Travellers are using a new tactic to ease anxiety at US border control – “ghost booking” – after a series of arrests for alleged visa violations, including insufficient proof of accommodation.
On 18 March, two German teenagers were denied entry to Hawaii and detained by border officers who called their trip “suspicious”.
Upon arriving in Honolulu, Charlotte Pohl and Maria Lepère were allegedly denied entry into the US despite holding the required Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
According to Beat of Hawaii, border officials flagged potential illegal work intentions and detained the teens after learning they had not fully booked their accommodation.
Pohl said: “They found it suspicious that we hadn’t fully booked our accommodations for the entire five weeks in Hawaii.”
As the Trump administration cracks down on immigration, what is ghost booking? And why are people using it for a more seamless stateside travel experience?
Read more: Is it safe to travel to the USA during visa crackdown?
What is “ghost booking”?
A “ghost booking” is when a traveller makes a reservation for a hotel room, flight, cruise or campsite with no intention of showing up. Rooms, seats, cabins or pitches are then either cancelled for a full refund or sit empty despite being booked.
Why are travellers making ghost bookings?
Many countries require proof of accommodation to enter as part of the visa application process or at their borders.
In the US specifically, British travellers need to have a valid passport and either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or a visa to enter or transit through.
The US immigration process does not, by law, require travellers to show proof of a hotel booking at the border.
However, demonstrating you have accommodation arrangements is generally expected, and visitor visas may ask for proof of this as part of an application.
It is wise to have a hotel confirmation on hand, at least for your first night, as well as onward travel plans and relevant finances to prevent questioning and possible deportation by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.
Border control can be particularly suspicious of backpackers travelling with no forward itinerary or onward ticket.
By making a refundable ghost booking for a flight or hotel, those travelling with an uncertain…
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