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[quote=”clewis”]The US no-fly list contains only 8,000 to 10,000 names. Right or wrong profiling does exist, but mostly with those associated with Islam. After 9/11 a lot of things changed forever.
As for Canadians the law was changed last year. Read the following:
Monday, May 9, 2011 The U.S. – The New No-Fly Zone for Record Holders
On March 23, 2011, “Bill C-42: An Act to Amend the Aeronautics Act” received Royal assent and became law in Canada. Prior to passage of the amendment, the Aeronautics Act already permitted airline operators to share passenger data with foreign agencies that govern an international flight’s destination. This new amendment extends this information sharing by allowing the airlines to share passenger data with US transportation authorities for any flight that enters US airspace, even if that flight never touches down on US soil.So what does this mean for the traveling public in Canada? Practically speaking, it means carriers must comply with the US Secure Flight Program by providing Passenger Name Records (PNRs) to US authorities for passengers ticketed on flights originating in Canada that either enters US airspace or that have an emergency alternate landing site in the US. The PNRs are provided to US authorities 72 hours in advance of departure for the purpose of screening against the Terrorism Screening Center’s No Fly List prior to boarding. If US authorities deem that a passenger represents a security risk, that passenger will be subject to additional screening and may be denied boarding.
There have already been documented instances of travelers being denied boarding in Canada as a result of this new legislation. Unfortunately there is little that the traveling public can do in advance of departure to ensure they do not run afoul of the new policies. If a passenger has an existing redress number issued by the Department of Homeland Security then providing that information at the time of booking should prevent problems on the day of departure, but for travelers who have never had problems before (and who would therefore not have a redress number), there now exists this additional source of concern that their ability to travel
domestically or internationally is ultimately at the discretion of the US Government.[/quote]There was always a glowing laxity in air travel, I grant you, but things “changing forever” could swing both ways, both good in increased security when it was lacking and the many abuses of power from TSA, etc….
One good thing about me not being in law enforcement any more is that I do not have to worry at DHS, prior to George Bush, no one in their right mind would us the term Homeland, let along a huge octuous Govt agency being called that…..the Homeland was a term more common to Nazis and communism…
Besides letting men in from primarily muslim nations to learn to fly and then, losing them, the “we are doing this for your safety” really needs more scrutiny…everything these days seems to be “for my safety”, but laws in place, could mean for using speech, apeparing at a rally,etc could lead to being caught and your family never seeing you again, as you languish in a prison in central asia or Cuba…..no lawyer, contact, charges, trial,etc..
RICO laws, passed oringally to combat the Mob, then used harshly on non-violent Pro-life protestors….seen it first hand, know people used against…..Joan Andrews, one person…today you are a citizen, tomorrow, someone elses terrorist.
Know a police detective, went to a mandatory “domestic terorrism” class some yrs back. Who did this group label terrorists? white males, that cited the Constitution and where self-Id Christians. Smae group conduction class apparently advised Missouri and themselves, had history of carrying out bombings,etc…..our Govt, the US that is, paid them to conduct classes……Most have then, have balance and helpful skepticism….
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Before 9/11, it wasn’t necessary for a Costa Rican to have a visa to enter Canada.
And I know many Canadians who will not fly in US air space, but some do it, because it is often cheaper. This is from the West Coast.[/quote]there again is the rub, the southern USA border is wide open-Bush in 04 ran campaigns in Mexico and Spanish language TV,etc, yet CR’s cannot easily travel…..where any CR’s involved in anything? nope.CR hotbed of radical Islam? not that I heard…..Red light, dont fight, make a right for many Canadians then?
[quote=”Disabled Veteran”]Interesting post. I work for a federal agency, dealing with U.S. Immigration. In terms of visas for Costa Ricans, visas are not difficult to obtain from U.S. Consulates, if he or she has completed a satisfactory INTERPOL check, FBI NCIC check, no fly list check, has a round trip ticket, and enters on tourist or business visa statis. I have interviewed and processed Ticos and Ticas for deportation, based on a visa overstay; and believe it or not, for FILING AN UNTRUE POLITICAL ASYLUM APPLICATION.[/quote]
I remember my LEO days, it was hard to get the INS office to come out at all, let alone if they had to travel and on a Friday/weekend……..as long as someone is going from CR to Miami and then out…but if someone stays, by all means, go through paperwork…..a Brit, Canadian,etc has to to stay longer then set time (tourism, weddings,etc), work, live,etc…..
