Preliminary reports from the US National Travel and Tourism Office show that business travel to the US was down 9% in April 2025, after president Trump’s executive order on 20 January, which called for additional vetting and screening processes for people entering the US.
US Customs and Border Protection data shows that border searches are up 10% from last year.
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In a report published on Monday (19 May), the Financial Times spoke to professionals who had recently travelled to the US. The report highlighted that getting pre-trip legal advice, using a burner phone and a blank laptop, and not keeping data on any devices were all part of new preparations for a US work trip.
Though business travel is down and border searches are up, it doesn’t mean that companies should stop sending staff to the US, said Lucina Faucheux, co-founder of Travel Support Circle, a community for home-based travel agents.
“In-person meetings are still essential for some sectors, particularly where deals, audits or high-level partnerships are involved,” Faucheux told HR magazine. “But with increased scrutiny at the border, it is no longer just a matter of getting a visa and booking a flight.”
Instead, HR professionals need to understand the new risks of business travel, especially when the purpose for a staff member being there isn’t clear. “Even using the wrong wording at the border – for instance, saying ‘I am going to work’ instead of ‘attending meetings’ – can lead to delays or refusal of entry,” she added.
As such, Faucheux explained that firms should revisit their travel and global mobility policies, including making sure that employees have the right supporting documents, such as invitation letters, meeting agendas and a clear understanding of what their visa allows.
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“HR teams should brief staff before they travel, not wait until something goes wrong,” she said, adding that employers should have a plan for what happens if a staff member is detained. This may include having legal support in the US.
Firms planning travel need to be aware that extra scrutiny will exist even for routine visits, said Tim Hayes, head of immigration at law firm Broadfield Law. Businesses also need to realise that travel processes will not be the same across the US, and plan accordingly.
Hayes said: “The experience of travelling to the US can vary significantly depending on the state: New York may feel very different to Florida or Texas.
“Employers need to understand that the US is not a uniform legal or cultural environment.”
He advised ensuring that employees carry multiple copies of key documents, from passports to employment proofs, as this could forestall border issues.
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Hayes continued: “The US is no longer the frictionless travel destination it once was.
“Travel, mobility and insurance policies should be reviewed to address individual risk, legal exposure, and the support available if something goes wrong, as well as to clarify which costs the employer would reimburse in the event that things do go wrong.”
