Obtaining a US Visa

I should have posted this in a blog, but this way I can have all the updates together and sequential.

Day 1, Sunday march 4th, filling out the application:

Of course, first you need a valid passport, but I'm not counting that. Anyway, once you do have a passport, you go to a State Dept. website and fill out the application. I must say the form works very well, opening up additional fields when needed and providing good isntructions overall. But there are downsides:

1) it's only in english. Not a problem for me, but it will be a problem for many others. Allegedly if you mouse over the questions, fields and instructions a translation pops up in a little square. I didn't try that.

2) Some info requests don't work. Specifically I was asked to provide the number of my previous visa. I tried. But what the instructions said to look for was not there, and the numbers that I thought matched were rejected. Fortunately, I could check a box amrked "I don't know."

3) Too much information is required. I understand asking about past travel to the US, sure, and travel in general. But my parents' names and birth dates? Again, the "I don't know" box for the date of birth came in quite handy (I know the calendar dates, but not the years). Current employment, past employment, school history, average income, that struck me as excessive. Besides, I don't recal exactly when I enrolled in what school and when I graduated. I hope that doesn't come back to bite me.

4) The last section asks things like "Do you intend to engage in prostitution or promote prostitution in the United States?" And other such questiosn concerning money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist actions and human trafficking among others. I'm not saying such questions are silly, but who's dumb enough to answer "yes"?

5) They ask for a reference in the US. I could come up with one, but what of people who can't?

The cost for the visa is $140 US. If you get turned down, the fee is non-refundable. Upside, you can now pay online with a credit card.

Stay tuned for Day 2, March 10th, submitting biometric measurements. And Day 3, March 12th (hopefully), the consular interview.

BTW this is just for a visitors visa. I don't even want to know what students, investors, temporary workers, free lance workers and prospective immigrants go through. I would be interested to know how hard it is for Americans to obtain a visa to Brazil, assuming the offices are open.

My advice is make a best guess for anything you don't know that they are unlikely to check on, like the date you enrolled in school. For things they can easily check on, like your past visa number, be honest and put a question mark if you don't know.

The prostitution question is legitimate. I'm sure everyone puts "no," but I think that is probably the intent of a lot of young women applying for the visa. At least if they get caught it is easier to make a case to send them back that they lied on the visa application.

If you think your form is bad, try running your own business here in the states. There was a good article recently about all that was legally required to run a lemonade stand: John Stossel: Opening a lemonade stand is not easy.

Quote: Wizard

My advice is make a best guess for anything you don't know that they are unlikely to check on, like the date you enrolled in school. For things they can easily check on, like your past visa number, be honest and put a question mark if you don't know.

Great minds think alike. Thats just what I did. This included the dates for my trip to Orlando in '06, where the form instructed to give a "best estimate" if you don't know the exact dates.

Quote:

The prostitution question is legitimate. I'm sure everyone puts "no," but I think that is probably the intent of a lot of young women applying for the visa. At least if they get caught it is easier to make a case to send them back that they lied on the visa application.

Legally you can stay only for 6 months max on a tourist/business visa. Anyone overstaying the period is subject to deportation and denial of further entry. That should be enough.

Quote:

If you think your form is bad, try running your own business here in the states. There was a good article recently about all that was legally required to run a lemonade stand: John Stossel: Opening a lemonade stand is not easy.

I saw his show about that and a few other related things. I've been a fan of Stossel since the late 80s. He should do a special on immigration one of these days. I'm sure that's all screwed up in the US.

Quote: Nareed

Legally you can stay only for 6 months max on a tourist/business visa. Anyone overstaying the period is subject to deportation and denial of further entry. That should be enough.

Lying can also be used against the applicant when seeking permanent resident status or asylum.

Quote: Nareed

3) Too much information is required. I understand asking about past travel to the US, sure, and travel in general. But my parents' names and birth dates? Again, the "I don't know" box for the date of birth came in quite handy (I know the calendar dates, but not the years). Current employment, past employment, school history, average income, that struck me as excessive. Besides, I don't recal exactly when I enrolled in what school and when I graduated. I hope that doesn't come back to bite me.

Those all add up to trying to establish true identity. It's sort of similar to the ridiculous questions Caesars Total Rewards is now asking for them to issue their required new password.

