Critics assail U.S. visa rules

[dArKeR]

Post-Sept. 11 regulations snarling visits for foreigners.

More than two years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a thicket of new rules governing the granting of visas to foreigners is dissuading thousands of people from coming to the United States and generating protests from research universities, medical institutions, multinational corporations and the travel industry.

BECAUSE OF THE NEW regulations, American universities have lost students and scholars; corporations have suffered production delays, friction with customers and personnel problems; and foreign tourists and conventioneers have decided by the thousands to take their business elsewhere.
Increasingly, U.S. leaders in education, business and science are warning that the procedural obstacles thrown up to screen security threats have fostered a bureaucratic “culture of no” that discounts the benefits that foreigners bring to the United States.

http://msnbc.com/news/991864.asp?0cv=CB10

I told you!!!!!! 2 years ago!!!!! I told you!!!!!

[Paschall]

1. Who's building and maintaining these databases for name checks?

Maybe we should follow the money.

An article posted here yesterday showed clearly that if terror suspects specifically identified by foreign intelligence specialists had been targetted for monitoring, almost all the 9/11 perps could have been placed under surveillance prior to the attacks. But foreign intelligence--for example, in Europe--depends mainly on human resources, rather than technology and machines, such as optical passport readers and massive databases for "name checking" every single visa applicant. However, investment in agents rather than technology does not generate profits for the defense/security industries. And as this story implies, the money is currently flowing for the databases, yet there aren't enough consular officers on the ground to actually implement these new rules.

These are particularly interesting facts from the story: "In recent decades, the influx of foreign students has been crucial to the strength of U.S. universities and technology companies. Nearly 40 percent of engineering faculty members in the United States are foreign-born, as are a third of American Nobel Prize winners."

[dArKeR]

3. I was just thinking about something like this today, in regards to media/

corporations. I think we go after the wrong people. For example, if Microsoft donated $5 million to Junior's campaign we'd all know who to complain to. Gates. I'm not even sure if he's the CEO but everyone knows he makes the decisions.

Even complaining to a guy like GE's X CEO Welch I don't think is the real source of their Satanism. It's someone behind the scenes who hired him. I guess it's the 'human' major stockholder. (throught allt he front companies that own stock in GE then eventually who controls those front companies and thus the majority of GE shares is the person really responsible.

So your point on 'follow the money' is right on. Who owns the money is the true source of evil behind scum like The Bush Crime Family.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. There has been a sharp drop-off in visitors from Japan

For example, a lot of the Japanese I work with have postponed trips to the US due to red tape or other inconveniences. Japanese travel agencies that used to have half of their store window plastered with offers of trips to the West Coast, Hawaii, New York, etc., are now promoting other destinations. And curiously, I just saw an ad in a Japanese newspaper for a round-trip from Tokyo to Los Angeles for 28,000 yen-- or about $250! The usual price during November (the off season) is about 60,000 yen for teh cheapest airline. They must be having a lot of trouble filling those seats.

[pinerow]

4. I cannot seem to get too hot under the collar about this.....

What's wrong with admitting more naturalised and and American born students to these medical schools and engineering programs.

As far as filling positions left vacant...there are plenty of software engineers, IT Pros, web developers looking for work in the field they have studied in for many years.

I understand the academic brouhaha about not having enough foriegn students since they charge them an arm and a leg. Let's all remember that their is, and has been, a brain drain going on in this country and now with all the outsourcing going on...I'll be surprised if any of us will have a job, then again, we could all work at the local IN and Out Burger, or pick fruit and or lettuce in the Valley as long as we keep the southern borders glosed.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. I work with Japanese researchers

Before Japan started admitting foreign researchers into prestigious programs at Japanese universities, Japan was sorely lagging in the academic research department. Now virtually all the research papers I read here have at least one foreign co-author, and Japanese studies are receiving more attention around the world. Foreigners can bring new perspectives to a research problem.

[Kinkistyle]

7. Immigrants and foreigners are what keeps the U.S. on top.

You think we would be where we are now if the U.S. had kept its doors shut and the entirety of its population are the descendants of the Mayflower? HELL NO! What fuels the U.S. supremacy is the steady inflow of the world's best and brightest arriving on our shores to make a name for themselves and realize the "American Dream". Many of today's "Americans" can trace their roots back to a "foreigner" who entered the country in the last 100 years. A steady supply of new ideas, new cultures and ingenuity is what keeps our great country from stagnating.

You cut off that supply, you can kiss our success goodbye. Say hello to the age of China and the European Union.

[Vogon_Glory]

6. US Visa Rules Will Hit US Air Carriers, Too

In addition to hobbling US businesses and scientific research, as well as slowing tourism, the new US visa requirements also look to have ugly effects on US air carriers.


If I understand correctly, most flights between Asia and Latin America and Europe and Latin America have had to have a US stop between Europe and say, the Caribbean or points South. Usually visitors going to or from those places have been often been required to get a US visa, even if they're only going to be in the US just long enough to change planes.

Before 9/11/2001, it was more economical and less-hassling to have that stop. But as air travelers find that having to deal with US immigration authorities in any aspect to raise Hob with their travel plans, eventually they are going to start looking for flights and airports that don't have anything to do with Uncle Sam's spread.

Most of those airlines look to be foreign carriers.

I'm waiting for some sharpie in the Bahamas or the Caribbean to build an airport with an international transit lounge who will lure major European and Latin American air carriers to hub there and give South American and other air travelers the opportunity not to deal with the US government at all.

The effects on US airlines' bottom lines ought to make them even more grateful to their friends in the Republican Party.


:P

[American Renaissance]

8. Air Canada

Air Canada who is currently in CCAA (Canadian Ch.11) may owe their very survival to the new mindless visa policy.

They are adding fights to South America and increasing volume to Europe and soon Asia as fast as they can.

The US airlines made a FORTUNE on flying people from South America to Europe and Asia, but now those people are flying with other airlines because who the hell is going to get a visa when they will be in the country for less than an hour!

Not to mention Iberia who may have to shut down their hub in Miami because of this. And just to be dicks they might re-locate to Havana!