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US demands social media details from visa applicants

bbc.com

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Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#231

Post by godelski »

mac01021 wrote: post #185
godelski wrote: post #80

This seems isolationist. Why would we want to isolate ourselves? For a country that was founded upon immigrants, that extremely benefited (and continues to) from diversity of thought and ideas, why would we want to stop that? I'm just under 30 and I still remember growing up how I was told that a major part of what made America great was the melting pot. In academia and at labs I've seen this be a huge benefit. But I…

It's possible to want more diversity, to believe the infusion of immigrants makes America great (or just better) and also believe we need to tightly regulate who is able to enter the country.

I agree, but that's not really what is happening here is it? The American people clearly don't agree on how tightly to regulate.

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#232

Post by crucialfelix »

HeavenFox wrote: post #74

As any US Visa applicant can attest to, the DS-160 is already some of the most annoying form you have to fill - in fact for most people it's less pleasurable than doing 1040. In addition to asking for details of every school you went to, every job you had, every country you've been to, they ask you questions like this: >> Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled su…

Don't forget "Moral turpitude". They ask you to confess that one on the landing card.

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#233

Post by inferiorhuman »

diveanon wrote: post #13

I meet a lot of tourists on a daily basis, and I have not heard anyone say they want to visit the United States in a very long time. I can't imagine how much worse it is for people that are forced to travel there for business. If the United States is trying to isolate itself from the rest of the world it is definitely succeeding. As a side note, I have not spoken to a tourist from the US on the island where I live in…

Where are you guys?

I typically travel to places where I know someone — so given that most of the Malaysians I know have moved elsewhere (or are trying to) I'm less inclined to visit. The politics, health care, and to some extent personal safety and syariah law create some resistance too.

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#234

Post by godelski »

refurb wrote: post #215
codedokode wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But doesn't proving that the person has lied also require additional efforts, and if that person will contest the desicion in court, can become a long process?

I would argue that proving somebody lied on an application would be easier than proving something like “this person is a danger to the US”. The 2nd is much subjective.

I'm actually okay with that. Read it the other way around. You can only kick someone out for being dangerous if you can prove they are dangerous.

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#235

Post by hdfbdtbcdg »

diveanon wrote: post #13

I meet a lot of tourists on a daily basis, and I have not heard anyone say they want to visit the United States in a very long time. I can't imagine how much worse it is for people that are forced to travel there for business. If the United States is trying to isolate itself from the rest of the world it is definitely succeeding. As a side note, I have not spoken to a tourist from the US on the island where I live in…

They only have 5-10 days vacation a year on average. Give them a break already!

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#236

Post by JCharante »

HeavenFox wrote: post #74

As any US Visa applicant can attest to, the DS-160 is already some of the most annoying form you have to fill - in fact for most people it's less pleasurable than doing 1040. In addition to asking for details of every school you went to, every job you had, every country you've been to, they ask you questions like this: >> Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled su…

> And don't get me started on the stupid fact that you cannot renew your US visa within the US, and in the end people on student/work visas have to take the pointless trip to Canada/Mexico just to get a new visa.

I suppose this is could be an issue for graduate students, but I don't know of any foreign undergrads that don't go home at least once a year.

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#237

Post by chillwaves »

justinjlynn wrote: post #150
godzillabrennus wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nativism is a reaction to the decline of the middle classes prospects. Half of America is not doing well and has been overlooked. The better educated amongst us are blinded by their own progress and weren’t looking inward. We will see more focus on nativist policies in our lifetime as automation continues to eat jobs.

> has been overlooked You mean exploited?

By whom exactly?

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#238

Post by llukas »

archey1 wrote: post #189
llukas wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You missed "well regulated Militia" part of second amendment.

In the time the constitution was framed, "well regulated" meant properly trained and not "subject to 30 million pages of government control and criminilization". If you want to cherry pick certain parts of the second amendment - I can do that too: "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed".

Please stick with weapons available at time constitution was written of not very reliable ~3 shots per minute fire rate. Gunpowder cannons are also OK.

Law evolves along with technical progress and 2nd amendment is not exception.

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#239

Post by chillwaves »

refurb wrote: post #221
codedokode wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is definitely not friendly because social network is a place to communicate with friends or family and you don't want a customs officer putting their nose there.

The only thing a customs official is going to see is your public online persona. If you don’t want them to look at it maybe it shouldn’t be public? Of course then could go the next step and ask for a password (which I would argue goes too far).

Are you suggesting to lie to immigration officals about online activity?

That this may be an optimal move should suggest an inherent weakness or ineffeciency in the process.

Re: US demands social media details from visa applicants

#240

Post by zaptheimpaler »

refurb wrote: post #218
zaptheimpaler wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So many H1bs don't even think about buying a lot of furniture, a car or a house for this reason.

So many? As someone who went through the H1-B process and had my status threaten a number of times (downsizing), it was just a reality - if I lose my visa I go back home and maybe try again. It never stopped me from major live decisions like buying a house. Immigrating to a new country is taking the risk that you can’t stay. I accepted that when I immigrated.

The point i was responding to was fear of being arbitrarily rejected by a visa officer, which can happen. Or having your H1B petition denied for a job that would've had it approved the year before - as is happening pretty frequently this year.

No one would complain if H1B was a transparent and clear system (like a points-based immigration system). In reality its often arbitrary, with your visa status hanging on the political tides of the country, or how a visa/border officers day is going. That kind of unpredictability wasn't clear to me when I got the H1B and isn't any kind of well-defined risk you can accept before going down that path.

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