Quote: Nareed

I would be interested to know how hard it is for Americans to obtain a visa to Brazil, assuming the offices are open.

Read my 'FedEx' post. It was a pain in the ass, and expensive. And you have to be without your passport for around two weeks at a minimum.

Well, Nareed, perhaps I can be of some use in this matter since I have aplplyed twice for American Visas, the first one was for a family vacation, so it was a B2 visa, If I am not mistaken and latest I have applyed to the J visa, which allowed me to go to the US as an interchange student, since I go to college.
For us, Brazilians, it's much easier to get a tourist visa, you still have to run through the paperwork but that's all burocracy. When you go to the consulate to the interview they speak both English and Portuguese, so that the language is not a big problem. All the forms you may need to fill are also available in Portuguese and English.
They ask you to bring your taxes and wage proof but nobody didn't ask us to show them. It was only the usual questions as why we are going to the U.S, where are we staying, if we had friends overseas and how long did we intend to stay. Once you say the words "shopping" or "vacation" or even "gambling" they grant you a 10 years visa.
From what I have heard from my friends that live in PA and came to visit me (3 people), they really had no problem to come to Brazil. I think they require you to buy your plane ticket in advance and then go through the paperwork. That's very odd, because doing so, it looks like that the Brazilian consulate will never deny you the visa, once it would be a scam to make you spent U$1k in a plane ticket and then not allowing your entrance. You still have to fill the forms, refeer someone you know in brazil as a reference and pay the taxes that are about U$160.
The student visa, the J1 is much harder to get. They do require your GPA, college history, letters of recomendations from brazilian professors and stuff like that, and costs about U$350.

Quote: SOOPOO

Read my 'FedEx' post. It was a pain in the ass, and expensive. And you have to be without your passport for around two weeks at a minimum.

Perhaps you are not familiar with the visa protocol. The U.S Consulate also charges you to get an American Visa, about U$180, and they do keep your passport and mail you after 10 days or so. It's no pain in the ass, it's the way things work.

Quote: aluisio

Perhaps you are not familiar with the visa protocol. The U.S Consulate also charges you to get an American Visa, about U$180, and they do keep your passport and mail you after 10 days or so. It's no pain in the ass, it's the way things work.

It is a pain in the ass, and yes, it is the way things work. I use my passport to enter Canada, so for me, the two weeks I was without my passport were two weeks I couldn't go to Canada. There are ways in New York state to pay extra to have your driver's license 'enhanced', and thus allow you to use it to get to and fro Canada, but since I've always used my passport I never paid that extra fee, as I considered it unnecessary. The Brazilian consulate does NOT take credit cards, does NOT accept cash, and does NOT accept personal checks. They required 2 photos, a copy of my driver's license, a copy of a utility bill, and an extra $20 since I was having a company present these documents, as the Brazilian consulate will NOT accept the documents by mail. This does NOT include the fee you have to pay the company you hire, NOR the FedEx costs to ship the passports and documents back and forth.
I have gotten visas to dozen's of countries all over the world, and do not remember any being this difficult. Most moderately 'friendly' countries allow an American passport holder to get a visa at the airport upon arrival upon paying the fee. I do understand that Brazil is stating that they are retaliating against the USA requiring Brazilian citizens to obtain a visa to enter the US.

Until 2007 Americans did not need any visa to come to Brazil, they would only pay a fee at the entrance, as you said. Since decades ago we were asked to issue a visa in order to go to the U.S but there was going to have some arrangements between the governments to avoid that. Once the deal failed Brazil started to demand a visa in the way America created. An equal copy of your system, No credit card, no mail, presence at the consulate mandatory, original documents only, with separate shipping. Exactelly the same thing.
I will tell you what a pain in the ass is. A pain in the ass is to take a vacation trip to Florida with your fiancee, buy a cruise trip from Miami, pay the cruise trip and 3 days after you are in Miami (two before the ship departure) get robbed and loose wallet (U$200 and 1 credit card, no big deal) and your passport with your visa.
No consulate, consul, embassy could do anything to me. I couldn't go to the cruise ship, since it would go to the carribean and I wouldn't be able to get back in the U.S because my passport with the visa was stolen. I also couldn't get the money back and ended up spending tons of cash with hotel because I could not book in advance and expensive Miami restaurants.
The worst part? Not even appologizing to me.

