If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
[ot] Travel to the USA
I know several people here are planning to travel to the US soon - did
you see this news item from Friday (2 April)? from: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/04/02....ap/index.html U.S. expands fingerprinting program to closest allies Friday, April 2, 2004 Posted: 2:32 PM EST (1932 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- A program requiring foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country is being expanded to include millions of travelers from some of America's closest allies, U.S. officials said Friday. The move affects citizens in 27 countries -- including Britain, Japan and Australia -- who had been allowed to travel within the United States without a visa for up to 90 days, according to the Homeland Security Department. Under changes in the US-VISIT program that will take effect by September 30, they will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter through any of 115 international airports and 14 seaports. There are no changes in unique rules covering visits by Canadians and Mexicans. The Bush administration made the move after determining most of the so-called "visa-waiver countries" won't meet an October deadline to have biometric passports, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security. Such passports include fingerprint and iris identification features that make the documents virtually impossible to counterfeit. Citizens from those countries still won't have to go through the consulate interviews, background checks, fingerprinting and photographing that people from other nations must do to obtain a visa. The US-VISIT program was passed by Congress in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks. In January, the U.S. government began fingerprinting and photographing visitors from nations other than the visa-waiver countries. About 5 million people have been processed so far and more than 200 with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations have been stopped, according to Homeland Security. Hutchinson said adding the estimated 13 million annual visitors from visa-waiver countries should not create massive backlogs at airports and seaports. He said it takes only 23 seconds per person to take fingerprints and photos and check them against government files. However, fingerprinting the visa-waiver citizens could have ramifications for Americans when they travel abroad. When US-VISIT began last winter, Brazil retaliated by requiring Americans visiting that country to be fingerprinted and photographed. Hutchinson said he does not expect other countries will follow Brazil's example. He and other U.S. officials have been talking to their counterparts in the visa-waiver countries and told them their nations could be added to US-VISIT. None expressed strong reservations, he said. "Our allies, they will see this as a good security measure," he said. The visa-waiver countries a Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ************************* Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha http://www.jhedge.com |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Jeanne Hedge wrote:
I know several people here are planning to travel to the US soon - did you see this news item from Friday (2 April)? from: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/04/02....ap/index.html U.S. expands fingerprinting program to closest allies Friday, April 2, 2004 Posted: 2:32 PM EST (1932 GMT) I saw it, I think it will slow things down even more. The last time I visted the US in 1982, I couldn't believe how quick everything was. The time from the plane touching down to picking up the keys for the hire car was only 20 minutes. Visas were still required then for UK visitors and mine says it's valid for life. -- Adrian (Owned by Snoopy, Milo & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Jeanne Hedge" wrote in message ... I know several people here are planning to travel to the US soon - did you see this news item from Friday (2 April)? from: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/04/02....ap/index.html U.S. expands fingerprinting program to closest allies Friday, April 2, 2004 Posted: 2:32 PM EST (1932 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- A program requiring foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the country is being expanded to include millions of travelers from some of America's closest allies, U.S. officials said Friday. The move affects citizens in 27 countries -- including Britain, Japan and Australia -- who had been allowed to travel within the United States without a visa for up to 90 days, according to the Homeland Security Department. Under changes in the US-VISIT program that will take effect by September 30, they will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter through any of 115 international airports and 14 seaports. There are no changes in unique rules covering visits by Canadians and Mexicans. The Bush administration made the move after determining most of the so-called "visa-waiver countries" won't meet an October deadline to have biometric passports, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security. Such passports include fingerprint and iris identification features that make the documents virtually impossible to counterfeit. Citizens from those countries still won't have to go through the consulate interviews, background checks, fingerprinting and photographing that people from other nations must do to obtain a visa. Except that Britain WILL have to go to the US Consulate (in London) and get a visa from September. So not only will we need to get visas, we're now going to be fingerprinted like criminals? Way to keep your allies sweet, America - I foresee the various resort parks in France and Spain getting an increase in visitors next year..... many of whom have decided that Florida isn't so attractive after all. (if the US waives the visa waiver..... shouldn't we Brits insist that US visitors to the UK get visas in return?) -- Jette Goldie INTERACTION - the 63rd Worldcon "A European Worldcon in Glasgow" http://interaction.worldcon.org.uk/ |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Except that Britain WILL have to go to the US Consulate
