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Even the Visa Waiver/ESTA program is silly. You pay a fee to immediately receive a not-a-visa. The marginal cost of this is a tiny row in a database. It's just
by flowerthoughts 2y ago
Even the Visa Waiver/ESTA program is silly. You pay a fee to immediately receive a not-a-visa. The marginal cost of this is a tiny row in a database. It's just silly.
The US made it very clear many years ago that they've had all the visitors and immigrants they need. I guess they reached critical mass, and believes they are invincible at least within the lifespan of the current rulers. "Sheer fucking hubris" as the quote from Star Trek goes.
- tim333 2y agoThe ESTA sort of makes some sense. If the algo has you at low risk you immediately receive a not-a-visa but if it flags you as iffy they have time to look you up. I see the EU has copied it now. To slightly counter the horror stories, I've had US border hassle in the past but the last trip to Austin in 2023 I didn't even have to fill a form at the border, it was just check fingerprints and have a nice day.