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TSA wants reservations info but we are staying someplace rented by someone else

So far as I know TSA wants people to show reservations info...how fussy are they about this??

We have this for everything we reserved but our first week in Italy is in a villa place that someone else has rented and they are paying for it and all of us 20-some people are staying there...it's a family gathering.

They gave us a copy of their signed contract...is this sufficient??
I gather it's the equivalent of a booking confirmation.

I don't want to be a pain to people who are being nice to us...

Thank you, Parkaboy

P.S. For examply in this day and age I've heard a story about two German women who were detained for 5 days in Hawaii because they didn't bring pre-booked reservations.

Posted by
2632 posts

Is this something new or what?? We have never been asked about that by TSA and only once in years of traveling by immigration. We just were in UK in the fall and my family were just in France last month and none of us were asked this question.I think this is another social media story with no credibility..

Posted by
6226 posts

This has absolutely nothing to do with TSA, which only concerns itself with airport security inside the US. The OPs citing of the German tourists concerned the US CBP and their treatment of foreign tourists entering the US.

At present, none of these things are required for US passport holders entering the EU for tourism purposes. All you need is a valid passport. In future, the ETIAS preclearance will affect US passport holders, but it wont happen this year. In future, go to the US State dept website for travel advisories, including admissability requirements for any country you may wish to visit. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

Posted by
836 posts

I think this might be a matter of terminology. TSA is a US agency with no authority outside of the US (and in any event is not going to care where you stay). I assume Parkaboy is referring to passport control entering Italy. The answer is noone will ask you.

And the US CBP also has nothing to do with Europe. And whether ot not they're getting stricter with tourists entering the US has nothing to do with the rest of the world.

Posted by
11 posts

Thanks for the reassurances. I think. :)

I'm going to carry the papers etc. I have and cross my fingers. :)

Thank you everyone!!

Posted by
2070 posts

**P.S. For examply in this day and age I've heard a story about two German women who were detained for 5 days in Hawaii because they didn't bring pre-booked reservations.

Customs & Border Patrol Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham claimed that the teens’ version of the story is “another false narrative.”

“These travelers were denied entry after attempting to enter the U.S. under false pretenses,” Beckham said. “One used a Visitor visa, the other the Visa Waiver Program. Both claimed they were touring California but later admitted they intended to work—something strictly prohibited under U.S. immigration laws for these visas."

Posted by
12528 posts

So far as I know TSA wants people to show reservations info

Where did you come by this info?

Posted by
8619 posts

Likely the OP was talking about Italian Immigration (or any Schengen entry point) asking about proof of lodging, something they can, and will ask as in "where will you be staying". The UK used to have you write down the address of at least your first stop. Usually a vague "we will be in Rome and then traveling to several places in Italy" suffices.

The US TSA, or CBP will not ask (you only deal with CBP on return) about your European plans.

Posted by
362 posts

Some European countries reserve the right to ask for certain evidence - see below for info on Spain from UK Govt website. However, I have never been asked for this, and I suspect, like the Hawaii case, you are only asked if you look suspect!

At Spanish border control, you may need to show:

a return or onward ticket
proof of your travel insurance
you have enough money for your stay - the amount varies depending on your accommodation
a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if you’re staying at your own property
an invitation or proof of address if staying with a third party, friends or family, such as a ‘carta de invitation’ completed by your hosts

Posted by
2886 posts

The only place I’ve really ever been asked for this kind of information was Russia. They wanted every detail of everything. You had to have an invitation, you had to have a visa, you had to have a hotel reservation. You had to prove you had a credit card - it was aggressive.

Considering we were getting off a cruise ship, I was amazed that they seem to think we might not get back on

Posted by
421 posts

I've been asked to show proof of hotel reservations and locations I've visited by the officials of the country I was in while returning to the U.S. I just pulled the info up on my email and that was sufficient. Because TSA is a U.S. entity, I can only assume this originated from the country I was visiting. To that note, I'm usually pulled aside for extra questioning when returning from another country, and about 25% of the time while flying domestically (even with TSA precheck/global entry). I think someone with a similar name has a nefarious history!

If you are traveling with frequent travelers, they should know you need the information as much as they do-just ask politely.

Posted by
597 posts

It's been a couple of years, but I have been asked where I'm staying upon entry to a European country. I've never been asked to provide proof, though. The border control agent asked if I was there for vacation or business, then asked where I was staying. "An Air Bnb in [neighborhood name]" was sufficient to get my passport stamped and handed back to me.

I've been asked many times when departing Europe where I stayed, as part of the questioning by the airline agents before boarding.

Posted by
9316 posts

It's normal in security work to ask questions that may seem obvious or stupid, but are intended to see your reaction and any nervousness or evasiveness. They've already seen the airline's manifest and probably checked your name through their systems before you arrive. The US is not the only country that is concerned about undocumented workers, even white collar ones.

I'm guessing Russian screeners are not allowed to use their own discretion in what they ask.

Posted by
162 posts

US Border Control asks where you're staying, and fingerprints and photographs you

Isn't that for individuals coming to the US not US citizens going to Italy? I would think Italy would be the one wondering where you are staying while in their country not the US wondering where you will be staying in Italy.

Posted by
65 posts

Please note that I've edited this thread so that it complies with our Community Guidelines. And as the topic has been addressed sufficiently, I'm now closing the thread. As per our guidelines, please refrain from political discussions and remember to remain unfailingly polite in your replies! Thank you!