Just to make clear, I do love America as if it were my second country and I am very grateful from everything thay I have learned. But I think it would be more polite to keep some spoiled opinions about Internacional issues. Specially if enough research was not done.
By the way, the Canada issue could have been solved with an Advance Parole.

Quote: aluisio

Just to make clear, I do love America as if it were my second country and I am very grateful from everything thay I have learned. But I think it would be more polite to keep some spoiled opinions about Internacional issues. Specially if enough research was not done.
By the way, the Canada issue could have been solved with an Advance Parole.

I did all the research necessary, and did obtain the Visa. I am not blaming Brazil fully, I'm blaming Brazil 50%, and the US 50%. Both countries are soaking the respective travellers! I feel bad for your misery when you got your passport stolen.... that must have been a real downer.... Where in Brazil do you live? I'm only going to just barely be in Brazil, in Iguazu, for a single day... Most of my trip is to Argentina...

I live in Londrina, about 230 miles from Iguazu. When will you be coming? We could meet to go to the Iguazu Grand Casino if you want to.
Argentina is a divine place, but if you have enough time available enjoy your plane ticket better and spend some time in Brazil.
The passport stolen was one of the worst situations I have ever had in my life, but I told the story to show how simple things are complicated when dealing with customs and international affairs. Someone at the customs could simply look in the system and check my records of immigration and see that I was a legal tourist, but instead I got penalized for being a victim of violence.
More, when I told you about the research I meant about the advance parole to Canada, not to the visa. I also didnt want to ofend you. Sorry if I did, you seem to be a very nice person.

It is hard to offend me... I'll pm you.... It would be great if we could get together...

Quote: Nareed

...1) it's only in english...

Well, yeah...it might be a good language to know when visiting or residing in the United States, and I am a little surprised that there is a view that one has to apologize or explain a requirement to know the language. I mean, if I visited or immigrated to China, would I expect, or should demand, that they all know my language, if I went there?

Quote: Nareed

3) Too much information is required....

Opinion. Who decides what is required for entrance, the gatekeeper, right? Same everywhere.

Quote: Nareed

4) The last section asks things like "Do you intend to engage in prostitution or promote prostitution in the United States?" And other such questiosn concerning money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist actions and human trafficking among others. I'm not saying such questions are silly, but who's dumb enough to answer "yes"?

Again, your business intentions for coming here may be inquired into. If you purjured yourself, shouldn't you be held accountable?

Quote: Nareed

5) They ask for a reference in the US. I could come up with one, but what of people who can't?

Well, if you know references in the U.S., you should supply them. What if they need to reach you? Need to verify who you know or deal with while in the U.S.? If you cannot come up with one, then you don't provide one. One may inquire as to why someone travels to visit, reside or even adopt a foreign country as their home, whom they might already know. This is reasonable.

Quote: Nareed

The cost for the visa is $140 US. If you get turned down, the fee is non-refundable. Upside, you can now pay online with a credit card.

Stay tuned for Day 2, March 10th, submitting biometric measurements. And Day 3, March 12th (hopefully), the consular interview.

BTW this is just for a visitors visa. I don't even want to know what students, investors, temporary workers, free lance workers and prospective immigrants go through. I would be interested to know how hard it is for Americans to obtain a visa to Brazil, assuming the offices are open.

Best of luck with it all, really. Paperwork is always required, one can do it, or resent it, or comment on it. It is a part of the process. If everything was easy, then....everything would be easy. It is possible enough.

Quote: SOOPOO

Read my 'FedEx' post. It was a pain in the ass, and expensive. And you have to be without your passport for around two weeks at a minimum.

The US embassy will be keeping my passport, too. I don't know for how long, either. They're distressingly vague about times. Granted I'm not likely to need to travel elsewhere in the meantime, but if I had to I'd be unable to. And if they or the courier company loses it, I ahve to jump through hoops with the authorities here, and then get a new one.

Quote: Paigowdan

Well, yeah...it might be a good language to know when visiting or residing in the United States, and I am a little surprised that there is a view that one has to apologize or explain a requirement to know the language.

