Homeland Security tightening up again.

[Halabriel 0]

Hi

 

All over the news today is the announcement that Homeland Security have tightened international travel security again.

 

From Jan 12th 2009, all residents of all 27 countries using the visa waiver program (Europe, Australia, Japan) will have to register with the US Embassy 72hours prior to traveling, including all their flight details and travel plans, this will include simple transfers via the US as well. Read it here

 

So gone are the last minute travel deals and the US tightens the screws on travelers yet again.

 

If you break a vase and fix it with sticky tape, it will probably still leak. The more cracks in the vase, the more sticky tape is required, and the more it leaks - this is my view of US immigration today, a cracked old leaky vase that should be avoided at all costs.

 

Cheers

 

Hal

[DavidScubadiver 0]

At least the registration is good for two years...

[rtrski 20]

So if you think you might want a last-minute deal to the US, register on January 2009 and you're covered for the next two years. Didn't say in the article you must have flight details at the time of the registration....just that the registration must precede entry by 72 hrs.

 

Not that I'm a fan - to me, this sounds the same as making travellers register for a travel visa in the first place (sans a wait-for-response, I guess), which is an end-run around the whole "no visa required" country list. Sounds like it would have just been more honest to say "we believe there's no reason to think those from certain countries are less dangerous than others, so we are bowing out of the no-visa-required list". But they know that would automatically result in a reciprocating move by the other governments, and are trying to have their cake and eat it too.

 

Sigh. I don't recognize my country sometimes anymore. Not wearing rose colored glasses - we do have enemies...but the leaky vase analogy still applies. So does something about barn doors and vacant horses....

[Halabriel 0]

Hi

 

To me it would seem more honest to say either get a full 10 year visa, or a limited stay 2 year visa. Making you register with Homeland Security makes me feel like a criminal.

 

In fact all my dealings with HS have made me feel like a criminal. 3 months ago I went to Turks, and flew back to Bermuda via JFK. I was held in JFK with no explanation for 2 hours at secondary passport control. The final conversation went something like this...

"Where do you live?"

"Bermuda"

"Why are you in the US?"

"I am in transit to Bermuda"

"So if I was to deport you from US soil, where would I send you?"

"Bermuda"

"Hmmm....Well you had better go get that flight then."

"But I missed it waiting for you to come and speak to me"

"Speak to your airline representative, goodbye"

 

Honestly if I could fly Bermuda-Canada-Caribbean easily I would

 

Cheers

 

Hal

[breals 0]

Let me take the time and apologize for the behavior of our current "government" and it's policies. We keep making it difficult for people to come here and then wonder why it's affecting our standing in the world.

 

I wonder how the airlines feel about this, if they make it difficult they will see their ridership fall...quickly.

[Giles 1]

So I won't be able to legally even transit through without pregistering ?

 

but Jesus from Cuba can drive his converted Chevrolet / boat to the keys and become an instant citizen ?

 

If I could travel anywhere without going through the states i would ... unfortunately thats not possible .. what the hell is so wrong with a transit lounge anyways ?

[wagsy 0]

Hey were is the United States anyhow?

 

Have to Google it

[ATJ 1]

Maybe more cities, like Concord, MA, should try to secede from the US.

[Drew 0]

Well just so non-US citizens feel better, even citizens get harassed returning home, even ones with 2000 years of family history.

I refuse to fly via Houston now due to the poor treatment I received at that airport by immigration.

To be fair to immigrations, there is so much traffic going through that monitoring is difficult anyhow. It's a major inconvenience but since it's only for foreigners, I'm ok with it unless I get a foreigner gf again... in which case it's not fun at all.

[MatthewAddison 0]

In the U.S., you get held up at customs for a check. In some other countries you get held up for cash at customs.

The world was stunned on 9/11 as the world trade center collapsed and pictures of people leaping out of the 80th floor to their deaths graced their evening news. Now they are stunned that 6 years later the U.S. is still paranoid. Sorry folks, we'll get over the trauma of our capitol city being attacked, a landmark destroyed and 4000+ people dead in lower manhattan soon as possible. In the meanwhile, try to bear with us. We don't like the heightened security any more than you do. Oh yea, we also have a slight problem in the White House at the moment. Sorry 'bout that, world.

[Drew 0]

Matthew I think what most people are wondering is if this registering for 72 hours before will be of use.

Nobody is saying we forget NYC, Madrid or any other terrorist attacks. The world is a screwed up place thanks to these mad people. However, their plan was to make our lives more difficult and frustrate us into changing policies. Unfortunately, they have succeeded.

