TO THE ENGLISH, AMERICA IS A DANGEROUS PLACE NOW

The Buffalo News/Baltimore Sun ^ | January 18, 2004 | Todd Richissin

[Marianne]

LONDON - Not so long ago, when the world seemed a safer place, Britons such as Julia and Paul Chattenton would hop on a plane to the United States with little concern beyond how awful the meal would be and whether the flight would be delayed.

Last week, though, as the couple waited for their British Airways flight to New York, they stood in Heathrow Airport more than two hours before their scheduled departure and worried, just a little, about whether they would be allowed into the United States. And they told themselves to remember to call their parents after they checked into their hotel, because the United States just isn't safe anymore.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

What exactly is your point? Let me guess, it's the mark of the beast or some such nonsense?

[reed_inthe_wind]

The Brits are psychologically addicted to their security cameras.

[Prodigal Son]

No offense to the Brits but when going over to England I fear for my safety in being gunned down in the street by some Jamaican drug gang that doesn't care who they mow down.

Simple. Come to Scotland ;-)

[Tauzero]

The inconvenience to most UK citizens could be removed by simple, prudent profiling.

[1066AD]

Lots of BS here.. London crime rate already higher than many US cities .. UK has more outdoor surveillance cameras than anywhere else (taxpayer paying of course, indirectly). ..There's been bomb barriers around over the years due to IRA rabble's activities.
Nothing wrong with requiring a visa tho' $100 seems a bit steep for vacationers.

[KingNo155]

what? been to Disney?

[goodnesswins]

Read post 27.

[McGavin999]

If Britain didn't have so many militant Islamics I doubt that this would be happening. But there's something about seeing a sign on a mosque in jolly old England that says "Britain will be Islamic" that sort of puts you off a bit.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

July 18, 2003 U.S. highway fatalities increase Washington, D.C. - Highway fatalities in 2002 reached the highest level since 1990 while crash-related injuries hit an all-time low, the U. S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Thursday. Alcohol-related fatalities remained at 41 percent of the total with 17,419 deaths in 2002, up slightly from 17,400 in 2001. Historically, the majority of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing safety belts; that trend continued in 2002 with 59 percent unrestrained

Regards, Byron

[PAR35]

Since the British government has said it cannot meet the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) requirements by October 26, 2004, then that means all Britons traveling to the U.S. for any reason without said MRP will be required to obtain a U.S. nonimmigrant visa, which does indeed cost $100.

Since four countries, including Slovenia were able to meet the 2003 deadline, it is a tribute to British Labor incompetence that they could not meet the deadline even with a one year extention.

Perhaps they should fire everyone in their passport office, and contract the work out to Slovenia.

[longtermmemmory]

Actually england is part of the I-94 waiver program.

It allows the english to enter the USA for up to three months without a visa.

When you get a tourist visa it gives you the ability to come and go for a period of time. HOWEVER when you come to the USA you are issued an I-94 card. A white card which gives the EXACT amount of time you are allowed to stay under your visa. (3-6 months)

If you enter under the waiver program you don't need an actual visa. You are issued a I-94W, it is almost identical to I-94 except for green paper and the "w". It specifies three months. You are not allowed to change status if you endered with and I-94W. If you are eligible under the waiver program but you want to come and go frequently it is recomended you just get a full visa anyways.


BTW a tourist visa for the $100 is usually good for ten years. So the british tourist who wants the full blown visa may not be able to stay for unlimited periods but but you can come and go for those years. It is a very convienient and good deal.

Even if you have the ten year visa, overstay your I-94 time limit and you are an illegal.

[longtermmemmory]

Visa is good for years, as much as TEN depending. Then you don't have to renew for 10 years. Also a full blown visa is convertable to other statuses, such as spouse, fiance, H, etc. A waiver program entry is NOT convertable, they have to leave and get a full visa.

[longtermmemmory]

I have traveled a bit and find the new security is faster (!) than pre-9/11 security. English speaking security agents, better training, specific expectations. You know the routine and all act accordingly. Addtionally there are enough staff not to back up the lines.

Especially important when you send your laptop alone through the x-ray machine. (thieves have been known to delay an owner by setting off the metal detector so an accomplice can pick up the laptop.)

One nice experience, a old bitty tried to use her age to cut in line by not "noticing" the line. The security told her to get to the end same as everyone else.

[longtermmemmory]

it is most likely good for ten years. You can come and go for ten years without getting a new visa. A good deal.

[longtermmemmory]

If they had a machine readable passport like other countries they get in under the visa waiver program. No visa required. Until recently they had the waiver program and could get in without a visa for up to three months.

[Restorer]

That's pretty much been my experience.

I've flown at least 100 times since 9/11. Only significantly delayed once. Small airport, large convention all leaving at same time.

Doubt it would have been any different per 9/11.

BTW, have you noticed the new shoe checkers? Pretty cool.

Of course, I already know which of my shoes will set off the metal detectors.

[anonymous_user]

Three words: "come to Australia." Where we don't automatically treat you like a terrorist.

Well, if Al Qaeda blew up the Sydney Opera House...

Better to close the proverbial barn door before the cows are gone.

[Imal]

It is puzzling to me that the U.K. should find such a simple task "impossible".

The implementation of MRPs will invalidate thousands of illegal forged passports, and make forgery of new ones much more difficult and costly -- a major setback for all criminals and terrorist groups. It is not gratuitous, arrogant or paranoid to insist that this be done.

MRPs are, as you point out, not an insurmountable burden to impose, even upon "third world" nations, many of whom already have them.

Being of British descent myself, I have come to believe that Americans are not necessarily the sole inheritors of the "can do" attitude, and that the legendary British indomitability and ingenuity are not yet extinct.

I hope I am proven right.

[Imal]

Actually england is part of the I-94 waiver program.

So are you saying that this isn't an issue and that Britons won't have to pay the $100 if they don't have an MRP? It's not clear to me from your posts.

I don't see how an I-94 would waive the fee. A link would be helpful.

[jpl]

I feel bad for all the good Brits who get inconvenienced when they want to come here, but you see, we're at war. The security situation isn't half as bad as it was in Britain during World War II.