We're talking about tourist visas here, not immigration. Few tourists know the language of the places they will visit. Besides, travel forms usually come printed in english, Spanish and French at least. Usually in other languages as well, such as Japanese and Mandarin. Considering the numbers of Spanish speakers who visit the US each year, asking for applications in Spaish isn't unreasonable.

Quote:

Well, if you know references in the U.S., you should supply them. What if they need to reach you?

You fill out an address on the migratory form they give you on the flight over. Suppose in the visa application I give a reference in New York and visit California? good luck reaching me there. Not that the address on the migratory form is any more sueful. And why would they need to reach me in the first place?


I'll tell you what irks me: America is too good to be so gripped by xenophobia.

Quote: aluisio

Well, Nareed, perhaps I can be of some use in this matter since I have aplplyed twice for American Visas, the first one was for a family vacation, so it was a B2 visa, If I am not mistaken and latest I have applyed to the J visa, which allowed me to go to the US as an interchange student, since I go to college.

I appreciate the help offer, but I'm hardly a newbie at this. In fact, this will be my third visa application, sort of.

The first one was made by my parents when I was 3 years old. Back then I was issued a "mica," which is Spanish for "laminated card." It had my name, address and a photo. It carried the legend "valid until revoked" and, on the back, a stern warning in English and Spanish against taking employment in the US. I used that card for decades in trips to the US, both by plane and overland. The last time was at the border crossing in Hidalgo, TX. Since I dind't intend to travel further inland than McAllen, I didn't even need a valid passport. The border agent did ask for additional ID, since the visa, he explained between fits of laughter, was a little old.

By 2000 all extant visas were revoked, or actions to that effect. So I applied for a new "laser" visa. This involved making an appointment at the US embassy (a lovely building one block away from the Maria Isabel Sheraton and the Wizard's favorite, unvisited Mex City landmark), filling out an aplpication (in Spanish), standing in line for over an hour, waiting inside for 90 minutes or so, being fingerprinted (index fingers only) and having my photo taken. I was spared an interview, but I did leave my passport behind. Weeks later the passport and visa arrived at my house.

I used that visa for four trips to the US. One to Orlando and three to Vegas. No problems getting in or out at all. I even used the visa as an ID when obtaining casino player cards. What I resent was going from "valid until revoked" to a visa that says "expires on: x/x/2010." I further resent having to renew the visa or having to get a new one, however that works (again, vague info). The only advantage is that US bureaucrats are rather reasonable as compared to Mexican bureaucrats.

Quote:

For us, Brazilians, it's much easier to get a tourist visa, you still have to run through the paperwork but that's all burocracy. When you go to the consulate to the interview they speak both English and Portuguese, so that the language is not a big problem.

In all my dealings with US consular officers in Mexico, I've never been addressed in English. Not once. But, as is evident, that wouldn't be a problem for me. I expect if any forms need to be filled out, they'll be available in Spanish, too.

Quote:

They ask you to bring your taxes and wage proof but nobody didn't ask us to show them.

I'm a bit concenred becasue the online site says the only document required is my current passport, but adds that additional documents may be required. That's rather vague (again). I don't have specific proof of wages or taxes any more (long story, having to do with tax isssues): I do get paid, and I do eveything within the law, but the only proof consists of bank transfers. I'll also be taking the old visa, credit card statements and other waste paper they may require.

Quote:

It was only the usual questions as why we are going to the U.S, where are we staying, if we had friends overseas and how long did we intend to stay. Once you say the words "shopping" or "vacation" or even "gambling" they grant you a 10 years visa.

I'm guessing my travel record and gold and platimum credit cards will help convince the US State Dept. I don't intend to stay in their country illegally, which I gather is the whole point of the US visa system. As I said before, America is too good to be so xenophobic. Not that Mexico isn't xenophobic either, but legal restrictions to entry and immigration are a lot milder (unless you enter illegally and intend to reach the US). We have a private xenophobia, not a public-government one.

Quote: Nareed

What I resent was going from "valid until revoked" to a visa that says "expires on: x/x/2010."

I'm not aware of any other country issuing such an open-ended nonresident visa, but I'm more than willing to stand corrected.

Quote: SanchoPanza

I'm not aware of any other country issuing such an open-ended nonresident visa, but I'm more than willing to stand corrected.

