Contracting rates in USA?

[jamesbrown]

I imagine safest way to do it is have all the flights and hotel and visa waiver all arranged in advance, and print out a nice email stating the purpose of your trip as "meetings only - no productive work" to show at the border.

You don't really have a choice on the former as ESTA is completed in advance. On the latter, yes, that won't hurt. You can play it down, but if you are sent back, you will need a visa next time. Personally, I would think twice about travelling to the US at the moment (and most of my clients are there).