Cali reality

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Ouch!, posted by Michael B on Aug 28, 2003

But its fun.Guess I'm a little bored with work today.There was the old joke,the Lone Ranger shoots Tonto,he found out what Kemo Sabe meant.
And the story,the Ranger and Tonto are surrounded by about 100 indians.The Lone Ranger says to Tonto,"looks like we've had it" Tonto says "what do you mean we,white man?"
Its probably not good to use names in a foriegn culture you are not very sure what they mean or if they have any negative meanings.Reminds me off a Jackie Chan movie,he innocently calls a black man  the "N" word.The guy proceeds to beat the sh-t out of him before he escapes.Some words are loaded.You got to be black to use that word,then its OK,ala Chris Rock.
I always thought Karate movies were rediculous as serious movies but they make great comedy.No karate guy is faster than the old speeding bullet.

Pete

[Michael B]

... in response to I disagree Kimosabe, posted by lswote on Aug 27, 2003

No visa, no trip. Nobody is holding them prisoner in Colombia, but nobody is bring them to the US without a visa either.  See the distinction? You think of getting on the plane as 'leaving Colombia', the airline (and the US government) see is as 'about to arrive in the US'. The US holds the airline responsible if they bring in people without visas, makes them remove them at the airline's expense, makes them pay a fine, keeps a 'permenent record' and could conceivably cancel an airline's right to use US airports and/or fly a particular route if they bring in too many. About a year, maybe a year and a half ago, they made a rule that Colombians couldn't even change planes in the US without a visa. Effective August 1st this year, they made the same rule for everybody not a citizen of a 'visa waiver' country, England, France, Ireland, etc. I forget the list, but there aren't many of them and they are all 1st world Western countries.

[Georgina]

... in response to Sorry, Bruce, you're wrong, posted by Michael B on Aug 28, 2003

As a far as I know you are right. The three times I have traveled from Peru to USA, one of them with a tourist visa, the airline AA checked for my visa before I even checked my baggage. Now that I remembered he wasn't even an AA employee, he presented himself as a USA department of something employee, so I guess he knew what he is doing.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Sorry, Bruce, you're wrong, posted by Michael B on Aug 28, 2003

There's surprisingly quite a few:
---------------------------------------------------------
Andorra  Iceland  Norway    Australia  Ireland  Portugal    Austria  Italy  San Marino    Belgium  Japan  Singapore    Brunei  Liechtenstein  Slovenia    Denmark  Luxembourg  Spain    Finland  Monaco  Sweden    France  the Netherlands  Switzerland    Germany  New Zealand  United Kingdom
--------------------------------------------------------------

It's interesting to note that Japan & Singapore have a similar waiver program with Colombia.  I like Brazil's attitude - since they didn't make our waiver program, they require US citizens to obtain a visa just like the US requires their citizens.

[Ralph]

... in response to Visa Waiver countries, posted by cancunhound on Aug 28, 2003

I think it hurts Brazil. In the DR people were wanting to require visas for US as well, since Dominicans need visa to go to the states. That would have a negative impact on tourism.

A buddy and I are planning a weekend trip in the future. We are torn between Brazil and Argentina. I've been to Brazil and he has been to Argentina. We figure when AA has those killer weekend fares, we'll jump on a plane and have a nice weekend etc. Well Argentina is more likely as getting a visa to brazil on short notice can be a pain and costs more. Plus the darn visa takes up a whole page in your passport. I've already got 2.

Bottom line is more people would go to brazil if a visa was not required.

[lswote]

... in response to Sorry, Bruce, you're wrong, posted by Michael B on Aug 28, 2003

So are you saying Colombia determines if Colombians have a VALID American visa BEFORE they leave Colombia?  Who at the airlines or Colombian immigration is trained to know what is a valid visa and what is not?

