I’m sure his work visa just happened to expire in the 5 minutes between driving out the US and being turned back by Canadian officials.
@Ray2 OP is Canadian enquiring about risk pet sitting in USA. This would be working illegally. Will they get caught? Who knows? But the ramifications have become more serious. Appetite for risk is up to the individual.
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I’ve made no comment on the OP or their travel plans. Only on your claim that it can happen to anyone at any time.
There is no mention that Bill’s work authorization had expired. They say his visa had expired, but that is not the same as work authorization. One can enter the US on a visa and legally stay for years after the visa expires, if the underlying immigration status has been extended. For example, a person can enter on a H-1B visa that expires on May 2, 2026. CBP at the airport (or land crossing) will give them an I-94, which is their authorization to stay in the US until the date on the I-94. In this case, the I-94 would be valid until May 2, 2026, to match the visa. However, if Bill’s employer later files a H-1B extension, granting Bill an additional 3 years, he is then authorized to stay in the US (and work) until May 1, 2029, even though the visa expired on May 2, 2026. Bill only needs a new visa when he travels abroad and wants to return to the US EXCEPT for short trips to canada or mexico. In that case, something called ‘automatic visa revalidation” applies, and he is allowed return to the US even though the visa had expired.
So there is nothing in the article to support your assumptions
(a) that Bill was working illegally
(b) had expired work authorization
(c) tried to sneak across the border to Canada, and
(d) did not intend to return to the US
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@Lassie Thank you for the factual and thorough response.
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Thank you everyone for your feedback. It’s been very helpful!
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@DaphneFaye do let us know what you decide to do.
I’m not going anymore either 
Facebook has just reminded me that a year ago I was in TX enjoying a sit with a wonderful cat and the nicest hosts. They’ve invited me back since but I had to decline; I’m done going over the border too.
I drove over last time and flew from a U.S. airport and felt like I got more questions than previous times. Like he really wanted to make sure I owned property in Canada, which I guess would mean I didn’t intend to stay.
When I hear about how U.S. travel is down by whatever percent, I’m always surprised that it’s only that much. I’ve heard in the 30% range, and I think, “You mean 70% of the previous travel volume is still happening??” So people are still going and are getting along fine – you would just have to have a hotel booked as was noted, and don’t mention housesitting, and you might be fine. But only you can decide if you want to take the risk.
Just replying to my own flagged comment. I left out context that the quoted tweet was from the official White House account, so if it is indeed “hate speech” which I agree it is, it was coming from an official channel, not me. I think that might influence someone’s decision about whether or not this is a good time to travel to the US, especially when that travel will be technically in violation of the tourist visa rules and you could face challenges by border guards. My intention wasn’t to offend anyone, and I apologize if I did.
Even those on this thread making a case that people caught up in this have done something “wrong” eg travelling on an expired visa, should note that technically housesitting is considered in-kind work and people have been questioned and so far as we know turned back and banned from US travel. It is not far fetched to imagine a sitter winding up in detention given the many people who’ve been caught up in situations recently,
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I hope you told them why!
This. Defend USA all you want, whoever wants to do that, but dont encourage sitters taking a clear risk.
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Good luck in your determination.
It’s no accident that, in May 2025, we started a THS Forum thread that encouraged THS to increase marketing spend with Schengen area pet parents. We’d applaud any THS efforts to increase number of non-US listings (US represents over half of THS listings).
Karen Newton has violated the laws of our nation, and overstayed her visa waiver admission for almost FOUR years after visiting her spouse. Her husband, William Newton ALSO broke the law for nearly 20 years by overstaying an H-1B visa.
The Biden Administration granted her a tourist visa, and she traveled to the U.S. under this visa and was let into our nation.
When she and her husband attempted to cross the Canadian border, they did not have proper paperwork for their vehicle and were denied entry into Canada. During her inspection re-entering the U.S., she was unable to provide clear details about her situation, including her husband’s legal status.
Given her history of overstays, her husband’s unlawful presence, and the vehicle documentation issues, officers determined scrutiny and detention were warranted under the law and she was detained.
It seems the news story may have missed a few details.
Those are very different facts to what was stated in the newspaper. It doesn’t change my analysis of the facts as stated in the newspaper or my assertion that you made incorrect assumptions based on the article.
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Of course!
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In fact, IMHO, (I’d like to emphasize the H) your explanation helps understand both sources.
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