I have a coworker travelling there in July. Unwillingly, I’ve been more or less been kept in the loop what preparing the trip implies and I’m pretty horrified.
Up until now, these are some of demands made (and accepted):
- full disclosure and acess to social networks
- criminal record
- recent photo, perfectly groomed and in the attire to be used to travel there. No deviations will be tolerated from the supplied photo.
- complete list of possible identifying marks on the body, with pictures (tattoos, moles, melanistic spots, scars, etc)
- name and social networks of parents, siblings and other close relatives, including children.
The person is separated with two children; this is causing a lot of friction.
- has already been warned an interview of up to two hours will be held upon arrival.
The person speaks broken english at best.
- disclosure of place of employment and other connections to public organizations
They are connected to a local soccer club and a youth sports association.
To add to all of this, this isn’t a standard caucasian human but someone who has looks that can be taken for someone from the middle east, slightly darker shade of skin included.
Flying from southern europe straight to Florida.
I’m concerned. I would not go, full stop. They have people waiting there for them but nonetheless. Considering the heated state of affairs, it is something I consider of not easily to overlook risk.
Enough internet for me today. I’m going to have a stern conversation with my own dogs regarding gun safety.
You should have a conversation with yourself if you let guns lying around for your dog to play with ;)
More seriously, even if it was free ticket or if I was getting paid to go there I would not go to the USA. Even for work, I refused to go there and did all I had to do through calls and videos.
<RANT MODE ON>
Why would anyone want to go there? USA despise the rest of the world, they don’t even appreciate those who were supposed to be their close friends (hi from the EU, guys). That’s fine with me, but then I’ll go spend my time and money elsewhere, with people who don’t consider it’s OK for them to spit in my face or put a gun against my head, and then tell me I should be thankful.
The USA is now a sinking country, with too much remaining power for his, and for our own good. Alas for the many good and great people that do live there and that I do miss spending time with. At least, as US citizens they’re still allowed to freely travel abroad, at least for now, to come and say hi… That is, if they’re are not too frightened (I’m not) by the perspective of most EU capitals being nuked by Putin, like his latest video/propaganda/love letter not so subtly hinted at… Which is, btw, another amazing achievement of that POTUS sad clown. To those US people too frightened to come say hi in Europe, afraid of being vaporized by a Russian nuke, I would happily have instead suggested they go visit their other close friends in Taiwan, but I’ve heard the mood is somehow not much better over there…once again, thx to the unique genius of the king of the deal. Maybe they would be more warmly welcomed in Iran or in many of the Middle East countries? Don’t quote me on that, though.
<RANT MODE OFF>
I had a dog that enjoyed sitting in the driver seat when I was out of the car. Used to mess with pooch, saying he should remember he had his licensed revoked because he had been caught driving drunk. Good times.
Nothing to add on what you said.