Countries That Have Issued Warnings Regarding Travel To America

A recent wave of travel warnings advising caution to people planning to visit the United States is causing concern among travelers, some of whom are canceling their travel plans. To date, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, and the U.K. have issued travel advisories. Prior to the announcement of Canada's official warning, the number of arrivals from our neighbor to the north had already dropped significantly — down 24% from the same time last year — following the current U.S. administration's imposition of tariffs on goods imported from Canada. The official advisory reminds Canadians planning to cross the border, including those who drive (one of North America's most scenic road trips stretches from Mexico to Canada) to adhere to an upcoming change in policy. Effective April 11, 2025, the U.S. government is requiring Canadians who plan to stay in the U.S. for 30-plus days to register by filing an I-94 form or completing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service's Form G-325R to avoid facing penalties, fines, and/or a misdemeanor charge.

On March 19, Germany issued a travel advisory reminding its citizens that even travelers holding official visas and entry waivers risk being turned away upon arrival by U.S. immigration officials. The German advisory followed the March 7 detention of Fabian Schmidt, a German national with green card status who has been living in the U.S. since 2007. Schmidt was returning to his home in New Hampshire following a trip to Europe when U.S. immigration officials at Boston Logan International Airport (which is already a nightmare to fly in and out of) took him into custody. The German advisory specifically mentions U.S. immigration policy requiring visitors to self-identify as either male or female and advises citizens whose gender differs from that listed on their birth certificates to contact the local U.S. embassy prior to travel.

France, the most exciting country in all of Europe according to Rick Steeves, is also advising citizens to review U.S. entry requirements on the embassy site prior to travel to confirm the most up-to-date rules with a warning that specifically mentions the January 20 announcement by the newly inaugurated U.S. president declaring confirmation of sex at birth a stipulation for visas, including entry via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, an automated system aligned with the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. Denmark, Finland, Ireland, and The Netherlands issued similar warnings, notifying citizens with plans to travel to the U.S. to be fully aware of the current administration's stance on gender identity. The U.K. issued a general warning in February, but recently updated it to emphasize the vehemence the U.S. government is applying to its enforcement of current immigration rules.

The advisories present a significant hurdle for the U.S. tourism industry which is still recovering from a sharp decline related to the global pandemic. According to a report in The New York Times, Tourism Economics, a travel research firm recently downgraded its 2025 forecast for travel to the U.S. from an expected growth rate of 9% to an anticipated decline of 5.1%. In the meantime, U.S. officials are holding firm on their stance. An unidentified U.S. State Department spokesperson told NPR on March 22, "We will enforce visa rules and other conditions of entry ... Prohibiting travel into the United States by those who might pose a threat or violate conditions of their visa is key to protecting the American people."