[NCUC-DISCUSS] Fwd: ICANN53 - Update on the Current Visa Situation

[William Drake]

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: David Olive <david.olive at icann.org>
> Subject: ICANN53 - Update on the Current Visa Situation
> Date: June 9, 2015 at 1:57:12 PM GMT+2
> To: "byron.holland at cira.ca" <byron.holland at cira.ca>, "thomas.schneider at bakom.admin.ch" <thomas.schneider at bakom.admin.ch>, "jonathan.robinson at ipracon.com" <jonathan.robinson at ipracon.com>, "axel.pawlik at ripe.net" <axel.pawlik at ripe.net>, "louie at louie.net"	<louie at louie.net>, "patrik at frobbit.se" <patrik at frobbit.se>, "tsinha at umd.edu"	<tsinha at umd.edu>, "liman at netnod.se" <liman at netnod.se>, "alan.greenberg at mcgill.ca" <alan.greenberg at mcgill.ca>, "tonyarholmes at btinternet.com" <tonyarholmes at btinternet.com>, Elisa Cooper	<Elisa.Cooper at markmonitor.com>, "gregshatanipc at gmail.com"	<gregshatanipc at gmail.com>, Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak at gmail.com>, "william.drake at uzh.ch" <william.drake at uzh.ch>, "rudi.vansnick at isoc.be"	<rudi.vansnick at isoc.be>, "Michele at blacknight.com" <Michele at blacknight.com>, "kdrazek at Verisign.com" <kdrazek at Verisign.com>, "gbruen at knujon.com"	<gbruen at knujon.com>, "hilaliaziz at yahoo.fr" <hilaliaziz at yahoo.fr>, "siranush_vardanyan at hotmail.com" <siranush_vardanyan at hotmail.com>, "alberto at soto.net.ar" <alberto at soto.net.ar>, "wolf.ludwig at comunica-ch.net"	<wolf.ludwig at comunica-ch.net>
> Cc: Global Leadership <global_leadership at icann.org>, Robert Hoggarth	<robert.hoggarth at icann.org>, Duncan Burns <duncan.burns at icann.org>, "Nick Tomasso" <nick.tomasso at icann.org>, Diane Schroeder	<diane.schroeder at icann.org>
> 
> Dear Community Leaders:
> 
> As we all prepare for ICANN53, we wanted to provide you with an update on the current visa situation.
>  
> Obtaining visas for ICANN meeting participants remains a challenge.  There are government requirements imposed on us all and these are ever changing. Many are involved in efforts to resolve the issues -  the meetings team in suggesting locations, the local host in accepting to host an ICANN meeting, the GAC representative from the country where the meeting is taking place, and Constituency Travel in preparing information.  And each time we learn more and prepare as best we can in advance of the ICANN meeting.  
>  
> For Buenos Aires, we have been experiencing a greater than usual number of delays.  ICANN staff in the region as well as community travel staff continue to work daily with those Community members who have not yet received their visas.  We have reconfirmed recently that communications have been sent to the embassies/consulates regarding their questions.  Many individuals have interviews scheduled this week so we hope that we will see most visas issued that have been requested to attend ICANN53.  Of the 244 ICANN-funded Community travelers, nine will not be able to obtain a visa, mainly due to embassies in certain countries imposing very stringent visa application processes. Many other Community members  -- about 26 -- have confirmed that they are having their interviews with the embassies/consulates this week, so we are waiting for them to confirm soon whether they will be able to attend ICANN53.  
>  
> While we would like to make sure that all Community members wishing to attend the ICANN meeting in person are able to do so, the visa challenges will remain.  We are committed to continue our best efforts in cooperation with our local hosts and government representatives to ensure timely visa application processes with as few delays as possible.   
>  
> Finally, we also note that ICANN continues to make sure that remote participation is available for those who are unable for whatever reason to make an ICANN meeting  (See ICANN 53 http://meetings.icann.org/remote-participation <http://meetings.icann.org/remote-participation>). 
>  
> Best regards,
>  
> David     
> 
> David A. Olive
> Vice President, Policy Development Support
> General Manager, ICANN Regional Headquarters –Istanbul
> Hakki Yeten Cad. Selenium Plaza No:10/C K:10 34349 Fulya, Besiktas, Istanbul
> Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
> 
> Direct Line: +90.212.999.6212 
> Mobile:       + 1. 202.341.3611
> Mobile:       +90.533.341.6550 
> Email:  david.olive at icann.org <mailto:david.olive at icann.org>
> www.icann.org
> 

*********************************************************
William J. Drake
International Fellow & Lecturer
  Media Change & Innovation Division, IPMZ
  University of Zurich, Switzerland
Chair, Noncommercial Users Constituency, 
  ICANN, www.ncuc.org
william.drake at uzh.ch (direct), wjdrake at gmail.com (lists),
  www.williamdrake.org
Internet Governance: The NETmundial Roadmap http://goo.gl/sRR01q
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