Visa matters
17/06/04 11:50 Media
issues
It's the sort of story that had my blood boiling at
first. The story at
this link
tells how freelance journalist Elena Lappin was
detained in the US for not having the right sort of
visa. She was shouted at, kept uncomfortable and
cuffed.
Now, nobody is condining poor treatment of the innocent of course. But are we really living in a world in which professional freelances aren't expected to find out what's expected of them in terms of paperwork if they want to work in a particular country? When I visited the US in 1991 for a story I certainly needed and obtained an I-Visa, and yet Lappin is under the impression the legislation was dormant until March 2003.
I'm not convinced by this. Most hacks I know - granted a lot of them are technical writers and therefore go to the US a lot - have been well aware of the need for an I-Visa for many years. The correct story from Lappin is surely that the US Authorities will treat you badly, but only if you screw up royally in the first place.
Now, nobody is condining poor treatment of the innocent of course. But are we really living in a world in which professional freelances aren't expected to find out what's expected of them in terms of paperwork if they want to work in a particular country? When I visited the US in 1991 for a story I certainly needed and obtained an I-Visa, and yet Lappin is under the impression the legislation was dormant until March 2003.
I'm not convinced by this. Most hacks I know - granted a lot of them are technical writers and therefore go to the US a lot - have been well aware of the need for an I-Visa for many years. The correct story from Lappin is surely that the US Authorities will treat you badly, but only if you screw up royally in the first place.
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