Originally Posted by
RogerD408
Don't be fooled. I did a trip starting in PIT/MIA/ORD/PVG and everything went fine until ORD where they stopped me and insisted I needed a visa. Copies of Embassy pages and calls to DFW kept coming back saying no travel without a visa. Then someone at DFW called back saying he wasn't sure but would allow travel if I agreed to pay any fines and the return ticket! Didn't get a second look when clearing immigration but was not fun sitting on that flight wondering what will happen upon landing. Tried to find the GA in ORD upon return but did tell the story to a supervisor and the still have rouge GAs trying to shut you down. I'm not sure they want to learn how to do it right.
Embassies and consulates are NOT good resources because: 1. they provide outdated information; and 2. they lack front line experience. It's much better to get familiar with TIMATIC.