I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.
While americans are yammering on about the land of the free, freedom of speech, equal rights for all (western) people and the dissociation from censorship, the process of actually getting INTO the country when you’re a member of the working press resembles… yeah well I don’t know what it resembles, but nothing which can be linked to the freedom-loving statements above, I tell you.
Here’s what I’m facing when I – as a danish journalist - wishes to enter the US to work on a couple of articles for my newspaper.
1) Pay 750DKR (136USD, finance.yahoo.com tells me) – no netbanking, no, I have to go down to Jyske Bank and pay the money and get a reciept.
2) THEN I can phone the US Embassy in Denmark and make an appointment for an interview. Before I go to the interview, however, I have to provide certain things.
3) A valid passport, which I have to bring to the interview along with the following:
4) DKR79,50 ($14,50) along with a medium-sized, self-addressed stamped envelope for my passport to be returned by registred mail.
5) One photograph, less than 6 months old, against a light colored background, full frontal view (sounds dirty but it really isn’t)
6) The reciept for application fee from Jyske Bank. ORIGINAL ONLY!
7) A letter from my employer stating occupation; whether my position is permanent or temporary and my purpose of travel and length of stay. Now this is what really pisses me off because why should I tell them exactly what I intend to write about, and are they going to ask questions regarding where I’m going to go, what I’m going to see, whether or not I plan on leaving the state or whatever. Come on, like I was some sort of suspect!!
8 ) Contract of employment. Freelance media workers must also submit a valid contract of employment. This means that freelance journalists can’t just go to the US to work without a contract? What’s that of?
Furthermore I have to complete the DS-156 form, which I have to complete online before the interview. Otherwise I can’t schedule an appointment. In the form I have to answer common questions like:
“Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in export control violations, subversive or terrorist activities, or any other unlawful purpose? Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization as currently designated by the U.S. Secretary of State? Have you ever participated in persecutions directed by the Nazi government of Germany; or have you ever participated in genocide?”
Yep, I’m a hardcore Nazi and since genocide was a big hit in Europe half a century ago I probably did that too. My mom has called me a little terrorist on numerous occasions, but I wouldn’t call myself a representative. What kind of stupid idiot would engage in terrorist actions or genocide but still be honest enough to answer yes when filling out an online form???
Fair is fair, further down the page it says:
“While a YES answer does not automatically signify ineligibility for a visa, if you answered YES you may be required to personally appear before a consular officer.”
No shit, Sherlock.
The embassy will mail my passport usually within 10 days from my interview. That’s 10 days where I can’t go abroad because the friggin’ americans have my passport.
When my interview is done I’ll be granted one or more years of being able to work in the USA. When my time’s up I have to go through it all again.
…and the home of the brave.