I'm not, either. But plenty of countries don't require visas. Mexico doesn't. Even the US does not require visas for citizens of all countries. Most Europeans get in without one, for example. That's an open-ended permission to visit anytime.

Quote: Nareed

Plenty of countries don't require visas. Mexico doesn't. Even the US does not require visas for citizens of all countries. Most Europeans get in without one, for example. That's an open-ended permission to visit anytime.

The Visa Waiver Program is limited to 90-day visits. And it applies also to countries in Asia and Oceania. It would seem that Mexico is notably lacking in some of the basic requirements for the program:
"To be admitted to the Visa Waiver Program, a country must meet various security and other requirements, such as enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports. VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards. In addition, designation as a VWP country is at the discretion of the United States government. Meeting the objective requirements of the VWP does not guarantee a successful candidacy for VWP membership."--state.gov

Quote: Nareed

I'll tell you what irks me: America is too good to be so gripped by xenophobia.

Please Don't feel that way, if it is only the application of certain reasonable and specific standards for entrance.

Such questions and requests for information that focuses on "what are your reasons for visiting?" "Who might you know who is already in this country?" and "what line of work are you in?" are utterly reasonable, and are routinely asked of many visitors and visa applicants as many nations' entrance requirements. To label Americans as xenophobic for these reasonable (and pretty much world-wide standard requirements) is a bit accusatory, IMHO. It doesn't have to be Pablo Escobar #2 popping up from a boat lift with a sachel of cocaine and assault weapons to merit a cursory review. - Have you seen Singapore's requirements? The Visa process is generally nasty everywhere, at least the paperwork and waits.

The effort to enter can be eased, without sacrificing standards, also. But that's money and efficiency, and also expecting reason and intelligence from government workers and bureaucrats.

As promised, Day Two, March 10th 2012, submitting biometric measurements.

In an earlier era we would have called this "booking," as when you're booked after being arrested. In other words, having your picture and fingerprints taken. But we live in a less trusting age than, oh, the 1990s (remember them?) These days everyone may ask for your fingerprints.

So, the appointment was for 7:20 am, and you're warned not to arrive earlier than 15 minutes before the appointed time. I arrived around 7:10 am. The procedure is quite efficient. You're told to stand in a line for your time slot, and they have five people walk the line checking you've brought the right papers. This, BTW, happens at the application service center a few blocks from the embassy.

I was told I couldn't submit my application receipt on a recycled page (that's one that has unrelated printing on the other side, not on recycled paper per se). So I had to step out of line, walk two blocks to an internet cafe, access Gmail, and reprint the application receipt. At least the line guy did know where the nearest internet cafe was.

When I got back, it was to the back of the line, of course. Not too bad anyway. Next you go into a Wendy's style line ending on a desk with three people who scan your passport's and application's bar codes. From there you go into the processing room, which is McDonald's lines, but with a twist: there are chairs on the lines. So you sit in line rather than stand. Not bad at all.

When you reach the window, you're photographed and fingerprinted. And that's it.

The question is why this requires a separate appointment. Perhaps the reasons will be self-evident at the embassy interview Monday.

Overall I can't complain (much), as the service was efficient and courteous. The thing is they didn't keep my reprinted application on its pristine paper, so I'm at a loss to explain why it couldn't be printed on a recycled page.

Quote: SanchoPanza

The Visa Waiver Program is limited to 90-day visits. And it applies also to countries in Asia and Oceania. It would seem that Mexico is notably lacking in some of the basic requirements for the program:
"To be admitted to the Visa Waiver Program, a country must meet various security and other requirements, such as enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports. VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards. In addition, designation as a VWP country is at the discretion of the United States government. Meeting the objective requirements of the VWP does not guarantee a successful candidacy for VWP membership."--state.gov

I believe that only Crete, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania in the EU are excluded from the VWP. EU officials would like to see membership in the EU as a guarantee that you get into the VWP.

The Asian countries in the VWP are:
New Zealand
Australia
Japan
South Korea
Brunei
Singapore

I strongly believe that the countries in the South America, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile should be permitted to enter the VWP, Illegal entry into the USA from these countries is very low, and so is tourism and business. The situation should be manageable using machine readable passports.

