I remember when I first crossed German-French border without even a passport check. There was just a flag post. That was a great moment. Anyway, I wonder how Switzerland would rate on this list!
Was that back in 39?
No visa required
41–50 of 81 posts
Re: No visa required
#42This is a rare occasion - Britain at the top of a chart that's measuring something good! I suspect the scope and influence of the empire might be what just pushes us over the top, though I guess that doesn't explain Denmark too well.
I'd also suspect that another reason is that immigration from Britain was never really an issue anywhere at any point in the history, so there was no reason to limit travel rights of British persons. After all, it was always a modern, industrialized country with English-speaking population, and mostly white (which unfortunately mattered in less enlightened times, not even too long ago).
Overpopulation was actually a major problem for Britain for most of its history, (hence the continent-sized penal colony in Australia.)
It was just that British immigrants had the nasty habit of overthrowing the government in their new homes.
Re: No visa required
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
really? i haven't had much of a problem (edit: or rather, not much more of a problem than the process required to enter in the other country). but i've also never had much to declare, either.
For a country that generally does a great job of customer service the experience you get as a foreigner entering the place is awful.
I just recently returned to the US and for the first time got to go through the citizen's/residents line (Green card holder), and the difference between the two was unbelievable. This time round, the queues were a fraction of the size, the immigration officers were friendly (as opposed to being outright rude to visitors) and the whole process was incredibly simple and quick. The difference is striking, and I'm certain it's not just me - visiting family always complain about how long immigration takes.
Re: No visa required
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
really? i haven't had much of a problem (edit: or rather, not much more of a problem than the process required to enter in the other country). but i've also never had much to declare, either.
I haven't traveled that extensively, but every time I've entered a Schengen country with nothing to declare, I've been able to walk right in after getting my passport stamped. Every time I've returned to the US, however, I've had to go through an exhaustive baggage screening and pat-down before I could even board the plane, and then stand in line for half an hour in Immigration once I got back, filling out an entire…
i haven't either, but my experiences were actually the opposite.
i usually get searched when entering a foreign country because i have snacks on me or something. i usually have very little hassle when returning to the US, never been searched (knock on wood).
Re: No visa required
#45I'd be interested to see the converse as well - the countries that let the most other countries' citizens in without passports.
It'd be even more interesting to see these 2 plotted next to each other. Countries you can go to without a visa V/s Citizens of countries that you let in without a visa.
Re: No visa required
#46damn, why Denmark?? quite surprising...
They are white and they are rich as with most other top ranked countries on that list.
Re: No visa required
#47I think if I ever tried to get Italian citizenship in addition to US, it might be to get a passport that would let me go some places more unobtrusively. Not that I'm much of a traveler though... so it's not high on my list.
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Re: No visa required
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd also suspect that another reason is that immigration from Britain was never really an issue anywhere at any point in the history, so there was no reason to limit travel rights of British persons. After all, it was always a modern, industrialized country with English-speaking population, and mostly white (which unfortunately mattered in less enlightened times, not even too long ago).
Overpopulation was actually a major problem for Britain for most of its history, (hence the continent-sized penal colony in Australia.) It was just that British immigrants had the nasty habit of overthrowing the government in their new homes.
It was just that British immigrants had the nasty habit of overthrowing the government in their new homes.
How many countries did that happen in?
Re: No visa required
#49There's a couple of things that surprise me. First, all the countries in the Schengen treaty I think end up with the same score. Indeed France, Germany and Italy do. I would imagine many more do too (e.g. Spain). It seemed like it would have been a better label. On the other hand I am surprised that Denmark got more.. .and it is kind of a counterexample to my first point. Isn't Denmark in the Schengen treaty too? Whe…
It's a measurement of how likely it is that a citizen in a country want to become an illegal immigrant elsewhere. The small, "nice", western european welfare states have always scored very high on this for a long time.
Re: No visa required
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
Switzerland has 156 countries (rank 10) The full list is at http://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship/visa-restrictions/
Switzerland is fairly obnoxious towards immigrants tho' (e.g. it is pretty much impossible to naturalize as Swiss). It should be rights be difficult for Swiss to travel anywhere. I expect their private banking industry is what opens the doors...
Exactly what about the swiss naturalization process makes it "pretty much impossible" and what is obnoxious about it? There is a residency requirement, a language fluency requirement, and you have to show that you have integrated in swiss society. It's not an easy process compared to many other countries, but also not impossible.