(in London) and get a visa from September. So not only will we need to get visas, we're now going to be fingerprinted like criminals? Way to keep your allies sweet, America - I foresee the various resort parks in France and Spain getting an increase in visitors next year..... many of whom have decided that Florida isn't so attractive after all. (if the US waives the visa waiver..... shouldn't we Brits insist that US visitors to the UK get visas in return?) There seems to be much resentment of this step by the USA government over here from what I can see in the press. I'm sure the government of the Land of the Free is turning itself into the government of the Land of the Paranoid. Please note, I really do separate out the current USA government from *Americans* - and in particular the Americans on this NG :-) Honest :-) I see the step taken as one that is actually ineffective at what it says it's for. It will do nothing to pick up people who don't have a criminal record already. All it seems to be most successful in achieving is getting the backs up of the people in the nations America is supposed to be friends with. It's feeling like the USA administration is saying that it doesn't welcome *anyone* who is not an American and wants to spend a holiday in the States. Perhaps it's forgetting that there's Americans who wish America harm too - is it fingerprinting and photographing all *Americans* on internal flights, or on flights returning from abroad - in case they've picked up any terrorist inclinations on their travels? Will I be planning a holiday in the States? No - not with GWB in power - it's a step too far as far as I'm concerned. I really don't appreciate being treated like a criminal without due cause, and being non-American is *not* due cause. Florida is a major holiday destination for many a Brit and I can see many a Brit deciding it's just too much hassle and distinctly not a happy place to visit. This photographing & fingerprinting lark "just in case" is waaaay too much like Orwell's 1984 for my liking. I just hope BLiar and Blunkett (Home Secretary with political leanings to the right of Attila the Hun) actually do something to stand up to Bush for a change and *do* introduce compulsory photographing and fingerprinting of any American visiting these shores. But I'm not going to hold my breath over it. Just because someone is not an American it does *not* mean they should be assumed to have terrorist tendencies, which is exactly the signal this crass action by GWB & Co is sending out. Anyway - off me soapbox and back to the cats - they are *much* nicer :-) Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune **$om $ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote in message ... Except that Britain WILL have to go to the US Consulate (in London) and get a visa from September. So not only will we need to get visas, we're now going to be fingerprinted like criminals? Canada or Europe for me for holidays. I know that my sister has cancelled her plans to holiday in Florida this year because of this. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Anyway - off me soapbox and back to the cats - they are *much* nicer :-)
They are indeed! I'm sure everyone on the group suspects this, but just to clarify - most of us living in the US also think this is stupid, ineffectual, intrusive, and a very bad idea. A lot of us can hardly wait for November for a chance to vote that Bush idiot out of office. Even the kitties wish they could vote! Sorry, I usually try to avoid expressing political preferences in these newsgroups. Just couldn't help this one. Now on with your regularly scheduled kitty discussions Dan |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Jeanette wrote:
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote in message ... Except that Britain WILL have to go to the US Consulate (in London) and get a visa from September. So not only will we need to get visas, we're now going to be fingerprinted like criminals? Canada or Europe for me for holidays. I know that my sister has cancelled her plans to holiday in Florida this year because of this. I heard of this requirement on the radio. It seems that it is coming in in September and we are travelling in August so it won't concern us. The way I feel about it - if the powers that be think it might save some lives, so be it. Bev -- I got rid of my husband. The cat was allergic. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
"Dan M" wrote in message ... Anyway - off me soapbox and back to the cats - they are *much* nicer :-) They are indeed! I'm sure everyone on the group suspects this, but just to clarify - most of us living in the US also think this is stupid, ineffectual, intrusive, and a very bad idea. A lot of us can hardly wait for November for a chance to vote that Bush idiot out of office. Even the kitties wish they could vote! Well, in the UK you'd find people who disagreed with government stupidity writing to their MP to protest said stupidity. Does it work like that in the US? (ok, it doesn't always work that well in the UK either, but at least they know we're displeased) -- Jette "Work for Peace and remain Fiercely Loving" - Jim Byrnes http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:
I'm sure the government of the Land of the Free is turning itself into the government of the Land of the Paranoid. Please note, I really do separate out the current USA government from *Americans* - and in particular the Americans on this NG :-) Honest :-) No offense taken, Helen. I didn't vote for this administration, and neither did the majority of American citizens. Will I be planning a holiday in the States? No - not with GWB in power - it's a step too far as far as I'm concerned. I'm working on this one, believe me!! I just hope BLiar and Blunkett (Home Secretary with political leanings to the right of Attila the Hun) actually do something to stand up to Bush for a change and *do* introduce compulsory photographing and fingerprinting of any American visiting these shores. I agree that it would be great to see another country's leaders stand up to Bush. On the other hand, in this kind of situation, it would be one leader against another, and why should they care? They're not going to be fingerprinted. The only people who suffer the inconvenience and the insult are the ordinary travellers. Joyce |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"Jeanette" wrote in message ... dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote in message ... Except that Britain WILL have to go to the US Consulate (in London) and get a visa from September. So not only will we need to get visas, we're now going to be fingerprinted like criminals? Canada or Europe for me for holidays. I know that my sister has cancelled her plans to holiday in Florida this year because of this. I fail to see why this is such a big deal. Regardless of what country is doing the photoing and printing. They do the same in a great many places just to allow anyone to cash a check! Jo |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
[OT] unusual dog fur | John F. Eldredge | Cat anecdotes | 14 | January 27th 04 07:35 PM |
[OT] Soccer Movie Question | Jeanne Hedge | Cat anecdotes | 5 | January 13th 04 03:57 PM |
[OT] Iron Chef | Yowie | Cat anecdotes | 19 | December 23rd 03 06:32 AM |
[OT] Just needed to vent - UPDATE 20/11 | JA Gory | Cat anecdotes | 23 | November 25th 03 04:33 AM |