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US embassy wants 'every social media username of past five years' for new visas

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Re: US embassy wants 'every social media username of past five years' for new visas

#221

Post by account42 »

ethbr1 wrote: post #140
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’d guess this administration draws its power from voters who don’t have a passport and power brokers whose staff handle visas. (Or at least it operates as if it believes it does.)

That any US citizen doesn't have a passport is mind blowing, sad, and also indicative. $18/yr for access to most of the world. Yet people say "No thanks. I'm sure the US is great."

The US is pretty big and varied. It has more than enough natural wonders to last you a lifetime. Nothing wrong with someone deciding that they don't need more than tat.

Re: US embassy wants 'every social media username of past five years' for new visas

#222

Post by account42 »

throw_a_grenade wrote: post #207
jauco wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In europe we have a kind of mini passport, called person id. Which only works in your own country and other shengen countries. It’s nearly the same cost as a passport (at least in my municipality) You are required to have a passport (or id) with you (as in, that’s what the law says). Even in your own country. But in your own country a drivers license is usually also sufficient. But in practice you will almost never b…

That depends on country, in Poland you don't need to carry any ID on you anymore (you're then required to remember PESEL number, and recite it to police if asked; 11 digits, six of those are birthday).

In practice you can get away with not having ID on your person in most countries as long as its reasonably close by. Technically you could get in trouble though so better carry one if you might provoke the police.

Re: US embassy wants 'every social media username of past five years' for new visas

#223

Post by account42 »

ryandrake wrote: post #179
ethbr1 wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That any US citizen doesn't have a passport is mind blowing, sad, and also indicative. $18/yr for access to most of the world. Yet people say "No thanks. I'm sure the US is great."

Fewer than half of Americans have passports. Many have probably never left their home state, and there are probably a significant number who have never left a 100 mile radius around their homes. People who regularly travel internationally are not a large or powerful voter base. They can be shit on without hurting a politician's career.

Voter base share isn't all that matters - most richer Americans will have passports and want to travel internationally.

Re: US embassy wants 'every social media username of past five years' for new visas

#224

Post by account42 »

monkeyfun wrote: post #187
ethbr1 wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That any US citizen doesn't have a passport is mind blowing, sad, and also indicative. $18/yr for access to most of the world. Yet people say "No thanks. I'm sure the US is great."

Access that costs thousands of dollars for a short trip that most people simply don't have the spare money for. The median US income is Also, it's not $18/year like a subscription, it's $165 upfront -- money that could be spent on gas, food, medical bills, desperately saved up for emergencies, etc. and won't provide any benefit whatsoever to their lives unless they're taking a vacation they probably don't feel they c…

> Also, it's not $18/year like a subscription, it's $165 upfront

That's never an issue from Americans when it is something they want - the country practically runs on loans.

Re: US embassy wants 'every social media username of past five years' for new visas

#225

Post by account42 »

HWR_14 wrote: post #191
ethbr1 wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That any US citizen doesn't have a passport is mind blowing, sad, and also indicative. $18/yr for access to most of the world. Yet people say "No thanks. I'm sure the US is great."

The US isn't insanely backwards. France hovers at 50-60% of citizens with passports. The UK has similar rates to the US. Italy is slightly higher at 60%. Japan and China have far lower rates. I think you just overestimate how common passports are.

Yes. I have a passport as do most of the people I know - but that doesn't mean anything. It's easy to not notice when you live in a bubble.

Re: US embassy wants 'every social media username of past five years' for new visas

#226

Post by s1artibartfast »

ethbr1 wrote: post #140
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’d guess this administration draws its power from voters who don’t have a passport and power brokers whose staff handle visas. (Or at least it operates as if it believes it does.)

That any US citizen doesn't have a passport is mind blowing, sad, and also indicative. $18/yr for access to most of the world. Yet people say "No thanks. I'm sure the US is great."

I think you are projecting motivation quite a bit. Travel, in general, is an expensive and inconvenient luxury of the upper middle class.
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