Border suppression raises international alarm bell

A recent case involving a detained comic creator at the U.S. Canadian border, has caused ripples in the event industry, questioning the risk of event planners bringing international talent into the U.S. and facing ripples in the U.S.

Change everything

Welsh comics creator Becky Burke was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being denied entry into Canada last week. Her attack? Plan to live with family in exchange for basic trivia while travel authorities consider unauthorized work.

This enforcement action marks a signal about the shift that could directly impact the way we manage international speakers and presenters.

“Basically, people have always seen it as a gray area, and never a gray area, but something that most people escape. The bets are much higher now,” an anonymous industry source told reporters.

What this means for your activities

The standard practices many event organizers rely on can now put their business and spokespersons at risk:

• Free accommodation provided to international spokespersons may be classified as compensation
• Speaker’s expenses, remuneration and expense reimbursement may constitute unauthorized work
• In your event, book signatures, merchandise sales or other income-generating activities may trigger visa violations
• Meet, workshop or other interactive meetings may cross the boundaries from “business visitors” to “work”

The most worrying thing is that even if your international presenter enters the ESTA or ETA (E-Travel Authorization in the United States and Canada), this technically allows for “business activities”, individual border officials also determine exactly what constitutes permitted business with prohibited work, at their discretion.

The risk equation has been changed

A well-known industry spokesperson told us: “I will now think twice before going to the United States.

This reluctance may greatly narrow down your talent pool of upcoming U.S. events, especially impact:

• Keynote speakers from international markets
• Thematic expert with a global perspective
• Cultural Ambassadors and Multilingual Presenters
• Thought leaders from emerging international markets

Protect your events and speakers

While the situation remains smooth, prudent activity planners should consider the following protections:

1. Please consult an immigration lawyer specific to the event industry before completing the international speaker arrangement

2. Reconsider compensation structure consistent with visitor visa restrictions

3. Provide speakers with clear documents on the nature of their participation in the business

4. The speaker’s activities obviously constitute the appropriate work visa budget for employment

5. Develop contingency plans for virtual participation if entry is refused

What is the whole industry

This enforcement trend can reshape the competitive landscape of activities. As one planner noted, “If it becomes too risky or expensive to propose international voices, we may see more global events relocating to areas with more predictable entry policies.”

For now, the slogan is cautious. Things that used to fly under radar are now firmly in the crosshairs of immigration authorities, and the consequences can be serious for your activities and the international talent that enriches them.

Are you facing visa challenges in front of an international spokesperson? Share your experience and solutions in the comment section below.