[quote=”Ronny”]I’m not disagreeing with you, but am wondering if someone not being able to enter the US by land is also put on a no fly list over US airspace.[/quote]
plenty can come by land and many have and likely, still do by sea (thinking Cuban)…..
Going from US to Europe, I passed through Heathrow to my destiantion this last Fall….went through long lines, presented my passport and stated why I was there, plus that card you have to fill out (cannot recall the name of the card)..what little time left to hang out at terminal, no one bothered me….no questions, though did have to get luggage and re-check in, a real hassle and Brits told me it was due to US policies……most of people at Heathrow were not lilly whites and some did not have a accent like they were born there….we all had to go through process.but, USA and UK on friendly terms, so no Visa hassle……just hate that Ticos have to go through a run around when others come to US and do not…..[quote=”Ronny”]I’m not disagreeing with you, but am wondering if someone not being able to enter the US by land is also put on a no fly list over US airspace.[/quote]
a lot of US Govt chatter about “home grown” terrorists and those coming from land/sea……Hence they still trying to get Real Id up and operational……but they worry over a Tico..
Would ad, helped to fight some yrs ago along with others against Real ID…..as a citizen with valid work, DL and other things, I should not have to prove I can travel on my own tax supported roads…..where’s your papers to go to the 7-11 (for your own safety, of course)…..[quote=”DavidCMurray”]the U.S. has every right to govern air travel in its own airspace just like every other sovereign country does.[/quote]
true, but a lot of istances where there is no set, written consensus. Sometimes you can take lotion on a plane, then when you land, have to ditch it, still in the USA!!!
Could take wine into London from Malta, but not from London to USA, though the wine in luggage in hold was apaprently, fine….if I were a terrorist, and I am not, would I not just ignire the wine, in my carry on, when I got into the London airport-or the subway to concourses? or the terminal? or the immigration line? or, over London?There has to be more communication between nations and within the same nation at least on some things…..sure, situations can change, true enough, worked enough checkpoints/metal detectors in my time, but still…
again, you are confused? me too and you are much more travelled/expereinced then I…..
oh, boy, and one had better not pi$$ off the embassy official who can cancel your visa with impunity! this was in AM Costa Rica this a.m.
Tico gets his U.S. visa canceled in embassy spat
By Andrew Rulseh Kasper
of the A.M. Costa Rica staffA Costa Rican seeking a passport for his American-born daughter lost his own U.S. visa when a Pavas embassy diplomat stamped it “canceled” as the climax to a disagreement.
The man, a Guanacaste businessman, said that losing the visa will be an economic hardship because he makes frequent visits to the United States to purchase items for resale here.
The man, Óscar Mora Morales, 50, said a vice consul acted arbitrarily in canceling his business visa. He said the argument stemmed from what he described as intrusive questions asked by a Costa Rican interviewer.
The U.S. Embassy declined to comment immediately on the case. At first, a press aide cited the U.S. Privacy Act as an excuse, but a reporter faxed Mora’s privacy release form to her. Thursday night an email from the aide promised comments today.
Mora said he visited the U.S. Embassy Jan. 12 to obtain a U.S. passport for his daughter, Melissa Mora Esquivel, 13. The daughter is a U. S. citizen who was born in Florida while the family was legally visiting the country. Oscar Mora said the entire family, including his wife and other son, Jeffrey Mora Esquivel, 15, who is also a U.S. citizen by birth, were planning a trip to Miami in February. The daughter needed the passport to travel.
Until his visit with his daughter to the embassy last week, Mora possessed a 10-year business and tourism visa to visit the United States. His visa was not to expire until 2015. He claims a vice consul abruptly cancelled the visa by stamping over it in his passport. The reason, he said, was that he became upset with a worker at the embassy who asked a multitude of questions surrounding the status of his daughter’s citizenship and his legality. The vice consul said the daughter would get her U.S. passport but that he would not have a visa, he said.
