Are Laptops and PDAs ok to bring in the US on a Tourist Visa?

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Hello folks. I have a friend who'll be leaving for the US soon on a tourist visa, and she's just so scared to bring any Nursing review materials because she might be denied entry. She won't bring any Nursing book, but she has some reviewers in her laptop and some notes in her pda. So the question is, is it ok to bring her laptop and pda? Does immigration check the contents of these devices? thanks for any info on this! And cheers to allnurses.com! :)

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I travelled internationally with my PDA and laptop all of the time. If they check it, it will just to see if it turns on, nothing more.

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sorry just wondering why wouldn't she be allowed?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

travelled several times to the US with mine and it has loads of nursing and nclex stuff on it. Never asked to show it or have I got one

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Both are fine.

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My husband is British and works overseas (read: we haven't gotten a green card yet). He works for the American government and lives in the Middle East and comes back for twenty days every 2.5 months from Doha, Qatar. He brings a laptop, PDA, and a cell phone with him all the time and never has a problem.

The only flack he gets is when someone tries to get cute about the Arab visas in his British passport. And usually that happens on the BRITISH side!

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thanks guys for all the replies. so i guess it's pretty safe for my friend to bring her laptop and pda to the US, even on a tourist visa, without worrying if she'll have any problems because of bringing those things. BTW, it's ok to hand-carry these items right? she was even thinking of checking-in her laptop, which, in my opinion, is not a good idea.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I would not check the laptop, not if she wants it back and working.

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Specializes in IMCU/Telemetry.
thanks guys for all the replies. so i guess it's pretty safe for my friend to bring her laptop and pda to the US, even on a tourist visa, without worrying if she'll have any problems because of bringing those things. BTW, it's ok to hand-carry these items right? she was even thinking of checking-in her laptop, which, in my opinion, is not a good idea.

I have been to Ireland and back with both many times and had no problems. She should only check it if she is ok with getting it back in more then one piece. A DJ friend of mine checked a steel cd case and got it back mashed. So pack nothing fragile.

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