Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Wangja]

The immediate topic of this is a decision by the British Halle Orchestra to abandon a tour of the USA due to the high costs of the visa process. They estimate the total cost at 45,000 GBP (78,000 USD). Each visa costs 100 USD and must be applied for in person during a pre-arranged interview at the Consulate in London: no other US consulate in UK hadles visas. So, add to the bare visa cost the cost of travelling from Manchester and staying overnight in London, multiply that by 100 people at almost 800 USD each.

Full details can be found at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;jsessionid=FGSQRQQDAZNVJQFIQMGCFGGAVCBQUIV0?xml=/opinion/2006/04/01/do0103.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/04/01/ixportal.html

My point is not so much about this incident itself but more about the entry requirements for US as "strengthened" by the Patriot Act. Did you know for example that for visa purposes journalists are grouped with terrorists and former Nazis? If the war on terrorism is a failure the war on criticism seems to be being won.

Some figures that may put things perspective.

The US has only 48 million entries a year and is less visited than France. The UK has over 90 million. The US figure is 9% down on the year 2000 while global air travel is up by 17%.

Visa approvals were down from 7.1 million in 2001 to 5.7 million in 2002. 1.4 million terrorists, huh?

3.6 million US citizens visit UK every year while 4.2 million Brits visit USA, which is 4% lower than in 2000.

The tourist industry in USA totals 645 billion USD. The business from overseas visitors - who typically spend more than double a "local" tourist - is in decline. The US travel industry is lobbying hard for reason.

Reciprocity in all things.

Rant over.

[Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee]

I understand your point. But this is a case of dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Summer Wine]

[Ya-ta Boy]