Hello Canadian Comedians,

Please read this update from our friends at Tamizdat about travel to the USA. You can learn more about them here: www.tamizdat.org

Dear friends & colleagues:

We are all feeling anxious and uncertain about the current US immigration climate—and understandably so. The headlines and horror stories are overwhelming. We write today because we want you to know that we are closely monitoring developments and trends in immigration policy and enforcement, and in collaboration with colleagues in our fields, we are working to keep our community updated with the best current information.

Toward that end, we have posted a live FAQ on our website. It outlines risks and suggested strategies, and we will keep it updated regularly as events unfold and new information becomes available. It is not our place to tell people whether or not they should travel to the US, but it’s important that people have the most up-to-date, verifiable information about the real risks involved in doing so at this time. Meanwhile, here are a few key points we want to highlight to help you stay prepared and informed:

  • We are seeing increased scrutiny at US ports of entry. Many passport control officers are scrutinizing travelers more thoroughly. They are looking more carefully for people planning to misuse their visas, and are being less lenient in “grey area” cases.
  • You should be prepared to explain your purpose for traveling to the US. If you’re entering on a work visa, be ready to clearly and confidently articulate the nature of your work, your role, and the company or project you’re involved with. If you are coming to do work-related activities but you are not coming on an employment visa, be especially ready to explain why your planned activities are allowed.
  • Your social media and electronic devices can be searched. Immigration officers at ports of entry may search publicly available information—including your social media and online profiles. They may be able to confiscate and search your electronic devices. To date, they appear to be looking primarily for information regarding travelers’ planned activities in the US, but this could change. For more information, consider attending this ACLU webinar on March 27.

If you’re unsure about your travel plans, visa classification, or how best to prepare for entry, we’re happy to advise. As always, we’ll continue to share updates as the situation evolves.

All the best,
Tamizdat & CoveyLaw