 |
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
Greece is the only country of the European Union whose citizens will have to go through the new security measures... fingerprinting and photographs.
Pity.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
It was in the news.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Ecthy
|
|
Zhonghuà Rénmín Gònghéguó
Mar 2000
time: 06:33
|
|
so what do we do about Spain and Poland now?
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
I can't say I blame them. Greek passports are issued by municipallity authorities not the Ministry of Public Order so there's a lot of space for corruption, such as "paying" to get a passport.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
So you got 14 countries free to enter the US and the black sheep.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
The reactions were funny. On one hand you have those who say that's insulting and demand official reactions and rectifications, and others such as the government who say that's US business and we don't care.
However it is kind of funny that a Greek passport is a European passport and gives free passage to wherever in the European Union but at the same time it's not "good enough" for the US. It basically follows the same path that said that Greek citizens need a visa to visit the US, because of the passport issueing procedure..
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cruddy
|
|
Paiktis, I've heard a couple of Brit radio reporters say they had to be snapped and fingerprinted... so I don't think any country is automatically OK'ed.
I understand you feel discriminated against though.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
Cruddy that's interesting. I thought the basis for the fingerprinting and the photographs was simply the nationality of the passport.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cruddy
|
|
No, I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to it than that... I mean, if my passport had my surname as Middle Eastern or Muslim in origin, or had connections with other known places of terrorism, then I'd be surprised if I wasn't monitored.
What's those kill-crazy Greeks called? November 17 or something like that...
The US authorities KNOW that most air travellers are harmless, but sadly all must suffer... I mean, 6 Air France Flights and over twice that on Brit Airways cancelled or delayed... things are tough all over.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cruddy
|
|
Well, it's not like the police procedure - no ink or heavy rollers, and they DON'T take a full set - pretty sure it's just the index fingers.
Brazil have decided that US travellers should get the old fashioned treatment, but I don't think they'll keep it up - gives them a VERY bad image, using old style methods.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
BTW that's funny.
According to the US gov. Greeks don't need visas.
GREECE - *Passport required. Visa not required for tourist/business stay of up to 90 days. (**90-day period begins when entering Schengen countries.
same as, say, the UK
UNITED KINGDOM (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) - *Passport required. Visa not required for stay of up to 6 months.
http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html#g
Actually same as say Belgium. The free stay is longer for the UK.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
But it's propably wrong.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Pekka
I didn't know Greece would be the only one. I figured there would be more European countries. I knew this wouldn't be directed to us, but only Greeks in Europe? Hmm, weird. I mean EU, not the whole Europe of course.
|
Yes we are the only ones.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
Well I'm not going to visit the US if I'm going to be treated as a criminal. Farewell Memphis, LA, NYC farewell... *waives handerchief*
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
I would not enjoy that.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
Besides, finger prints and photos? Come on police state procedures. We are sensitive to these kind of things, with our past and everything. Creates instant allergies. Besides it's a bit insulting, although I wonder for whom, to be the only ones from the EU to have to go through this. The black sheeps of the family or something.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cruddy
|
|
Like I said Paiktis, it's as easy as possible - you just plonk your fingertip on a scanner and a camera goes snap.
Eventually I would think everybody would have to do this, just to make sure people aren't travelling with false papers.
I mean, if all Greeks are being scanned, all you have to do is get hold of a non-Greek passport - so eventually EVERYONE will have to do it.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
And being "easy" is no excuse. Is the whole idea. Who would want to be subjected to being a criminal? I know very few people would. As I said untill this changes, on a matter of principle, I think many people who would love to go to the US for a visit will now decide against it.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
En passant, I read that the annual foreign visits to the US is only 24 million. By constrast in Greece (which is the size of Alabama) there are annually 13 million visitors.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cruddy
|
|
To be honest Paiktis, I always assume I'm under suspicion, whether on the telephone, paying a bill or mobile on a vehicle.
It's not like they don't scan and search everyone's luggage, so really everybody is under suspicion. NOT being treated like a criminal.
"Being a treated like a criminal" means you are punished for being found guilty.
It is the difference between what in the UK is called a "remand" prisoner (prisoner charged with a serious crime who could be a threat) and a convicted prisoner (person who has been found guilty).
I'M NOT SAYING that Greeks should not protest about this, or at least find out WHY they are under more suspicion than other Europeans... but perhaps your govt is a bit embarrassed about the reasons why? I don't know this is true, but it might explain how things turned out this way.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bereta_Eder
|
|
Well I don't know if the government is being embarrassed. From what I know there's a difference of opinions as to how the Greek passports are being issued. The US has said it will lift visa and all that if Greece issues passports through the Ministry of Public Order not through the municipalities. However, for many years now this has remained unchanged.
I think most people are saying "stupid yanks, forget the US visit" instead of blaming the gov, as usual, so the gov. doesn't really care, as usual.
|
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:33.
Apolyton Time is 00:33. |
top of page
|
| archivepost |
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
07-01-2004 21:38
u got visa for the US? 
).
|