@rachelandrew @marcosc: 1 varies greatly by airport 2 use clean/encrypted laptop+mobile 3 shutdown before deplaning 4 job: web standards 5 purpose: business meetings I did all this (and a few more things) for recent trip to Berlin for @W3CAB meetings, fortunately no problems with re-entry at SFO CBP. Actually observed the opposite (including watching 100s who went before me), looked very much the same as before the election. More on 1 varies greatly by airport: Fort Lauderdale (FLL): Detained because of name: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/muhammad-alis-son-illegally-detained-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-international-airport-attorney-says-9164544 Houston: Natural born US citizen NASA engineer detained (likely because of name) until he provided device passwords: http://gizmodo.com/border-agent-demands-nasa-scientist-unlock-phone-before-1792275942 Los Angeles (LAX): Detained more than 24 hours without adequate food, water, or legal counsel: http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20170207/la-council-members-hear-of-horrendous-conditions-for-detainees-at-lax Miami (MIA): Denied entry due to stamp in passport: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/02/18/ex-man-united-star-says-he-was-denied-entry-into-u-s-due-to-iranian-stamp-in-passport/ New York (JFK): Software engineer asked CS questions http://www.recode.net/2017/2/28/14764064/nigerian-software-engineer-detained-by-us-customs New York/Newark (EWR): Software engineer asked CS questions http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/travellers-stories/aussies-weird-immigration-interview-in-the-us/news-story/8222c65d2f12e6691ef27c9b1753e821 (as you @marcosc pointed out) This should be a list on Wikipedia or something. More on 2: If you’re using a mac, install File Vault on a clean laptop, have your home IT department hold onto the recovery pw, not you. If you're using an iPhone (or just get a burner iPod6 already), enter a key code from first setting it up. On any device you bring on international travel: * Only install apps you absolutely need for the trip (e.g. No Facebook app, use site instead if you must) * Evaluate what minimum set of site logins you need to use for the trip * Use Authenticator for all 2FA, no insecure SMS nonsense * Leave a list of those sites and apps at home * Change their passwords before entering them on such devices * If your device(s) are ever "inspected", politely do not provide any passwords (5th Amendment), and change all passwords on those sites & apps when you return home In addition: * Bring a small notepad (fits in pocket) and pen. * Bring pre-wrapped (not fresh) emergency food like clif bars, and a water bottle you fill-up before boarding (or on the plane at the latest) because see LAX above. * Bring enough warm clothes for a cold room * Make physical notes of what questions you were asked * Report any unusual border behavior publicly More on 3: Shutdown your devices before you get off a plane. There have been instances of CBP agents checking ID at deplaning gate! (JFK again) http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/02/23/custom-agents-check-sf-nyc-passengers-ids-at-arrival-gate/ Not a reach to go from questions to detainment for any random erroneous reason. More on 4: What is your occupation (or job)? Web Standards (because yes both of you do this) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_standards looks pretty good and easy to go from there to referencing specs etc. that have your name on it. More on 5: What is/was the purpose of your trip/visit? Business Meetings - because that’s the closest general category that web standards meetings fit into. You’re not going to be a "speaker" or to do "work". If you’re going for an actual larger organized conference (e.g. one you have said publicly you are going to), then say so: Business Conference. Of course none of this is "legal" advice, IANAL etc. You may want to bring a hardcopy of your (corp) lawyer’s phone number and pre-establish (before travel) both check-in and failsafe protocols (what they must do if you don’t checkin by a particular datetime). Also a sharpie for writing said number up your sleeve etc. before deplaning. Mostly reporting what I practice, and have talked with other peers about. Hope that helps. See also: * https://www.eff.org/wp/defending-privacy-us-border-guide-travelers-carrying-digital-devices * https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/business/border-enforcement-airport-phones.html * https://www.wired.com/2017/02/guide-getting-past-customs-digital-privacy-intact/ * https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/02/what-could-happen-if-you-refuse-to-unlock-your-phone-at-the-us-border/ Good luck and be safe!

