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Yeah, "Rank Group" #7 but actual position 17, so not even in the top ten. I'd say "one of the most prized" should at least be in the top ten, if not in the top

Yeah, "Rank Group" #7 but actual position 17, so not even in the top ten. I'd say "one of the most prized" should at least be in the top ten, if not in the top three, to actually be "most prized". But since we don't agree on that, I guess agree to disagree.

sam_lowry_ 6y ago
And we should not underestimate the amount of trouble US citizens have due to FATCA, etc. In Europe, many banks and insurers will turn them down as customers.
- himinlomax 6y ago
  Indeed, that even impacts French citizens who were born in the US but have never been there since then. And apparently it's a huge pain in the ass.
learc83 6y ago
Out of 200 odd passports you could have, top 10% is definitely a reasonable definition of most prized. Particularly when the difference is so insignificant. The vehemence of your disagreement in the original post vastly exceeds what one would expect if you were merely stating that you don't think that one of the most prized should only mean top 10. The US has 15 countries head of it. Most by 1 or 2 countries. Unless you specifically want to visit one of those 1 or 2 countries the difference is irrelevant. Compared to Sweden the US misses out on Vietnam and Turkey, but gains access to Mongolia. These numbers could change at any time. So basing your passport decision on such a minute and frequently changing number is ridiculous. By the way the US is actively working to develop a better relationship with Vietnam--my brother went there on a diplomatic/military relations visit a few years ago, and 90% of Vietnamese have a positive view of the US. It's very likely that sometime in the next year we gain Visa free access.
bmarquez 6y ago
All countries with the same number of visa-free access get the same rank group in Henley index, so actual position is irrelevant. If you check the webpage it shows South Korea above Germany, if you download the pdf on the webpage it shows Germany above South Korea. But in reality doesn't matter since it's a tie with both being in the same rank group.
irrational 6y ago
Again, you and OP seem to be talking about 2 different time periods. What does the historical (OPs time frame) rather than the present (your time frame) look like in terms of passport position? What there a time since 1776 (or whenever passports became a thing) that the US passport was in the top 10?
- learc83 6y ago
  > What there a time since 1776 (or whenever passports became a thing) that the US passport was in the top 10? Yes in 2006 and 2014 it was #1. The numbers fluctuate every year because the difference between #1 and #20 is only 7 countries.

sam_lowry_ 6y ago

And we should not underestimate the amount of trouble US citizens have due to FATCA, etc. In Europe, many banks and insurers will turn them down as customers.

himinlomax 6y ago
Indeed, that even impacts French citizens who were born in the US but have never been there since then. And apparently it's a huge pain in the ass.

learc83 6y ago

Out of 200 odd passports you could have, top 10% is definitely a reasonable definition of most prized. Particularly when the difference is so insignificant. The vehemence of your disagreement in the original post vastly exceeds what one would expect if you were merely stating that you don't think that one of the most prized should only mean top 10. The US has 15 countries head of it. Most by 1 or 2 countries. Unless you specifically want to visit one of those 1 or 2 countries the difference is irrelevant. Compared to Sweden the US misses out on Vietnam and Turkey, but gains access to Mongolia. These numbers could change at any time. So basing your passport decision on such a minute and frequently changing number is ridiculous. By the way the US is actively working to develop a better relationship with Vietnam--my brother went there on a diplomatic/military relations visit a few years ago, and 90% of Vietnamese have a positive view of the US. It's very likely that sometime in the next year we gain Visa free access.

bmarquez 6y ago

All countries with the same number of visa-free access get the same rank group in Henley index, so actual position is irrelevant. If you check the webpage it shows South Korea above Germany, if you download the pdf on the webpage it shows Germany above South Korea. But in reality doesn't matter since it's a tie with both being in the same rank group.

irrational 6y ago

Again, you and OP seem to be talking about 2 different time periods. What does the historical (OPs time frame) rather than the present (your time frame) look like in terms of passport position? What there a time since 1776 (or whenever passports became a thing) that the US passport was in the top 10?

learc83 6y ago
> What there a time since 1776 (or whenever passports became a thing) that the US passport was in the top 10? Yes in 2006 and 2014 it was #1. The numbers fluctuate every year because the difference between #1 and #20 is only 7 countries.