The visa waiver program was initiated to control illegal immigrants and the status of each country with very low over stayers (although I still wonder why there are so many brits working in LA stores ) are given a waiver. Until the late 90s, many visa applications were screened more for illegal immigration than security risk. TSA and Homeland Security has changed that now. And seeing how a few terrorists were citizens of visa waiver program countries, I can see the point.

However, if these terrorists are sleeper agents type, would pre-registering be of any use? I'm sure there's a mathematical calculation that tips the odds to detection or it really could be another extraneous step. But I'm not security expert.

I think it's very normal for people not to want to be hassled for something they know they are not a part of. Most travellers are being put through scrutiny for something they know they are not part of and it's normal to rant about it.

Oh and Giles, many of the airports have waiting areas with toilets and even a few shops, many that's what they call a large lounge?

[MatthewAddison 0]

(although I still wonder why there are so many brits working in LA stores ) are given a waiver.

Retailers paying off HS. It's the classy accent... Makes you think those $300.00 jeans might actually be worth more than $35.00!

[John Bantin 101]

Hey were is the United States anyhow?

 

Have to Google it

 

Australia? Visas? I applied for a Visa on-line while transiting from the UK (Remember us? It's where the Queen lives!) at Singapore because you cannot pay the entry tax to Australia (otherwise called a Visa) on arrival.

 

This US thing looks like an opportunity for Mexico to develop its airport hubs since we all prefer not to go through the USA (especially now it looks like Iran might nuke the place - only joking!)

 

Retailers paying off HS. It's the classy accent... Makes you think those $300.00 jeans might actually be worth more than $35.00!

 

 

Thank God I have a classy accent - and Class!

 

I simply pull my regal accent on the US immigration officials (usually of Mexicans or Oriental extraction), look down my aristocratic nose, and two hundred years of British Empire clicks in so that they can't but help but offer to carry my bag. Alex would probably do the same but he has to stand on his bag (so he can look down his nose!).

[Drew 0]

Visas have always been about controlling immigrants. I think it's great that we americans get charged a higher visa fee for entering many countries in reciprocation for our exhorbitant visa fees.

 

Retailers paying off HS. It's the classy accent... Makes you think those $300.00 jeans might actually be worth more than $35.00!

I dunno what's so classy about the english accent? Is the Eliza Dolittle complex still that rampant? TR jeans still look bad to me even when a hottie wears them, let's not even go to someone trying to sell them to me with an accent.

 

I simply pull my regal accent on the US immigration officials (usually of Mexicans or Oriental extraction), look down my aristocratic nose, and two hundred years of British Empire clicks in so that they can't but help but offer to carry my bag. Alex would probably do the same but he has to stand on his bag (so he can look down his nose!).

 

So John, the immigration officials think you look 200 years old so they offer to carry your bags? I usually help the elderly starting at 70+ so I do apologize you had to wait that long to get help with the bags. But you do look much younger than 200.

(Psst Alex, I got him back for calling you a pudgy shorty )

[John Bantin 101]

Visas have always been about controlling immigrants. I think it's great that we americans get charged a higher visa fee for entering many countries in reciprocation for our exhorbitant visa fees.

I dunno what's so classy about the english accent? Is the Eliza Dolittle complex still that rampant? TR jeans still look bad to me even when a hottie wears them, let's not even go to someone trying to sell them to me with an accent.

So John, the immigration officials think you look 200 years old so they offer to carry your bags? I usually help the elderly starting at 70+ so I do apologize you had to wait that long to get help with the bags. But you do look much younger than 200.

(Psst Alex, I got him back for calling you a pudgy shorty )

 

 

200? Don't be cheeky! I am 60, look 70 and feel 80.

[Nige Wade 0]

200? Don't be cheeky! I am 60, look 70 and feel 80.

I thought you were 70 acted 20 and looked 80 having said that I'm blind as a bat but I would carry your bags.

John can you pick me up a bag of nails from B&Q on krinkly night using your OAP discount card?

 

Nige

[John Bantin 101]

I thought you were 70 acted 20 and looked 80 having said that I'm blind as a bat but I would carry your bags.

John can you pick me up a bag of nails from B&Q on krinkly night using your OAP discount card?

 

Nige

 

What size do you want?

[hoovermd 0]

In the U.S., you get held up at customs for a check. In some other countries you get held up for cash at customs.

The world was stunned on 9/11 as the world trade center collapsed and pictures of people leaping out of the 80th floor to their deaths graced their evening news. Now they are stunned that 6 years later the U.S. is still paranoid. Sorry folks, we'll get over the trauma of our capitol city being attacked, a landmark destroyed and 4000+ people dead in lower manhattan soon as possible. In the meanwhile, try to bear with us. We don't like the heightened security any more than you do. Oh yea, we also have a slight problem in the White House at the moment. Sorry 'bout that, world.

