Some Canadians attempting to house-sit abroad have been flagged and turned away at the U.S. border, fearing their ability to travel freely has been compromised after border agents classified their house-sitting plans as work.
Several house-sitters told CBC News they feel misled by the U.K.-based company Trusted Housesitters, accusing it of downplaying the risks involved in international house-sitting opportunities. The company maintains that house-sitting is not considered work, despite U.S. Customs and Border Protection documents stating otherwise.
Trusted Housesitters facilitated around 49,500 house-sits in 2023, with less than 0.02 per cent resulting in border control issues. The company advises checking visa requirements before international travel.
Beverly Dunn, a retired public servant, was denied entry at the Ottawa airport by U.S. border officers after they deemed her plans to house-sit in Florida as work. Dunn had used Trusted Housesitters to arrange her plans and provided an explanatory letter from the company. Despite this, she was fingerprinted, photographed, and refused entry under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
Dunn and other travellers, like Elyse Sevigny and Denise McConachie, shared similar experiences of being turned away at the border and feeling misled by Trusted Housesitters’ assurances. The company’s letter states that house-sitting is not a job and does not take away employment opportunities from U.S. citizens, but U.S. border agents have classified it as work.
Australian Madolline Gourley was also deported while on her way to Canada to house-sit, highlighting that the issue is not limited to Canadians traveling to the U.S.
Trusted Housesitters is headquartered in Brighton and Hove, U.K., where local authorities have received complaints about potential breaches of consumer protections. The company has been urged to provide clearer information about the risks and visa requirements associated with house-sitting.
Immigration lawyer Negar Achtari advises against misrepresenting the truth to border agents, emphasizing the serious consequences of such actions.
The Canadian government notes that the definition of work can include unpaid activities that would typically be compensated or provide valuable work experience for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Entry decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
