8:14 AM Subscribe
I'm ridiculously nervous crossing borders (no reason, I'm frantically law abiding which is probably the reason actually). I'm obsessing over whether to answer "business or leisure" at the US border.
I'm a UK citizen flying to California for a week to visit some friends and go to Comic Con. I'm on some panels and doing some signings (none of this is paid), mostly I'm there on account of I have nominations for some awards so I'm going to the ceremony. I'm bringing no swag to sell, tho my publisher is selling books at their stand. I'm paying for the flights; an old friend is putting me up; publisher is paying one night's hotel. Is this business or leisure? Whichever it is I know I'm going to look like a CRIMINAL, which is will make me feel less like one?
Minor complication: I used to work in the US (O1) and I have an ancient bank account I'm going to close down, that I've had there since the late 90s. Should I mention this? Is that business?
I'm a UK citizen flying to California for a week to visit some friends and go to Comic Con. I'm on some panels and doing some signings (none of this is paid), mostly I'm there on account of I have nominations for some awards so I'm going to the ceremony. I'm bringing no swag to sell, tho my publisher is selling books at their stand. I'm paying for the flights; an old friend is putting me up; publisher is paying one night's hotel. Is this business or leisure? Whichever it is I know I'm going to look like a CRIMINAL, which is will make me feel less like one?
Minor complication: I used to work in the US (O1) and I have an ancient bank account I'm going to close down, that I've had there since the late 90s. Should I mention this? Is that business?
Best answer: To me I'd answer honestly and say this is a mixture of both. "Attending ComicCon and some sightseeing and visiting friends" My experience (as someone with similar concerns) is that there are usually more annoying side questions if you say "Business" They'll ask you questions about whether you made money, sold things, are bringing samples, etc. But really just being honest is the best path and maybe working out a little response ahead of time so you're not so nervous. It's okay that the answer is mixed.
posted by jessamyn at 8:20 AM on July 17, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 8:20 AM on July 17, 2016 [8 favorites]
Attending a conference requires a business (B-1) visa, even if you are not paid (beyond reimbursements).
From my (limited, non-comic-related) experience, compliance with this is almost non-existent, and most people in this situation just wait until the immigration interview to declare the purpose of their visit and then are let through without (much) questioning.
posted by saeculorum at 8:23 AM on July 17, 2016
From my (limited, non-comic-related) experience, compliance with this is almost non-existent, and most people in this situation just wait until the immigration interview to declare the purpose of their visit and then are let through without (much) questioning.
posted by saeculorum at 8:23 AM on July 17, 2016
Best answer: You don't need a visa if you are going to be in the US for less than 90 days, even if it is for business.
If it was me, I would put 'business' on the form, and then be prepared to say what I was doing. "I'm going to comic-con to present at some panels and network"
They will probably ask you to be more specific (like what you do or what the panels are about). They might ask you if you're carrying anything to sell (which you aren't, so no problem), or they might ask what else you are doing (since it's a long trip) and you can say that you're visiting friends. Don't mention the bank account, it's irrelevant.
I travelled into the US for conferences (science, though) regularly and they would always ask what the conference is about and when I said "genetics" or something they would ask if I was carrying any samples (???) I'm a Canadian citizen, not UK, but I bet your experience will be similar.
To be honest the US customs people are usually friendlier than the Canadian ones.
posted by quaking fajita at 8:45 AM on July 17, 2016 [5 favorites]
If it was me, I would put 'business' on the form, and then be prepared to say what I was doing. "I'm going to comic-con to present at some panels and network"
They will probably ask you to be more specific (like what you do or what the panels are about). They might ask you if you're carrying anything to sell (which you aren't, so no problem), or they might ask what else you are doing (since it's a long trip) and you can say that you're visiting friends. Don't mention the bank account, it's irrelevant.
I travelled into the US for conferences (science, though) regularly and they would always ask what the conference is about and when I said "genetics" or something they would ask if I was carrying any samples (???) I'm a Canadian citizen, not UK, but I bet your experience will be similar.
To be honest the US customs people are usually friendlier than the Canadian ones.
posted by quaking fajita at 8:45 AM on July 17, 2016 [5 favorites]
Best answer: Honestly, if you say "It's sort of business, sort of leisure. I'm going to ComicCon, but I'm not getting paid."
I'll be able to hear the security person's eyes glaze up all the way from Minnesota.
posted by Sphinx at 8:46 AM on July 17, 2016 [15 favorites]
I'll be able to hear the security person's eyes glaze up all the way from Minnesota.
posted by Sphinx at 8:46 AM on July 17, 2016 [15 favorites]
Best answer: UK Citizen here, most often travelling to the US in part for academic work stuff; I generally say something like 'both: I"m here for a conference but hoping to find some time to do tourist stuff'. Sometimes they've asked a follow up (am I bringing samples/stuff to sell, and/or what is the conference/what do I do for a living), but the 'both' answer has never been a problem.
posted by AFII at 9:22 AM on July 17, 2016
posted by AFII at 9:22 AM on July 17, 2016
Best answer: I'll be able to hear the security person's eyes glaze up all the way from Minnesota.
