British tourist detained by US authorities for 10 days over visa issue

Frankly, I wouldn't dare to overstay my tourist visa in the US either 10 or 20 years ago. The articles notes "four month", a standard US tourist visa for an ESTA country (e.g. the UK) would grant 90 days upon arrival; any travel within Canada counts too. Canada, however, grants 180 days, helping explain why Canada may not have seen an issue. Whenever travelling elsewhere for more than 1 month, check _everything_; including your travel insurance, most only last 60 days.

> helping explain why Canada may not have seen an issue

The article seems to indicate that Canada did have an issue:

> Canadian authorities told her to go back to the US and fill in new paperwork before returning to cross into Canada.

It seems that she was detained after re-entering the US upon being refused entry into Canada.

Ah. I missed that; maybe Canada only recognises the US visa stay if one entered the US first. I did this research back in 2017, and I may misremember some details.

I suspect that people don't read the small print about the 90 days counting for your entire time on the continent. That said it's unclear her exact itinerary from the story

Ultimately if you go to a hostile country though, you need to have a good support network. You wouldn't travel to say China and breach your visa. The US is a hostile country and should be treated as such.

i think she was "working" but potentially unpaid/compensated in lodging staying a t https://www.workaway.info/ (which was reported by the BBC where she was staying)

If you are trying to get a visa anywhere, it's very standard for them to ask if you have ever been denied entry to any country, and it raises a lot of red flags (regardless of the reason). It's entirely possible she mentioned the denial when talking to the US authorities, and that caused them to detain her until she could be suitably deported.

This site now has a popup for the US

> Important information about visiting: United States > If you are NOT a US CITIZEN and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA. To find out more information you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE traveling.

But a quick look around near me looks like work for immigration purposes, so someone on a tourist visa to the US should not be participating.