US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver program

[UP4014]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

Last time I went to the USA I was hassled over my Jordan visit a year earlier. It makes it worse that they're so xenophobic (ignorant?) that saying "I wanted to see Petra" means absolutely nothing to them

If I said I wanted to visit the Capitol of North Dakota, would you know the name of it.

 

[n7of9]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

n7of9, that is a tad unfair or unreasonable. Do you expect every person to know every attraction in every country and what they mean??

Nope, but I also don't expect to be treated like a criminal because I have black hair, olive skin, and lots of stamps in my passport. It wasn't a conversational "hey smiling lady, how come you went to Jordan last year?" It was asked with malice and a threatening, accusatory tone, as were his other 10 questions about every middle eastern country in my passport, my job, my lifestyle, where I was staying, how I could afford it. So I came up with xenophobic, which isn't a stretch and probably commonly assumed by lots of travellers visiting the USA, with a question as to whether it may have also been a bit ignorant, for which I am yet undecided as, really, he may have just been constipated and in a coughpy mood

Petra is a UNESCO heritage site and one of the Wonders of the World, not an attraction. It's an amazing part of the world, I highly recommend it

 

[n7of9]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

If I said I wanted to visit the Capitol of North Dakota, would you know the name of it.

Nope, but if it housed a cultural world heritage site, I probably would know the name of it

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

If I said I wanted to visit the Capitol of North Dakota, would you know the name of it.

Never been to Bismarck but have driven across South Dakota (from Chicago) to Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Black Hills, Custer State Park and the Badlands (amazing rock formations!). I did know someone who was living at Bismarck though, before moving to Sioux Falls.

Back to the point of n7of9, even I did not know about Petra until a few years ago. From US point of view, they are worried about all those people travelling to those countries to join IS. Whether we visit Petra or not they don't really care. After all, USA is the biggest target for IS.

 

[drron]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

There are a few reasons why the UAE and nearby countries wont be on that list-

Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have participated in Combined Task Force-152, formed in 2004 to maintain maritime security in the Persian Gulf—with Bahrain having commanded the task force on two separate occasions.[SUP]14[/SUP] Middle Eastern countries have also participated further afield in Afghanistan. Since 2001, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE have supplied troops to the U.S.-led mission there. During the 2011 NATO-led operation in Libya, U.S. allies Qatar, Jordan, and the UAE participated to varying degrees.

Middle East - 2015 Index of U.S. Military Strength

That's not to say that no Immigration officer will hassle someone who has been to those countries.The ESTA though is safe.

By the way I do know the state Capitol of North Dakota and I am not about to set off and sink it-

[video=youtube_share;M1Ufc2hI4FM]https://youtu.be/M1Ufc2hI4FM[/video]

 

[Dudditz]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

Just to give an update for any that may be in a similar situation I attended the Consulate today and was approved. I paid an additional $25USD for a 5 year visa in addition to the $224AUD it cost for the visa itself. The interview was very quick and focused on what I did for work and where I was planning on visiting in the USA (strangely not questioning my travel movements which was the whole issue here). Was told 7-10 business days until my passport is posted to me which is just enough time considering I am booked to fly out on the 4th of March.

 

[zainman]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

Wonder when aussie citizens will get access to global entry..

 

[UP4014]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

Nope, but if it housed a cultural world heritage site, I probably would know the name of it

But not everyone is interested of cares about cultral world heritage.

 

[stoneman]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

But not everyone is interested of cares about cultral world heritage.

My thoughts exactly.
What's important to one, may not be to another. :-\

 

[Skyring]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

Just to give an update for any that may be in a similar situation I attended the Consulate today and was approved. I paid an additional $25USD for a 5 year visa in addition to the $224AUD it cost for the visa itself. The interview was very quick and focused on what I did for work and where I was planning on visiting in the USA (strangely not questioning my travel movements which was the whole issue here). Was told 7-10 business days until my passport is posted to me which is just enough time considering I am booked to fly out on the 4th of March.

We made our decision to join an Iranian tour last year before the US did its thing. Turning out to be an increasingly expensive exercise.

Politics aside, I'm not regretting it. Iran sounds like an amazing place, and all the Persian folk I've met have been delightful people. On my first RTW trip we flew over Iran, and I looked out the window at it in wonder.

Off to the Iranian Embassy today. More expense.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

We made our decision to join an Iranian tour last year before the US did its thing. Turning out to be an increasingly expensive exercise.

Politics aside, I'm not regretting it. Iran sounds like an amazing place, and all the Persian folk I've met have been delightful people. On my first RTW trip we flew over Iran, and I looked out the window at it in wonder.

Off to the Iranian Embassy today. More expense.

O/T but hope you will do a Trip Report on Iran. Am contemplating going there, although ESTA thing will be a factor.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: US Visa Waiver Changes: Some Australians no longer able to use US visa waiver pro

I was just looking at my TID travel ins the other day and I'm fairly sure I noticed that Iran was excluded for cover. Don't have time right now to double check - but, just a thought.

We made our decision to join an Iranian tour last year before the US did its thing. Turning out to be an increasingly expensive exercise.

Politics aside, I'm not regretting it. Iran sounds like an amazing place, and all the Persian folk I've met have been delightful people. On my first RTW trip we flew over Iran, and I looked out the window at it in wonder.

Off to the Iranian Embassy today. More expense.