Russia has also had 17 years of decreasing population, and is now down to their 1979 population. The number of illegal immigrants from Russia is so small, that they can be handled with passports.

Quote: SanchoPanza

The Visa Waiver Program is limited to 90-day visits.

Don't you think that's enough? How long are most vacations anyway?

Quote:

It would seem that Mexico is notably lacking in some of the basic requirements for the program:

Perhaps. Then again you've had terrorists try to enter the US from Canada, not from Mexico. And plenty of terrorists have had no trouble getting a US visa, either.

Quote: Nareed

Don't you think that's enough? How long are most vacations anyway?

Ninety days appears to be quite de rigueur for many countries. You seem to have been most perturbed about the demise of long-term visas:
"What I resent was going from "valid until revoked" to a visa that says "expires on: x/x/2010." I further resent having to renew the visa or having to get a new one, however that works (again, vague info)."

Quote: Nareed

You've had terrorists try to enter the US from Canada, not from Mexico.

That ought to be qualified to the extent that none have become publicly known. Considering the immense number of illegal crossings every day, there is no real way to gain a definitive handle on the problem. For now, we have to rely on Janet Napolitano and similar "experts."

Quote: Nareed

And plenty of terrorists have had no trouble getting a US visa, either.

That will most probably continue, and the general public will remain basically ignorant/complacent about that until the next blast.

Quote: pacomartin

I believe that only Crete, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania in the EU are excluded from the VWP. EU officials would like to see membership in the EU as a guarantee that you get into the VWP.

Actually one of the major Schengen proponents appears to be having second thoughts, as we see so increasingly these days in Europe:

"President Nicolas Sarkozy threatened in a key election rally Sunday to pull France out of Europe's 26-nation visa free zone unless the European Union does more to keep out illegal immigrants. . . .
The Schengen area is home to 400 million Europeans who can cross borders without a passport, and once inside the area illegal immigrants can theoretically move freely between the participating states.
Sarkozy accuses some EU states of having lax border controls that let in illegals who may later turn up in France." afp

Day 3, march 12th 2012, The Interview.

Combine boring with anticlmatic and you have a good description.

To begin with the appointment receipt you get online says the embassy is in Paseo de la Reforma. While that's the official address, the entrance is on a parallel street called Rio Lerma.

Anyway, you stand in line outside for a few minutes, while embassy staff remind you of a long list of items you cannot bring into the embassy. I want to point out they did not say either car keys nor cigarette lighters while I was there.

Next you go inside where your papers are scanned and you're asked a security question such as your date of birth. Here they affix a small piece of paper with your turn number. Then you go through security, much as you'd do at an airport. There I was asked to surrender my car keys and lighter. For good measure I added my electrolysis needle.

Next you sit in a waiting room and wait (imagine that) until your number comes up. I assumed the interview followed. It doesn't. After about an hour you go to a desk and get asked some questions about your application, as well as complementary questions (I was asked whether my parents had current visas). after this you go to yet another desk where they check your fingerprints.

Then you go to the other waiting room and wait for your number to be called to a window for the much vaunted interview. I see nothing wrong with this order of things, but an interview should be conducted at a desk, not a window. Anyway, I was asked the following:

Is this the first time you apply for a visa?
What do you do at your job?
How long have you been working there?
How much money do you make?
When and where was your last trip to the US?
What's the purpose of your next trip?

That was it. I was told the visa is approved, and they'll keep my passport to print or attach the visa to it. I should be able to pick it up in 5 to ten days.

All this took from 8:36 am, the time stamp when I got in, til 10:45 am. If there's a next time, I'll bring along a book or magazine to pass the time.

Oh, the inside of the place isn't bad at all. There's a small snack shop, plenty of chairs, restrooms, and a drinking fountain. The last are a rare sight indeed in Mexico. it is a great deal more pleasant than government offices in Mexico.

Quote: Paigowdan

Please Don't feel that way, if it is only the application of certain reasonable and specific standards for entrance.

The standard for entrance applied to mexican nationals is "Will this person go back home at the end of her visit, or will she try to overstay her visa and remain in the US ilegally?"