@rachelandrew @marcosc:
1 varies greatly by airport
2 use clean/encrypted laptop+mobile
3 shutdown before deplaning
4 job: web standards
5 purpose: business meetings

I did all this (and a few more things) for recent trip to Berlin for @W3CAB meetings, fortunately no problems with re-entry at SFO CBP.

Actually observed the opposite (including watching 100s who went before me), looked very much the same as before the election.

More on 1 varies greatly by airport:

Fort Lauderdale (FLL): Detained because of name: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/muhammad-alis-son-illegally-detained-at-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-international-airport-attorney-says-9164544

Houston: Natural born US citizen NASA engineer detained (likely because of name) until he provided device passwords: http://gizmodo.com/border-agent-demands-nasa-scientist-unlock-phone-before-1792275942

Los Angeles (LAX): Detained more than 24 hours without adequate food, water, or legal counsel: http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20170207/la-council-members-hear-of-horrendous-conditions-for-detainees-at-lax

Miami (MIA): Denied entry due to stamp in passport: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/02/18/ex-man-united-star-says-he-was-denied-entry-into-u-s-due-to-iranian-stamp-in-passport/

New York (JFK): Software engineer asked CS questions http://www.recode.net/2017/2/28/14764064/nigerian-software-engineer-detained-by-us-customs

New York/Newark (EWR): Software engineer asked CS questions http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/travellers-stories/aussies-weird-immigration-interview-in-the-us/news-story/8222c65d2f12e6691ef27c9b1753e821 (as you @marcosc pointed out)

This should be a list on Wikipedia or something.

More on 2:

If you’re using a mac, install File Vault on a clean laptop, have your home IT department hold onto the recovery pw, not you.

If you're using an iPhone (or just get a burner iPod6 already), enter a key code from first setting it up.

On any device you bring on international travel:
* Only install apps you absolutely need for the trip (e.g. No Facebook app, use site instead if you must)
* Evaluate what minimum set of site logins you need to use for the trip
* Use Authenticator for all 2FA, no insecure SMS nonsense
* Leave a list of those sites and apps at home
* Change their passwords before entering them on such devices
* If your device(s) are ever "inspected", politely do not provide any passwords (5th Amendment), and change all passwords on those sites & apps when you return home

In addition:
* Bring a small notepad (fits in pocket) and pen.
* Bring pre-wrapped (not fresh) emergency food like clif bars, and a water bottle you fill-up before boarding (or on the plane at the latest) because see LAX above.
* Bring enough warm clothes for a cold room
* Make physical notes of what questions you were asked
* Report any unusual border behavior publicly

More on 3:

Shutdown your devices before you get off a plane. There have been instances of CBP agents checking ID at deplaning gate! (JFK again)

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/02/23/custom-agents-check-sf-nyc-passengers-ids-at-arrival-gate/

Not a reach to go from questions to detainment for any random erroneous reason.

More on 4:

What is your occupation (or job)?

Web Standards (because yes both of you do this)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_standards looks pretty good and easy to go from there to referencing specs etc. that have your name on it.

More on 5:

What is/was the purpose of your trip/visit?

Business Meetings - because that’s the closest general category that web standards meetings fit into. You’re not going to be a "speaker" or to do "work". If you’re going for an actual larger organized conference (e.g. one you have said publicly you are going to), then say so: Business Conference.

Of course none of this is "legal" advice, IANAL etc. You may want to bring a hardcopy of your (corp) lawyer’s phone number and pre-establish (before travel) both check-in and failsafe protocols (what they must do if you don’t checkin by a particular datetime). Also a sharpie for writing said number up your sleeve etc. before deplaning.

Mostly reporting what I practice, and have talked with other peers about. Hope that helps.

See also:
* https://www.eff.org/wp/defending-privacy-us-border-guide-travelers-carrying-digital-devices
* https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/business/border-enforcement-airport-phones.html
* https://www.wired.com/2017/02/guide-getting-past-customs-digital-privacy-intact/
* https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/02/what-could-happen-if-you-refuse-to-unlock-your-phone-at-the-us-border/

Good luck and be safe!