 |
| |
|
|
Atahualpa
|
 |
Hawthrone
Mar 1999
time: 06:32
|
|
quote:
Warning to EU on passport deadline
By Edward Alden in Washington
Published: April 1 2005 00:24 | Last updated: April 1 2005 00:24
The chairman of the congressional committee overseeing US immigration laws warned on Thursday that Congress was unlikely to extend an October deadline for the European Union to adopt biometric passports.
The warning, from Republican James Sensenbrenner, raises the possibility that many European travellers to the US could be forced to acquire visas after the October 26 deadline, adding substantially to the time and expense involved in visits to the US.
In a letter to the European Commission, Mr Sensenbrenner said Congress was “unlikely” to respond to the EU's request for a longer deadline.
“The increased awareness and concern, of both the American public and most members of Congress regarding continued weakness in US border security, will make an additional extension difficult to accomplish,” he wrote. “I strongly suggest that the European Commission plan without the expectation that there will be an extension of the deadline.”
The visa-waiver scheme, under which travellers from 27 mostly European countries can easily enter the US, has been criticised by some Republicans in Congress as a loophole that could be exploited by terrorists.
In an effort to appease those concerns, the US has insisted that all visa-waiver countries adopt passports with fingerprints or other biometric data incorporated in the documents to help safeguard against stolen passports being used by terrorists to enter the US.
Visa-waiver countries account for about 13m travellers to the US each year, and the State Department lacks the resources to begin issuing visas to those travellers.
Source: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a38daade-a...000e2511c8.html
|
And of course in secret the EU is so happy about it that they can push this control **** here as well. Living on planet earth is becoming more and more like protecting me from myself. I already feel the rage and anger surfacing! ROAAAR!
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Pekka
|
 |
em seu burro dos pais!
Feb 2002
time: 07:32
|
|
Right.. I'm not saying, I'm talking about comparisons to dictatorships and commies, but it was just to provoke some good replies. The fact of the matter is, like I said also, that everyoen decides for themselves and that's it, comply or don't travel there. For what I understand, the new passports etc, once those are in place, there might be a way of getting around the visa in the future as well. I know we have gotten side deals for a long time now avoiding the visa issue, well we are a 'safe country' with 'safe documents', but it will happen unless the new type of passports comes soon. I had to get a new passport to travel last summer in there, so that was fine. When the new type of passports comes available and I come there, then I get that one, and most likely will be able to avoid the visa issue.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Rufus T. Firefly
|
 |
is one way of saying it, though I prefer "mensch"
Sep 2000
time: 07:32
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Not that I remember... but crap, if this isn't an April Fools Joke, I'm sure we will have to in retaliation.  |
It's not a joke, but it's not a done deal yet.
The US is serious about the new biometric passport, and forcing visas onto visa-waiver countries (most, but not all, of them in the EU) is the only leverage we have. The problem is that, as with many visa issues, the members of Congress who are hardliners in the War on Terror and the members who understand the role of foreign tourism in the US economy are rarely the same people.
My guess is that the deadline will be extended, but the requirement isn't going to be dropped. EU countries aren't going to need visas, but y'all will be getting new, more secure pasports in the near future.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Riesstiu IV
|
|
Our government is retarded. They allow millions of worthless illegals from Mexico to flood our country with crime and drugs yet the bar honest hard working Europeans from coming over. We should be trying to prevent immigrants from third world countries (esp. the middle east) from coming to America.
|
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:32.
Apolyton Time is 00:32. |
top of page
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
01-04-2005 19:21
)
Keeping the streets safe from across the pond scum.
|