Europe Issues New Travel Guidance for Citizens Visiting the US

Several European countries are now issuing new guidance for their citizens intending to travel to the United States due to President Trump's January executive order ending a third passport designation for LGBTQ+ travelers and the recent detainment of several Europeans and Canadians by the nation's border enforcement. 

Last week, four European nations issued new information for travelers: Germany and the United Kingdom updated their information on the United States, both stating that a lawful entry visa does not guarantee that customs officials will ensure their entry into the United States. 

Both countries have reported several of their citizens being detained upon trying to enter the United States legally—some for as many as six weeks. 

A few days later, Denmark and Finland updated their info for LGBTQ+ travelers, a response to Trump's January executive order determining that the nation only recognized two genders, the one assigned to a person at birth and that the "X" designation on passports was no longer valid. 

Denmark, Finland and Germany now all advise transgender travelers or those with the "X" designation on their passports to contact the U.S. embassy for entry information. 

Transgender travelers within the U.S. filed a lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union directly after the executive order, claiming the new passport policy violates the Administrative Procedures Act and is unconstitutional. 

This week, France and the Netherlands joined the other countries adding increased guidance for their LGBTQ+ travelers. 

Newsweek reported that France now encourages people to fill out their ESTA application (the nation's visa waiver program) with their gender assigned at birth instead of an "X" or their chosen gender. 

The Netherlands updated its information with similar wording: "Please note that laws and customs in the US towards LGBTQ+ persons may differ from those in the Netherlands."

It's expected that Belgium will also issue updated guidance for its travelers. 

Thus far, the countries that have been updating their advice have not yet received reports of LGBTQ+ travelers experiencing challenges trying to enter the United States.

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