I assume they also do some random background checks or something. Judging by the number of people applying for visas, it would be too many checks to run on everyone. Still, they may do just that. I'd understand turning away people with a criminal record, or arrests, or who are suspected of soemthing, etc etc etc. But the standard is "will this person become an illegal immigrant?"

I'm not guessing or wildly slandering anyone. It's on the website containing info for the visa process.

Now, everyone knows there are lots of people living ilegally in the US. But why? Because immigrating to the US legally is very hard, expensive and takes years. What's worse is that people who constantly talk about free markets don't mind a bit imposing controls on the labor market, partly by restricting immigration. But it wasn't always like that. Til the 30s or so America welcomed immigrants from all voer the world with a minimum of red tape and without complicated, expensive and time-consuming requirements.

And that is largely xenophobia.

Not that it is restricted to the US, not at all. Mexicans are rabidly xenophobic if you give them a chance. But that attitude doesn't reflect in the law. America is somewhat the opposite in some ways.

Quote: pacomartin

Russia has also had 17 years of decreasing population, and is now down to their 1979 population. The number of illegal immigrants from Russia is so small, that they can be handled with passports.

It is only small because it next to impossible for a Russian to obtain a tourist visa to USA. As long as you do not have family (as in wife and kids, not parents or just wife) left behind, it, pretty much, is impossible.

I forgot a few tidbits:

They do keep the application receipt form at the interview, so it makes sense they'd want it printed on a blank page.

I still see no reason to have the fingerprints and photo taken at a separate facilty at a different time. It could be they run checks, but they got my "biometric measurements" on Saturday and I had the interview on Monday. Given that work slows or stops on the weekend, that seems like insufficient time.

One of the hundreds of visa applicants that day wore a shirt with the logo of the Mexican Imigration Institute, the equivalent to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (if that's still around). It seems there's no easy professional courtesy :)

Hopefully tomorrow there'll be news as to a delivery date for my visa. I'm holding off on booking my trip until I have it.

Quote: Nareed

Hopefully tomorrow there'll be news as to a delivery date for my visa. I'm holding off on booking my trip until I have it.

I admit the service was better than expected. I got an email just now telling me the visa and passport have been sent to a DHL office. Now I just have to pick them up :)

Last update. I picked it up today. I have to wonder what's the point in using a courier service, but not having home delivery. Oh, well. There are plenty of DHL offices in the city, and you pick which one it will be sent to when you set up the appointment.

The visa isn't much to look at. The photo is in black and white for some reason. I see no obvious security features (the old visas had a hologram in the back). It comes glued on the last page of the passport.

Quote: SanchoPanza

Actually one of the major Schengen proponents appears to be having second thoughts, as we see so increasingly these days in Europe:

Well, these are two different things. The Schengen agreement allows travel without a passport. The level of illegal immigration in the EU is now approaching that of the USA. Understandably some countries are bothered by the fact that if any border anywhere is broken, then the entire EU is open to travel.

The Visa Waiver Program simply says that that normal passport and other controls are sufficient, without the need to apply for a visa. It extends to about 480 million people in Europe (including Australia and New Zealand), and another 182 million in Asia (Japan , Singapore, South Korea) and the one Muslim country of Brunei.

Under consideration are Taiwan, The EU countries of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, and Romania . The other European countries of Croatia and Turkey.
Finally in South America the countries of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. Lastly Israel.

Most of the territories are covered by the agreement with the host country (i.e. Greenland, Bermuda, etc. )

Travel from Canada, Mexico and Bahamas are governed by separate laws from the rest of the world.

------------------------
Terrorism and border control are only loosely related. Any terrorist action will never be caught at the border. Why would terrorists risk using someone who can't cross the border legally? In this sense, I consider the actions of the USA xenophobic.

Not true, Paco :

Quote:

The Coho made news on December 14, 1999, when Ahmed Ressam was arrested by border authorities in Port Angeles after he attempted to enter the United States via Victoria on the Coho with home-made explosives and timing devices hidden in his car. He admitted he and accomplices had planned to bomb LAX on New Year's Eve, 1999.p

Now, he may have been a dumb terrorist, but here's one action that was caught at the border...

Quote: pacomartin

Why would terrorists risk using someone who can't cross the border legally? In this sense, I consider the actions of the USA xenophobic.

One reason is because it is so easy to cross the border unregistered and, presumably, unnoticed. The less the database keeps track of one's movements, the better for the terrorists.

