[NCUC-EC] INPUT REQUIRED: FY18 NCPH Intersessional

[David Cake]

Thank you for this input. 

Visa denial is not the only issue, but I thank  you for putting strongly the case for it being a high priority. 

I admit I was thinking mostly just in terms of difficulty obtaining a visa, which, though irritating, is less significant than visa denial. Eg I have had enormous problems with Brazilian visas over the years - having to cut short other trips, spend thousands of dollars, change travel plans, etc. but I have never realistically had to worry about visa denial in that sense, just unsuccessful applications (e.g. send it back and try again). 

David


> On 31 Jul 2017, at 8:12 am, Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
> What happened in Reykjavik and it will likely happen again w/ USA is visa denial
> 
> I mentioned that in the meeting and got a bit ridiculed as "the crazy
> developing countries person"
> 
> i remember to be actually capable of counting in 1 hand the amount of
> developing countries ppl in Reyjavik: me, Ines, Khalid, Juan and I
> don't remember if Jimson was there
> There could be more but those are the ones I remember
> 
> This to me is directly related also to the image of intersessional
> being not relevant
> 
> And the cruelty about visa denial is that it actually puts a ban in
> your passport for a term twice as long as you would normally take to
> reapply for a visa. In some cases, you don't get visa at all ever
> again. This is what happened to many Youth LACIGF ppl who were going
> to DC in 2016 (Obama times!). For some odd reason some of the N/NE ppl
> got a visa ban to the US - for life! imagine getting that as your 20yo
> birthday gift.
> 
> Border denial is a whole other level. Your passport gets flagged and
> you have issues in other borders too. So you have to trail embassies
> and get paperwork and always carry the load w/ you. Border denial can
> subsequentely be followed w/ visa upon arrival denial and it just
> becomes a very horrible situation
> 
> Now that I've bored you to death about visas
> 
> I do have a visa to the US until 2022.
> I've lived in the US for short periods of time in a few years.
> I had never had trouble getting in.
> But this time, I do not plan to go to Porto Rico or LA yet. Maybe
> things change. But so far it's a pass.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Renata
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sun, Jul 30, 2017 at 8:13 PM, David Cake <dave at davecake.net> wrote:
>>        I think if we have an intersessional, we may as well have it every year, but I am still feeling that the intersessional is not its most effective form. If we are to continue having one, we should think about ways to make it more valuable. More access to senior staff might help with that, make it a meeting where we are able to focus on our relationship with the organisation a bit more?
>> 
>>        I very much understand the visa issues, but I am coming to feel that there is no good solution currently. I have very little desire personally to visit Trumps America, but I do see some sense in the LA idea. Is there anyone that we currently think we would support for attendance (e.g. an EC member, councillor, or other office holder) who would not be able to attend if it was in the USA?
>> 
>> 
>>        David
>> 
>> 
>> 
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