6 ms·

Even going to the US as a non-immigrant is totally broken at the moment. If you don't qualify[0] for an ESTA (visa waiver) then an appointment for a tourist vis

Even going to the US as a non-immigrant is totally broken at the moment. If you don't qualify[0] for an ESTA (visa waiver) then an appointment for a tourist visa in the US can be upwards of 200 days in some places (i.e Australia or Netherlands). An appointment at the consulate in Toronto is 429 days away if you were to book today. That's not the processing time, that's literally just the appointment you need to make as part of the application. There is additional processing time added to that if it is successful. You can plug some cities in here[1] to see how long it would take. [0] If you've visited several countries in the MENA region since 2011, have ever held one of their passports or are not flying on a passport from one of the 40 countries listed here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-... [1] https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-inf...

keyme 4y ago
Even with a tourist visa that I got years back it isn't smooth going into the USA anymore (as a shithole-country passport holder). I went many times, but last time I got "the room", for absolutely no reason, and nothing was asked of me but the standard questions. It only took hours in an intimidating setting. USA, you're just another country. Next time I'll take my tourist money elsewhere.
- throwaway1183 4y ago
  As a citizen of another shithole-country passport holder (living in country other than US) I can't agree more. I don't get why people make it as if USA is the only beacon of hope. It's just another country. Now that the world is diversified, globalized and everything is connected with the internet, I don't understand why people have to cling so much to the American idea of success. Are people living outside really that unsuccessful? I don't see any problem with what USA is doing. It's their country, let them do their thing. As long as US is open to trade and exchange, everyone is winning! They made so many great things and everyone can reap benefit out of it. I hypothesize that it's the generational problem that got passed to other people because of globalized world. Everyone has equal access of information. Just 20 years ago, when people had less information, they were probably more content with the local things. But the result of globalization is people tend to be blinded. They starting ignoring opportunities. I realized that even few people from rich country think that it's only in the US where they can be successful. I feel it's like how people moved from farms to cities then to another countries. Now the time has changed and the new city is US. I think every place has their own flaws and gains, but life will just keep on going. I believe we should learn to be more gratuitous and be thankful for what we have. On the sidenote, congrats to author getting the card!
  - WalterBright 4y ago
    To be fair, it's the Americans disowning the notions that made America such a success. For example, successful entrepreneurs are routinely excoriated and demonized. Politicians get elected on promises of confiscating their success.
    - avs733 4y ago
      Uh…we are the literal home of the Horacio Alger myth.
      - WalterBright 4y ago
        The HA myth is about success through hard work. Hard work is not sufficient. One has to work smart, too. I.e. digging a hole and filling it in again is hard work, but doesn't get you anywhere.
      - ngc248 4y ago
        Those days are long gone. Just working hard is not sufficient anymore.
        WalterBright 4y ago
        It never was sufficient. You have to work on the right things.
Miraste 4y ago
It's probably working as designed. Most people in ESTA countries qualify. The list of country visits that disqualifies you is North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, all places where the US is hostile to the government or a major indigenous rebel/terrorist organization. The US government won't ban you outright for going there, but they're happy to deprioritize you. Compare with China, a non-ESTA country that makes the US a lot of money. The wait time for a visa appointment in Beijing is two days.
- nivenkos 4y ago
  There's a load of countries that don't qualify for the ESTA though. It's stopped us having conferences in the US because non-EU nationals working in Europe can't get US tourist visas in time.
- smnrchrds 4y ago
  > Most people in ESTA countries qualify Correction: most citizens of ESTA countries qualify. For example, approximately three million Canadian residents are not citizens of Canada (they have work permit, study permit, or permanent residence permit instead). Wait times for a visa appointment from Canada are about 1 to 1.5 years now. Fun fact: permanent residents of the US can visit Canada without needing a visa, but this is not reciprocated. Permanent residents of Canada need a visa to visit the US, unless their country of citizenship is one of the ESTA countries.
- dhruvarora013 4y ago
  There are citizens of countries that need visas that live in primarily ESTA countries. This is a larger demographic than you think!
dhruvarora013 4y ago
And that's if you can find an appointment at all. It's over 150 days here in Ireland and you have to check the portal pretty much daily to try your luck. I've been waiting for two months already and can never land one!
davidatbu 4y ago
It is totally worth noting that, at least in the case of F-1 VISAs (student VISAs), you can ask for an expedited appointment. I personally helped someone out* who did this and got an appointment in two weeks, while the original appointment would have had a 10 month wait time. * Because I'd been through this process before, that is.