Quote: thecesspit

Now, he may have been a dumb terrorist, but here's one action that was caught at the border...

I retract my blanket statement. Criminals obviously cross the border, and I would consider this guy a kind of a criminal. What would qualify as true terrorist plots with training and funding are not going to get caught at the border. There are way too many people in the USA legally, to risk an operation because someone doesn't have the correct paperwork.

Border control is about economics. The USA wants to have a little more than 1 million immigrants per year, and many more people than that want to come to the USA. There are a million babies born every three days around the world.

Quote: pacomartin

I retract my blanket statement. Criminals obviously cross the border, and I would consider this guy a kind of a criminal. What would qualify as true terrorist plots with training and funding are not going to get caught at the border. There are way too many people in the USA legally, to risk an operation because someone doesn't have the correct paperwork.

Border control is about economics. The USA wants to have a little more than 1 million immigrants per year, and many more people than that want to come to the USA. There are a million babies born every three days around the world.

The guy had paperwork, had spent a 6 months training in Pakistan with Al Qaeda types, and was part of a 6 man cell.

He's about as honest-to-god (sic) a terrorist you can get - funded, organized, trained and with the right paperwork. The border guard who caught him caught a whiff of something "hinky" (her words) and asked for a second search and further paperwork. Which wasn't quite in order (he produced two IDs for Quebec), nor was the trunk with several pounds of explosive stashed in the spare wheel well.Times, the terrorist is caught and you think "really? you tried that? wow".

I agree that 99.99% of the time, it's all about stopping people moving for work, and the rest is security theatre.

I helped a coworker, call her B, fill out her Visa application on Tuesday. I had warned her of the info required, so she'd have it on hand. Well, for some reason she got some different information requests. For example, she wasn't asked about her schooling, nor about previous jobs. The only fundamental difference I could see was that B had never been issued a visa or been to the US before. But of course who can tell how government bureaucrats work....

The other oddity was the scheduling of her appointment. While I could set up my appointment at once, B will have to wait til the end of April. This ought to be due to higher demand for this time as opposed to early March.

On other things, she's planning to travel to Dallas. It turns out flight from Mexico to Dallas are hellishly expensive. American Airlines, for instance, quotes a price of US $650 per person, round trip. Delta, United and others are not much better at around $625. We had better luck with Spirit Airlines leaving from Toluca, but for her dates she'd have to fly via Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and take almost 8 hours to do so. But the fare comes to around $400 round trip per person.

Interjet flies to San Antonio cheaply (about $385 round trip per person), but that's about 500 kilometers from Dallas. From there the options are Southwest to Love Field rather than DFW, but adding all up it is more expensive than Spirit; or taking the bus to Dallas, but that's a 4+ hour trip.

Sorry to rise such an old thread. I would like to know if anyone has received an US visa lately. I just came back from the American Consulate and my visa was renewed for ten more years. This is the first time they are so generous. Does anyone know if it's the new protocol?

Quote: aluisio

Sorry to rise such an old thread. I would like to know if anyone has received an US visa lately. I just came back from the American Consulate and my visa was renewed for ten more years. This is the first time they are so generous. Does anyone know if it's the new protocol?

I think it is with Brazil. The US Consulate and Brazil established a working group in July to include Brazil in the Visa Waiver Program. As of today there are still no countries in the Western Hemisphere, so this working group is a positive sign.

There are not a significant number of illegal immigrant that come from Brazil and the Southern Cone. With newer machine readable passports and the even newer biometric passports, the should be able to control tourism and business from that region without having to resort to visas.

Thanks for the info, paco! You are always very kind and helpful. Lately the relationship between these two countries has become stronger and for those of us who like to travel it's very convenient. Of course the main point of the whole story impacts in the economics...

Quote: aluisio

Sorry to rise such an old thread. I would like to know if anyone has received an US visa lately. I just came back from the American Consulate and my visa was renewed for ten more years. This is the first time they are so generous. Does anyone know if it's the new protocol?

Generous? Hardly. I held a visa for 30 years until 2000, when they voided all the old "border crossing cards" which stated "Valid until revoked." Ten years is nothing.

Really. America needs to get over its morbid fear of immigration.