 

 

Well said.

As an American, I am often embarrassed at some of our policies but c'mon... I effectively "register" with many of the countries to which I travel. It is a fact of life. What really bothers me is when I have to give all my passport info (and sometimes my passport) to the hotels when I check in...

[loftus 42]

Well said.

As an American, I am often embarrassed at some of our policies but c'mon... I effectively "register" with many of the countries to which I travel. It is a fact of life. What really bothers me is when I have to give all my passport info (and sometimes my passport) to the hotels when I check in...

I agree. What concerns me mostly is whether these processes are effective or not. As it is politically incorrect to profile, nor does the average DHS person have the intelligence or training to apply profiling in an effective way, blanket policies that really inconvenience everyone have to be applied. Unfortunately all our agencies, DHS, FBI, CIA whatever, can never win, as they are rarely congratulated on their successes, only condemned for their failures. Success for them means nothing happens, and we've had no major events since 9/11. If and when something happens again, you know everyone will be on their back, all the way up to any present or future president.

Countries like Israel have dealt with this problem very effectively for a long time; they clearly profile, and their DHS equivalents are clearly on top of their game, if you have ever had the experience of dealing with them. They have the advantage though of having to screen a much more limited number of people.

Edited June 7, 2008 by loftus

[jeremypayne 0]

We (the usa) can't seem to win on this one.

 

Prior to 9/11, I often heard people mock the US for having lax security.

 

Since 9/11, those same people are mocking the US for having too much security.

[Giles 1]

Drew,

 

I know airports have lounges .. i was talking about TRANSIT lounges.

 

remember the days when you arrived in a country youwere just passing through and you had say 2 hours between flights.

You didn't have to check out and in .. you stayed on the checked in side and went to a transit lounge hence staying in international territory.

 

I don't understand why the major coastal hubs in the US like Miami, Atlanta, NYC, LAX etc etc all make you check out and then check in take ur bags back through security and then get on the plane when you could just stay in a transit lounge never entering the country. This would take a huge workload off the airport and make travelling a lot easier and in no way is a risk as everyone was checked at originating airport.

[loftus 42]

Drew,

 

I know airports have lounges .. i was talking about TRANSIT lounges.

I had forgotten about those; I'm trying to remember when I last sat in one of those; it's got to be at least 20 years. You make a good point.

I guess the logistics of having all the different gates in close proximity to the lounge has now made it logistically impossible in large hubs. Probably could still work in smaller airports.

[Halabriel 0]

Hi

 

I don't actually mind registering, it's the hypocrisy that gets me...

 

Do they believe that you average terrorist is a complete bozo who will -a- not register legally to get in or -b- be already resident waiting to blow up, or -c- think of some new way to circumvent DHS (remember the cracked vase)

 

Call it what it is - either a 10 year full visa, or a 2 year limited stay visa. Don't tell me that there is a visa waiver program, and then make me register for the non-visa.

 

BTW Did you know that Brazil now has a separate stream for US citizen, who need fingerprinting and photo identification prior to entry to Brazil. This is only for US citizens, and is a direct pay back for the US doing this to everyone crossing its borders. I think all countries should institute these 'tit-4-tat' measures until it becomes so difficult to travel anywhere that the entire system needs to be redesigned.

 

Cheers

 

Hal

Edited June 8, 2008 by Halabriel

[MatthewAddison 0]

Drew,

 

I know airports have lounges .. i was talking about TRANSIT lounges.

 

remember the days when you arrived in a country youwere just passing through and you had say 2 hours between flights.

You didn't have to check out and in .. you stayed on the checked in side and went to a transit lounge hence staying in international territory.

 

I don't understand why the major coastal hubs in the US like Miami, Atlanta, NYC, LAX etc etc all make you check out and then check in take ur bags back through security and then get on the plane when you could just stay in a transit lounge never entering the country. This would take a huge workload off the airport and make travelling a lot easier and in no way is a risk as everyone was checked at originating airport.

From what I have been told, some foreign airports do not meet FAA security requirements and if you are transiting through a U.S. airport from one, you will be required to meet U.S. secutity standards. When I transit from Indo through Singapore I am not even allowed into the Singapore airport proper without going through a security check first. Then I'm off to the transit lounge!

[Drew 0]

Giles

That's exactly what Matthew suggests on the end of the transit lounge. It's about security in this modern age of scared travellers.

Hal, China charges US citizens the same visa fees as the US charges Chinese citizens...every other country it's $30. Chile is smarter... they call it an administrative fee on entry...not a visa

So glad I have 2 passports.