keyme 4y ago

Even with a tourist visa that I got years back it isn't smooth going into the USA anymore (as a shithole-country passport holder). I went many times, but last time I got "the room", for absolutely no reason, and nothing was asked of me but the standard questions. It only took hours in an intimidating setting. USA, you're just another country. Next time I'll take my tourist money elsewhere.

throwaway1183 4y ago
As a citizen of another shithole-country passport holder (living in country other than US) I can't agree more. I don't get why people make it as if USA is the only beacon of hope. It's just another country. Now that the world is diversified, globalized and everything is connected with the internet, I don't understand why people have to cling so much to the American idea of success. Are people living outside really that unsuccessful? I don't see any problem with what USA is doing. It's their country, let them do their thing. As long as US is open to trade and exchange, everyone is winning! They made so many great things and everyone can reap benefit out of it. I hypothesize that it's the generational problem that got passed to other people because of globalized world. Everyone has equal access of information. Just 20 years ago, when people had less information, they were probably more content with the local things. But the result of globalization is people tend to be blinded. They starting ignoring opportunities. I realized that even few people from rich country think that it's only in the US where they can be successful. I feel it's like how people moved from farms to cities then to another countries. Now the time has changed and the new city is US. I think every place has their own flaws and gains, but life will just keep on going. I believe we should learn to be more gratuitous and be thankful for what we have. On the sidenote, congrats to author getting the card!
- WalterBright 4y ago
  To be fair, it's the Americans disowning the notions that made America such a success. For example, successful entrepreneurs are routinely excoriated and demonized. Politicians get elected on promises of confiscating their success.
  - avs733 4y ago
    Uh…we are the literal home of the Horacio Alger myth.
    - WalterBright 4y ago
      The HA myth is about success through hard work. Hard work is not sufficient. One has to work smart, too. I.e. digging a hole and filling it in again is hard work, but doesn't get you anywhere.
    - ngc248 4y ago
      Those days are long gone. Just working hard is not sufficient anymore.
      - WalterBright 4y ago
        It never was sufficient. You have to work on the right things.

Miraste 4y ago

It's probably working as designed. Most people in ESTA countries qualify. The list of country visits that disqualifies you is North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, all places where the US is hostile to the government or a major indigenous rebel/terrorist organization. The US government won't ban you outright for going there, but they're happy to deprioritize you. Compare with China, a non-ESTA country that makes the US a lot of money. The wait time for a visa appointment in Beijing is two days.

nivenkos 4y ago
There's a load of countries that don't qualify for the ESTA though. It's stopped us having conferences in the US because non-EU nationals working in Europe can't get US tourist visas in time.
smnrchrds 4y ago
> Most people in ESTA countries qualify Correction: most citizens of ESTA countries qualify. For example, approximately three million Canadian residents are not citizens of Canada (they have work permit, study permit, or permanent residence permit instead). Wait times for a visa appointment from Canada are about 1 to 1.5 years now. Fun fact: permanent residents of the US can visit Canada without needing a visa, but this is not reciprocated. Permanent residents of Canada need a visa to visit the US, unless their country of citizenship is one of the ESTA countries.
dhruvarora013 4y ago
There are citizens of countries that need visas that live in primarily ESTA countries. This is a larger demographic than you think!

dhruvarora013 4y ago

And that's if you can find an appointment at all. It's over 150 days here in Ireland and you have to check the portal pretty much daily to try your luck. I've been waiting for two months already and can never land one!

davidatbu 4y ago

It is totally worth noting that, at least in the case of F-1 VISAs (student VISAs), you can ask for an expedited appointment. I personally helped someone out* who did this and got an appointment in two weeks, while the original appointment would have had a 10 month wait time. * Because I'd been through this process before, that is.