Every time I've gone to Canada to go to library conferences, just the words "library conference" seems to make the customs people zone out; I think mentioning ComicCon should have the same effect.
posted by jessamyn at 9:45 AM on July 17, 2016 [5 favorites]
Every time I've gone to Canada to go to library conferences, just the words "library conference" seems to make the customs people zone out; I think mentioning ComicCon should have the same effect.
posted by jessamyn at 9:45 AM on July 17, 2016 [5 favorites]
If what you're doing at the conference relates to how you make money, the purpose of the trip is business. Pretty much everyone who travels to the US on business catches up with friends or relatives and does some sightseeing.
posted by MattD at 9:54 AM on July 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MattD at 9:54 AM on July 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Yeah, just say both. I almost always tack a few days travel on after conferences, so I say "I'm here for a few days for a library conference and then I'm going to sightsee for a couple days before going home." They ask questions, but I think it's just to see if your answers are internally consistent, so don't worry if they do, just talk about the conference in more detail.
posted by MsMolly at 10:16 AM on July 17, 2016
posted by MsMolly at 10:16 AM on July 17, 2016
Best answer: I crossed the Canada-U.S. border with British friends a few years ago and it really is much more unnerving and intense for them than it is for a Canadian or U.S. citizen. They had to be fingerprinted and pay some fee. I don't blame you at all for being nervous. The purpose of the question is just to make sure you're not bringing anything over that needs to be taxed or pay custom fees or whatever. The suggested responses are good. Just keep your responses to a minimum and they'll ask follow-ups.
posted by betsybetsy at 10:42 AM on July 17, 2016
posted by betsybetsy at 10:42 AM on July 17, 2016
Best answer: I've been to the US twice this year for work and neither of the two border agents admitting me under the visa waiver program asked me what my 'business' was. Over the last few years they were much more likely to want to know how long I was going to stay or what was the purpose of my trip to 'country that I have a stamp for in my passport'. Very rarely did anybody want to know what my 'leisure' or 'business' trips were going to entail.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:58 AM on July 17, 2016
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:58 AM on July 17, 2016
Do not say you are coming for business unless you have a visa specifically for that. Years ago a family member got turned back at the border because she didn't have documentation/work visa. Just say you're coming as a tourist - you're not getting paid for your panels so it doesn't matter and saying business can result in major headaches.
posted by leslies at 11:28 AM on July 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by leslies at 11:28 AM on July 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: There's some good advice in here that I want to reiterate and elaborate on, but also some dangerously wrong advice that I want to address.
You're a UK citizen, which means you are eligible to enter under the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program "is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or while in transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa."
I'm a UK citizen. I've travelled to the US for conferences, work and pleasure maybe 30 or 40 times under the VWP. You don't need a visa for your trip.
You do, however, need an ESTA, which is VWP pre-clearance. Make sure you have applied for one of those! You can do it online in about 10 minutes, but you should do so asa soon as possible if you're at all nervous.
If the CBP official at the border asks you "business or pleasure?" you should say business. It's the truth, and it's absolutely not a problem.
More likely though they will ask you directly "what is the purpose of your visit?" ("business or pleasure" is something they ask on TV). When they do, tell them what you put in your OP. They just want to verify that you are here to visit as part of your UK-based work and are not planning to overstay the 90 day limit of the VWP.
And make sure you get the ESTA!
posted by caek at 11:50 AM on July 17, 2016 [6 favorites]
Attending a conference requires a business (B-1) visa, even if you are not paid (beyond reimbursements).This is just plain wrong for the OP, who is a UK citizen.
Do not say you are coming for business unless you have a visa specifically for that. Years ago a family member got turned back at the border because she didn't have documentation/work visa. Just say you're coming as a tourist - you're not getting paid for your panels so it doesn't matter and saying business can result in major headaches.This advice, which, to be clear, is advice to commit visa fraud, is absolutely terrible. Doing this could in principle result in your deportation and permanent barring from the United States.
You're a UK citizen, which means you are eligible to enter under the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program "is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or while in transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa."
I'm a UK citizen. I've travelled to the US for conferences, work and pleasure maybe 30 or 40 times under the VWP. You don't need a visa for your trip.
You do, however, need an ESTA, which is VWP pre-clearance. Make sure you have applied for one of those! You can do it online in about 10 minutes, but you should do so asa soon as possible if you're at all nervous.
If the CBP official at the border asks you "business or pleasure?" you should say business. It's the truth, and it's absolutely not a problem.
More likely though they will ask you directly "what is the purpose of your visit?" ("business or pleasure" is something they ask on TV). When they do, tell them what you put in your OP. They just want to verify that you are here to visit as part of your UK-based work and are not planning to overstay the 90 day limit of the VWP.
And make sure you get the ESTA!
posted by caek at 11:50 AM on July 17, 2016 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone- I did realised this question was kind of overkill and I'm inordinately nervous of border crossings! I have the ESTA all done and as advised I'll ramble briefly and try to relax.
posted by Erasmouse at 12:06 PM on July 17, 2016
posted by Erasmouse at 12:06 PM on July 17, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
The bank account is entirely 100% irrelevant, do not mention it, they will think you are nuts.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:19 AM on July 17, 2016