One of the most frustrating questions, he said, was when the embassy worker sought proof that he had paid the hospital bill for the birth of his daughter in Miami 13 years ago. He said the hospital doesn’t even exist anymore, but when he couldn’t provide documentation he said he thought that his daughter was in danger of not receiving a passport. He became upset and questioned the motives of the worker. At that point the staff member, a Costa Rican woman, went to speak with a vice consul. Vice consuls usually are younger diplomats, although senior embassy officials sometimes fill in when needed.
Mora said he did not know the name of the vice consul but that the woman promptly cancelled his visa and then accused him of staying illegally in the States. But he denies that allegation and said no evidence was provided to him that would prove he had overstayed any visa in the States. He said the vice consul acted in retaliation for him being argumentative.
He said he brought his Costa Rican passport to the embassy only because two forms of identification
family photo
A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Mora family ready to return to Guanacaste.are required of the parents of a minor seeking a U.S. passport.
Mora visited the embassy again Thursday, and said his daughter received her passport, but his visa remains canceled. Mora is an established Guanacaste businessman.
Mora said he travels to the United States eight times a year, if not more, and has possessed two, 10-year visas in his lifetime. He is the owner of a tour agency in Costa Rica as well as a computer resale company and travels to the United States to buy electronics. He said he had already made the hotel reservations, purchased the airline tickets and $10,000 of electronics, which is now waiting for him to pick up in Miami during for the family’s planned trip in February.
He said also the trip was going to have sentimental value because, although his daughter is 13 years old and a United States citizen, she has only been in the United States once in her life: the three months following her birth.
He said it has been her dream to go there.
Robin Haase is the recent arrival as consul general at the U.S. Embassy in Pavas. The former consul general, Paul Birdsall, gained a reputation for community outreach and customer service.
The consular section that issues visas to Costa Ricans and handles passport and other requests from U.S. citizens has had several high-profile public relations disasters. Perhaps the most notable was when workers denied a visa to a Costa Rican mother whose U.S. citizen son had just died as a soldier in Iraq. The woman got the cold shoulder when embassy personnel said they could not find the name of the dead soldier on a data base. They made her come back the following day after paying a $100 appointment fee to attend her son’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Other embassy workers were so shocked at the treatment that they took up a collection.
Since that event in 2004, conditions have improved. Costa Ricans no longer have to wait outside in the wind and rain when seeking a visa to the United States. Now there is a roofed area inside the embassy where they can wait. And an appointment system has greatly reduced waiting time.
Embassy officials have bragged that 85 percent of the Costa Rican applicants obtain U.S. visas.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]I read this earlier, and it is a total disgrace![/quote]
sounds more like a personal miff by official, got pissy and took it out on a guy that is trying to make a living and be industrious….
I just relayed this forum topic to a friend from Florida who said she has NEVER heard of any Costa Rican having a problem entering the USA. Eveyone from her lawyer from Grecia to her Tica landlady from Tarcoles comes and goes to the US on a regular basis. Being from Canada and having a Tico friend we would love to have visit us here, I guess we had better find out what Canadian laws have to say on this subject!
[quote=”dbserv”]I just relayed this forum topic to a friend from Florida who said she has NEVER heard of any Costa Rican having a problem entering the USA. Eveyone from her lawyer from Grecia to her Tica landlady from Tarcoles comes and goes to the US on a regular basis. Being from Canada and having a Tico friend we would love to have visit us here, I guess we had better find out what Canadian laws have to say on this subject![/quote]
Most people living in Florida have NEVER heard of any Costa Rican having a problem entering the USA…
If she perhaps was living in Costa RIca and read the news in Costa Rica, she’d know it is a regular occurrence.
Scott
A close business associate of the ARCR owner was refused a visa to enter Canada a few years ago for a personal visit, as have others I know of.
My daughter’s costa rican fiance’ has been denied a visa without any reason at all. He and my daughter filled out a 30 page questionaire, paid the 140.00 plus 14.00 for the phone call to the embassy. He was denied without being asked a single question. The lady at the embassy just stamped it denied and said “move on”. Clearly the embassy in CR needs new management and someone educated in public relations.
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