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Sorry, Bruce, you're wrong, posted by lswote on Aug 28, 2003

Bruce,
Yup,thats right,the airlines have people that check your documents.You don't get on the plane without getting cleared by them.The airline can be fined if they let a Colombian(and now lots of other countries)person get on a plane bound for a US airport without a visa to enter the US.I'm sure you have shown your documents to these same people.With a US passport you sail right through.They would  check your wifes Visa to enter the US,which the Embassy stamps in her passport after the grant her the visa.Those other poor suckers are out of luck,no visa,no plane ride.
I would immagine this would hurt the airlines.Miami was a big hub to Europe but now lots of people have to go another route,probably a direct flight from Colombia but I bet it costs more than a ticket through Miami,because Miami to Europe is a huge route.The more people that travel,the more airlines and competition to lower prices,plus the economies of scale.Orlando is a huge European tourist destination because the travel and even food a rooms are cheaper than alot of European alternatives.I think they have some tremendous travel packages.

Pete

[beenthere]

... in response to Re: Sorry, Bruce, you're wrong, posted by lswote on Aug 28, 2003

Iswote,
obviously you haven't paid much attention when standing in line to get your passport stamped when leaving the Colombia. I've stood behind many Colombians whose passport and VISA were scrutinized by Colombian officials.  Use a little common sense, if this wasn't the case, Miami would be literally FLOODED with Colombians wanting political asylum, not to mention asylum seekers from other countries.  No my friend, you need a little more than a passport to leave Colombia on a flight to the US.

[Ralph]

... in response to So with a couple weeks notice the left f..., posted by Freddie on Aug 26, 2003

Sure. Go ahead. Does your wife's family already have tourist visas? Are they willing to leave behind their property, belongings, family and friends so they can live with friends in fla, and live by donations and getting menial labor jobs?

Cool, then go for it.

Seems everybody on this board is so cynical now. we assume every post is from a trool or is a load of bull.

[cancunhound]

... in response to So with a couple weeks notice the left f..., posted by Freddie on Aug 26, 2003

This family probably already had tourist visas - so they just start the asylum process when in the US.  Not a bad idea about fabricating the letters from the FARC BTW. I really don't question the validity of this story - it's a common one.  Canada also has a surging asylum population.  When the threats start involving children I don't blame 'em for packing up and leaving.

[zack]

... in response to Cali reality, posted by cancunhound on Aug 26, 2003

What an eye-opener. It makes me wonder how many Colombians
have given in to these threats. These people were lucky because they had connections (I'm assuming) which allowed them to flee to the USA quickly. But what about those who don't have connections and have no where to flee? And among those who do give in, I bet that they get more letters down the road requesting more money.

As much as I love visiting Colombia, this only reinforces
my decision to never live there.

Zack

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Cali reality, posted by zack on Aug 26, 2003

Don't believe everything you read. Most of us who have lived here for sometime have had some phone call or letter or some threat made against us. Although Matrin was shot in the shoulder at his front door about 15 years ago, but it's like, well you know where I live and you got my number, I'll be here. For me that phone call was about a year ago. Still here. Hell, they even knew I was in the Marines.
The FARC made a public statement to attack all Gringos in Colombia about a 8 months ago. We're still here.
Believe what you want to believe.

[zack]

... in response to Re: Re: Cali reality, posted by Traveller on Aug 27, 2003

I'm glad to hear that. It carries a lot of weight coming from an American who lives in Colombia. Sounds like a lot of those phone calls and letters are nothing more than scare tactics.  Do you agree?

Zack

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Cali reality, posted by zack on Aug 27, 2003

Some I understand are just common thugs using the "scare power" of masking as a FARC request.  But to believe that most if not all are just scare tactics is a mistake.  These thugs have their ear tuned to everything - big bank statement and property ownership - target.  Asylum is not a "push over" to acquire - solid evidence must be proven.  No upper middle class Colombian family would jump at the opportunity to leave good professional jobs just to gain entry into the US - to settle for remedial jobs like yardwork and house cleaning.  Many of these families already have the tourist visas and spend a good deal of time in the US anyways.  I agree with Traveller you obviously can't believe everything you read - but this crap does go on and absolutely folks are targeted for non-payment.

[zack]

... in response to Re: Cali reality, posted by zack on Aug 26, 2003

I am obviously not familiar with the political asylum process. I'm assuming everyone has an almost equal opportunity to flee in this situation.

Zack