Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#231

Post by userulluipeste » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:36 PM UTC

netcan wrote: post #44

lingoberry wrote: post #7

Something similar happened to me recently. I voluntarily left my job at a US employer, planning to move back home (to Sweden). But first I wanted to spend some time preparing for the move and waiting for my wife to wrap things up. The rules say you have to leave the country the last day of work, so I left for Canada to stay with a friend, and planned to come back on the visa waiver program. I consulted with the compa…

There are all sorts of things about immigration laws & policies that violate our sense of correctness or justice. All sorts of basic principles don't apply. There is no strict rule of law. The border guards' discretionary (arbitrary) power is an example of that. That applies on several levels. Policies & laws are not governed by higher laws/constitutions so the laws & policies themselves are discretionary & arbitrary…

"There is no strict rule of law."

That says it all. And also that, is the main factor for corruption (anytime anywhere).

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#232

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:42 PM UTC

davidcollantes wrote: post #78

Do, really, immigration officers ask "What the hell where you doing X?" "Aren't those countries Islamic?" There are parts on this writing that are hard to believe, like they were written to sound like a novel, but I have never been on a situation like the one described, not even close.

[deleted]

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#233

Post by infocollector » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:43 PM UTC

I'm curious about a few things from this writeup:

1. Who gave this 250+ points?? Is there a way to decrease points?

2. How did this dude get his money to roam around?

In this case, the US Immigration Officers did their job right it seems. They do not have enough resources to check what this dude was doing in Yemen, Dubai, Sri Lanka, ... - better safe than sorry. Was he writing from Pakistan and Palestine as well, that he forgot to mention?

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#234

Post by dlsx » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:44 PM UTC

But he doesn't have a choice. The USA will not let him in regardless, so saying he won't ever return is a rather moot point. If he was let in to the country and then decided this it would have a much different perspective. He is likely not pleased that he can't get back in he states and thus it is more than likely the OP is not telling the whole truth.

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#235

Post by dannnnnnny » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:47 PM UTC

thaumasiotes wrote: post #144

aneeskA wrote: post #4

It is in US that you will realize your name is your biggest enemy.

Under US law, any person may change their name to anything at any time for any reason. So if your name is really your biggest enemy, the fix is not so hard.

"If you don't like us mistreating you then change your name". Good point.

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#236

Post by andor » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:59 PM UTC

tnuc wrote: post #76

He tried to enter on the US Visa Waiver program. If the guard doesn't like you then you don't get in. Getting a visa in advance does make the guard do more paperwork if they refuse entry. From some US gov website; --- To use the program, visitors must waive all rights of review or appeal of decisions made by an immigration officer and all rights to contest action in deportation except for asylum.

That is the normal way for many Europeans to visit the US, and pretty much every other country that's friendly to tourists. You just appear at their border and get a tourist visa.

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#237

Post by wildwood » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:59 PM UTC

jballanc wrote: post #33

I don't think it's ever been easy to get into the US. A tour through Ellis Island will tell you as much. The difference is that, in the past, the US needed its immigrants. They built its cities and its railroads and much of the US's early industry. Later the US's immigrants were its main source of scientific advancements...but the US's relationship with its immigrants has, I think, always been strained. The differenc…

There's really nothing new about hostility to immigrants in the United States. The last generation's wave of newcomers is the next generation's "old guard", saying that the new wave is "lazy", "unskilled", and a leech on society. What's going on today seems like a fairly straightforward continuation of how we've always been.

There've always been lots of people who would say that the next wave of immigrants is unneeded, and unwanted. No matter how successful they turned out to be.

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#238

Post by peterwwillis » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 3:59 PM UTC

As a life-long citizen of the US and a sometimes traveler of the world, I would compare the United States to a theme park in China. You can certainly have fun if you tow the line and pretend that there's nothing better outside the gates. Argue with the concession stand about choice and you might just get brought to a back room with no windows. Bring in food from outside and it's a 3 year jail term. But the rides are nice...

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#239

Post by bausson » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 4:05 PM UTC

thomasz wrote: post #146

cstross wrote: post #24

Interestingly, in the developed world it seems to be the Anglophone countries that have the shittiest attitude towards border control these days. The US is notoriously user-hostile at the borders. The UK is doing its best to catch up in a Mini-Me way with the USA's Dr Evil, and is actually on course to become even more hostile than the USA -- the only mitigating factor is that the third degree is reserved for non-cit…

I would appreciate if you wouldn't cite the 'world socialist website - Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International' as a reputable source. Some of their articles are surprisingly good, but it's still the publication of an obscure trotzkyist sect.

Maybe publications with enough funding are not 'strict' either.

They are some always interest at play. Well funded publications are either government-backed (in some communist/socialist countries), which might mean unfair treatment of some news, or corporation (or corporation-backed), which means a stance on some subjects (let's say:liberalism) that isn't exactly fair either.

The best (or, some might say, only) way to get news is to get it from different sources, which preferably does not share the same point of view.

Re: Why I Will Never Go Back to the United States

#240

Post by leoedin » Tue, Nov 19, 2013, 4:05 PM UTC

raverbashing wrote: post #228

leoedin wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A Canadian passport (until very recently) lasts 5 years and costs $120. (a 10 year one is available for $160). Getting a Canadian passport outside of Canada is a nightmare (unless you happen to have a Canadian embassy nearby) and costs even more - $260 for a 10 year passport. Unless you really need 2 passports, there's not much reason to get one.

Hummm I'm not sure, but if you're a citizen of a country, you should enter with the documentation of that country, and entering with another passport is usually a BIG NO-NO Yeah, lasts for a limited time and it costs money, so does the passport of most countries . But it gets you a hassle free entry to YOUR country.

I've traveled into Canada using both my Canadian and UK passports with no issue. Many, many dual citizens choose not to have a passport for both countries because getting one is often hard work. What basis do you say that it's "a BIG NO-NO" to travel into a country you're a citizen of using another country's passport?