how to avoid trouble at us customs on business trips
So, let me tell you about my recent trip from the UK to San Diego for a business meeting. I run a small sales consultancy in the UK, and one of my American clients invited me over for a five-day meeting. They covered my flight and hotel, which sounded great—until I landed and had to explain all this to the US customs officer.
As soon as I got to the counter, the officer started grilling me about why I was there. I told him it was for a sales meeting with my client. He asked if I was getting paid, and I explained that my company gets a monthly retainer, but I wasn’t being paid extra for this trip—just reimbursed for my travel. The more I explained, the more confused he looked. Next thing I know, I’m being escorted to a back room for more questioning. Not exactly the welcome I was hoping for after a long flight!
Thankfully, the second officer seemed to understand my situation better. I showed her my contract and the invoice for the travel reimbursement, and after about 15 minutes, I was finally let through. But honestly, my nerves were shot. I kept thinking, did I say something wrong? Should I have explained things differently? Or is it just luck of the draw with which officer you get?
Has anyone else run into this kind of confusion at US customs, especially when traveling for business on an ESTA? Do you think I should have used a different visa, or just been more careful with my wording? I’d love to hear your stories—especially if you’ve found a way to make these trips less stressful. I can’t be the only one who’s worried about being sent home after all that planning!
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