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I can assure you that if anyone had done the same in the US, they wouldn't merely be kicked out, they would be jailed for being in violation of the law. Can yo

I can assure you that if anyone had done the same in the US, they wouldn't merely be kicked out, they would be jailed for being in violation of the law. Can you assure us that based on an actual law with a citation, or an actual case reported in the news with a link to the news report? The most usual disposition, all over the world, for an overt government operative of a foreign government operating on your territory in a way your country doesn't like is for the operative to be expelled as persona non grata. That's all. Most foreign intelligence operatives in most countries operate in a half-overt way, with "diplomatic cover," and many others operate under liaison agreements built into international treaties. It's fine for each country to decide which foreign nationals get to stay on their territory (I had to deal with that during the years when I lived as an American overseas), but it's exceedingly uncommon for people to be put into jail simply for activities inconsistent with their visa status of that nature.

jessaustin 14y ago
(I had to deal with that during the years when I lived as an American overseas) As in, you had to get an employment/education/whatever visa? I'm snickering at this: I've found that we Americans have a really easy time getting whatever visas we want whenever we want. Some nations will issue a month (or longer) visa just from the airline informing them, "we have an American on board this flight". Some will issue a visa at the immigration gate. For a many-year work visa you'll typically have to go through an embassy or consulate, but as long as you don't get stuck in the same line as the Indians (this is not a statement about Indians, but about how I've seen them treated in embassies!) you're not going to have much trouble. ...it's exceedingly uncommon for people to be put into jail simply for activities inconsistent with their visa status... Which visa is it that allows a foreign national to harass, detain, and kidnap citizens without the due process of law? Does 007 have that visa? I could actually understand it if there were a more involved process for obtaining that one.
- sushantsharma 14y ago
  I'm snickering at this: I've found that we Americans have a really easy time getting whatever visas we want whenever we want. Some nations will issue a month (or longer) visa just from the airline informing them, "we have an American on board this flight". Can you please tell us the name of one nation out of those? In my understanding, the Visa rules followed by country X in issuing Visa to US citizens is similar to the rules followed by US while issuing Visa to citizens of country X. E.g., if US issues 10 year visitor visas to Indians, then India also issues 10 year visitor via to Americans. I haven't done extensive research on this so this may not hold in some instances.
  - jessaustin 14y ago
    Off the top of my head, I think it was New Zealand that had that airline notification thing, and I think that got you a 90 day business visa. That was ten years ago, and I lived in Singapore at the time, so perhaps I'm misremembering or they've changed the policy since then. I think in general the reciprocity policy you mention is a good rule of thumb, although I'm sure there are exceptions.
    - FireBeyond 14y ago
      You are perhaps thinking of the Visa Waiver Program (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html), though that is specifically NOT for business purposes.
- pekk 14y ago
  As advice for newbie travelers: make sure you have the relevant visas well before you enter a country, it can be a huge hassle in the event that you didn't luck out with something like "we have an American on board".

jessaustin 14y ago

(I had to deal with that during the years when I lived as an American overseas) As in, you had to get an employment/education/whatever visa? I'm snickering at this: I've found that we Americans have a really easy time getting whatever visas we want whenever we want. Some nations will issue a month (or longer) visa just from the airline informing them, "we have an American on board this flight". Some will issue a visa at the immigration gate. For a many-year work visa you'll typically have to go through an embassy or consulate, but as long as you don't get stuck in the same line as the Indians (this is not a statement about Indians, but about how I've seen them treated in embassies!) you're not going to have much trouble. ...it's exceedingly uncommon for people to be put into jail simply for activities inconsistent with their visa status... Which visa is it that allows a foreign national to harass, detain, and kidnap citizens without the due process of law? Does 007 have that visa? I could actually understand it if there were a more involved process for obtaining that one.

sushantsharma 14y ago
I'm snickering at this: I've found that we Americans have a really easy time getting whatever visas we want whenever we want. Some nations will issue a month (or longer) visa just from the airline informing them, "we have an American on board this flight". Can you please tell us the name of one nation out of those? In my understanding, the Visa rules followed by country X in issuing Visa to US citizens is similar to the rules followed by US while issuing Visa to citizens of country X. E.g., if US issues 10 year visitor visas to Indians, then India also issues 10 year visitor via to Americans. I haven't done extensive research on this so this may not hold in some instances.
- jessaustin 14y ago
  Off the top of my head, I think it was New Zealand that had that airline notification thing, and I think that got you a 90 day business visa. That was ten years ago, and I lived in Singapore at the time, so perhaps I'm misremembering or they've changed the policy since then. I think in general the reciprocity policy you mention is a good rule of thumb, although I'm sure there are exceptions.
  - FireBeyond 14y ago
    You are perhaps thinking of the Visa Waiver Program (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html), though that is specifically NOT for business purposes.
pekk 14y ago
As advice for newbie travelers: make sure you have the relevant visas well before you enter a country, it can be a huge hassle in the event that you didn't luck out with something like "we have an American on board".