We booked a sit for Brisbane Australia in June July, yesterday. Today we got this! We are Aussies so no issue at all for us. But I expect it might put the wind up some others, especially newer sitters who’ve not done a lot of international sits. I suspect the lawyers have been in full butt-covering mode!
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“as part of our terms and conditions your trip is classified as tourism” it might be THS terms and conditions but in so many countries (probably most) technically you are working. The onus and risk is as always on the sitters.
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So if you aren’t from Australia can you do in-kind housesitting on a tourist visa or not? This is so confusing.
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Basically they are telling inexperienced sitters to say they are tourists for immigration purposes, and they have to have relevant documents (most travelers know you need to show things like return ticket / proof of funds).
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@Marion technically it’s working. Therefore you need a work visa not a tourist visa. Is border force likely to make a big deal of it? No. THS are actually saying you’re there for tourism, comply with the immigration laws. However most people don’t equate sitting with working, it all depends how stringent immigration wants to be.
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This is generic information @Marion from THS re sitting internationally. They’re not likely to look into individual country’s requirements but just alerting sitters to what they need to have in place and that they take no responsibility.
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I think that no matter what country you are visiting, it is always going to be at the discretion of the immigration officer on arrival. Australian immigration is amongst the most thorough and tightest in the world insofar as what people bring into the country e.g. plant material etc But when travelling as a “genuine tourist” - have the proper visa, have details of your accommodation and plans whilst visiting the country on the off chance you are stopped, and have sufficient funds to enable your stay. We are not as tough as the USA e.g. and we welcome probably hundreds of sitters a year as long as the above can be provided IF, on the slim chance, it is required. We don’t stop every visitor, only if immigration picks up red flags for a particular traveller. Watch Border Security Australia, great show! Basically the same as every other country in the world when it comes down to ticky tacks, just not as pedantic as some. I do believe it is relatively easy to enter Australia as a “genuine tourist” as I’m also sure many THS members can attest to that have been or are here now. Travelling to any country can be an immigration issue at anytime for no explicit reason so just dot your i’s and cross your t’s 
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Yep, just don’t bring in food or plant material, bio security is a big deal.
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I also find it so hypocritical that since day dot, THS has ALWAYS stated it’s fine to sit OS, just to use their standard letter to provide to immigration for any country, stating that house-sitting does not constitute working - even for people entering the USA! They argued this point year in year out, so some members actually did it and of course were sent packing at the border. But THS still stood by their letters. Now all of a sudden it’s a complete turnaround. Some members were highly inconvenienced, mentally and financially, and blocked from entering certain countries due to this misinformation. Could it be that a booking fee is a “service”? Now? Working classification? Also, if the social media examination, which is currently being discussed, at the immigration counter were to read this clause, would that not have you deported immediately? 
Silence is not always golden.
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“As part of our terms and conditions, your trip is classed as tourism, and you’ve agreed to follow the immigration rules and local laws of the country you’ll be visiting.”
…says the company that literally just took money to facilitate the booking of your pet-sitting services, and requires you to abide by their rules for your employment — and has a list of rules for how the homeowners (employers) should treat those temporary employees.
Welcome to the world of “if I keep repeating it, you must believe it to be true, despite all evidence to the contrary.”
You cannot even make this stuff up. 
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@MerryPuppins I know right. Its as if they employed a new law firm and in the first meeting..”You said what??!!!”, “ You gave them a letter saying what???!!!” “ You doubled down and did what???!!” whoa…we need to put a lid on this…and hence the big turn around.
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I would never, ever say anything about petsitting (in any country) and, thus, the homeowners info is irrelevant.
If I didn’t have a hotel for a night or two and supply that address, I’d just say that the homeowners are friends (and be prepared with a mini-backstory).
Aaand, just a bit of irony : So, THS is promoting illegal activity here and they’re finally catching up to cya !?!
Funny how they’re late to their own “party” !
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@toreishi late indeed!!! But enthusiastically making up for it!
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Interestingly, when I told a Canadian border agent I was staying at a friend’s house this year, they asked me how I knew them. When I replied honestly & said “online, from a pet-lovers site” they wanted to know if I’d ever met them in person.
First time I’ve ever been asked such questions, and I cross that border pretty regularly…maybe 4-5 times per year.
I was glad it was a repeat sit, so I could tell them honestly that yes, I did know them ‘in person’ and had stayed with them before.
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I’m actually wondering if sending sitters an evite to a special party or something is a good idea…just in case. They can print it and have address and everything and show that they are there by invitation (to a pet or human ‘birthday’ party).
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@Felinelover not a bad idea!
This is all quite normal. Not sure why it asks for the ‘home owner’s name and address’ though. Is it because you said you were housesitting? Not an issue for you being Aussies.
@Smiley yes it is. I’m just amused Im suddenly getting an email about it obviously to cover THS’s butt. Weve been doing international sits for well over a decade and know exactly what not to do and say. These latest efforts are obviously in response to something behind the scenes.
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Nice to see that the extra income from booking fees is being spent wisely and for members’ benefit not THS’s. 
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It’s a complete volte face from THS, last year it was still being suggested to show a letter to border agents stating that the holder was arriving to sit a pet.
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