Irish citizens can work in the UK without special visas or work authorization, so
house-sitting should be OK.
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I’ve flown into the UK three times in the past year and have just breezed through the e-gates and never talked to a person. While there is still the possibility of needing to talk to someone, it’s unlikely.
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Thank you all.
OK, I won’t say that I’ll be housesitting 
Saying that I go visiting friends is not advisable either, in case they stop me and ask, what would be the best answer you reckon? 
You’re there on holiday @Mokina. I’m assuming you’re not planning to stay home with the pets all day and will be out exploring the area!!
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British tourist backbacking/touring the US
For 4 months… now languishing in a detention centre in the US for over 2 weeks after trying to enter Canada and was refused entry, sent back to US and was detained.
She was using some kind of home stay where accomodatuon was provided for helping out in the house. Canada considered it work, hence the refusal for entry. The US agreed and she was detained.
(edited by Forum team to remove name - we ask that you keep things more general in this discussion please 
)
She was released from the ICE detention centre on Tuesday, then taken to the airport and boarded while in handcuffs, ankle and waist chains.
Thanks America, it’s been nice knowing you, but never again.
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Apparently some German tourists were also in trouble. Info on DW News channel on Youtube
not sure links are allowed so search for " Germany updates US travel advice following arrests | DW News"
Here is an article: Dad Details Horrific Way British Backpacker Daughter Was Treated By ICE | HuffPost Latest News
If you think this somehow doesn’t apply to housesitting, please note this important line:
" _____ ______ had entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, which, per U.S. Customs and Border Protection, does not allow compensation even if it’s just room and board."
This statement is repeated more or less in all the articles about this. The laws are pretty clear. People can make whatever decisions they want, but I know that as a pet parent I can’t take a chance on finding out when I’m already on the road or at the airport that the sitter I was expecting is locked up and I have to suddenly scramble to get someone in to care for them.
Edited by me to keep the discussion general and not mention names.
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Hi all.
I’m turning to you this morning as a sounding board, trying to decide if this is a legitimate fear or an overreaction to the news.
In the past couple of weeks I’ve read several stories of law-abiding, passport-carrying, legitimate citizens of (what until last month were) closely allied countries, being detained, illegally arrested, jailed, held up, hassled, interrogated, deported, etc at US border crossings.
In the past couple of days, Canadian members of parliament have issued warnings to Canadians against traveling to the US due to these experiences.
It seems that having your phones, computers and electronic devices scoured by border guards is becoming commonplace. Refused entry is by far the most common reaction but there have been multiple incidents of ICE arrest and imprisonment.
I’m feeling really fearful now of entering the US to fulfill my sitting obligations (committed to before all of this insanity started).
It’s now a month before the 1st of 3 consecutive sits are to begin. Should I pull the plug now, allowing homeowners lots of time to find a replacement, in fear of not being able to enter or am I overreacting?
I can’t believe I had to write this… Just WOW.
(Post and heading edited by the Forum Team to remove any Political sentiment as per the Community Rules).
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The thing about crossing borders is that it’s hard to know sometimes what is going to set things off. I don’t know the rules for where you were about remote work for instance, but remote work is also something that technically you aren’t supposed to be doing on your tourist visa in the US. (I don’t know how much this is enforced but I’d certainly avoid saying ANYTHING at a US border which could imply that you might overstay because you have an income.) This is especially rich considering that American companies often expect their workers to be avaible even when traveling on vacation.
I think this is a legitimate question, and I’m a US citizen. It’s not about politics or beliefs, but about what’s actually happening.
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There is a thread about these issues here: Challenges with Border Guards - RE the Laws - #556 by Marion
It’s probably worth discussing your concerns with the homeowners involved. Ultimately you’ll need to make your own decision, but there is a lot of information on the thread.
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It’s an overreaction to the news.
I’m assuming you’re Canadian. Did you know that in February over 2.2 million of us crossed into the US by car? That’s almost 80,000 Canadians a day successfully entering the US (not including the hundreds of thousands that month who flew in). That doesn’t get clicks on a news site.
However, if you think that your (understandable) fear will grow as the dates approach then the kind thing to do would be to cancel the sits now rather than wait, so that these HOs get the most time possible to secure another sitter.
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From what I’ve read, it seems that the people who have had phones searched, been detained, etc. have mostly been flagged prior. The power of border agents to search your devices is not new, but has been receiving more publicity of late and may or may not have become more common.
That said, the case involving Becky Burke falls into the same category as pet sitting.
If I were not going solely or mostly for tourism or to visit friends or family, I personally would be hesitant as well.
I understand & appreciate that politics are not to be discussed on the forums but don’t feel that this fits the category.
The topic isn’t politics but rather ‘erratic & rapidly escalating US border crossing challenges’'. The fact that the border environment has become increasingly unpredictable/unstable is entirely pertinent and not a political opinion. It’s merely a factual characterization of the problem I’m dealing with.
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I understand that you see this as a practical travel issue, but the way you describe it is not neutral. If it were purely about the practical challenges of crossing the border, it could have been framed more objectively and with less emotionally loaded language. That’s why I do see this as a political discussion, even if that’s not how you intended it.
(edited by Forum team to remove references to comments which were moderated out of the OP’s original post)
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I’d discuss this with your hosts. They may have unease sbout someone coming ftom outside the country.
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Sounds like you’ve answered your own question for your own POV and needs. If you’re stressed or anxious about this, better to cancel and give your hosts the maximum amount of notice so they can make alternative arrangements.
The reality is, border crossing to sit in the U.S. has always carried risks and there are now increased volatility and risks, even though as mentioned above, tons of people cross every day without issues.
It helps to be older, with resources, because younger people who take extended time off will automatically be more suspicious to border agents and might be asked to show proof of income or assets, which older folks tend to be able to do more easily.
Personally, when crossing borders, I never worry about cases involving younger folks who’ve taken extended time off and might be suspected of working for cash or barter (like housing), simply because I’m old enough to show ability to support myself for extended periods without working.
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Remote work isn’t technically supposed to be done in other countries without visas or such. That’s because countries tend to want to capture taxes or, in the case of digital nomad visas, significant ongoing spending by workers who won’t be able to use tax-supported benefits such as national health care or retirement / pension plans.
For instance, I previously managed a Canadian on a work visa and at her previous company, they told her specifically to never work in Canada, even when she returned there from the U.S. to vacation or see family. That’s because the company hadn’t established the right to have employees work there and this was a business that operated hygienically.
The key thing is just to stick with you’re traveling for pleasure. And to be prepared, if asked, to show that you can afford to support yourself without working while you’re abroad.
That’s because countries not only don’t want people working illegally (including for cash or barter), they also don’t want people to be broke and end up as vagrants or leeches on their resources.
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As an American I agree with this message!