US may tie social media to visa applications

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DarthKermit

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#232144 1-Apr-2018 01:52

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/353827/us-may-tie-social-media-to-visa-applications

I have no intention of ever visiting the USA, but if I did and this social media scrutiny came to pass, I wonder how people who never use social media like facebook, twitter, instergram, whatever-the-hell-else-is-popular and also never use mobile phones would get on? Would they believe me when I state I don't use any of these? It's totally true: I don't and never have had an account on any of these platforms.

I have said a number of quite uncomplimentary things about Trumpy in the trump thread, back when I was still participating in that thread. Would that count as a bureaucrat's definition of social media?

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#1986642 1-Apr-2018 02:59

IIRC they optionally ask for social media account info on your ESTA application at the moment.

Once you get over the media/Trump side of things, the US is amazing place to visit. Back to NYC for 2 weeks on Monday for work myself. NY International Auto Show is on by coincidence, and QOTSA were playing at MSG last time I went (also by coincidence) Can not wait!

DarthKermit

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#1986643 1-Apr-2018 02:42

I think you're using too many acronyms there. What is QOTSA?

lxsw20

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#1986646 1-Apr-2018 05:20

An extreamly quick google would tell you, Queens of the stone age. :)

sbiddle

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#1986647 1-Apr-2018 07:14

Doesn't affect your average NZer since we don't need a visa to enter the US and enter using the visa waiver program. As pointed out the ESTA application makes social media accounts voluntary at present.

eracode

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#1986674 1-Apr-2018 09:27

Somewhat OT: Many Kiwis never think of the US when deciding where to have a holiday. We have been to the US many times for road-trip based holidays over the past 15 years. Then recently we found a new approach - we are currently in Northern California for a month on a home exchange - we came here straight from a seven-week home exchange in Florida.

It’s a great place to visit - but IMO not as great as the UK where we have also done several home exchanges.

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sbiddle

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#1986684 1-Apr-2018 10:54

I was sitting next to a guy from California while getting my hair cut the other day. His general chit chat with the barber was very much about how he's from California and not America!

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networkn

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#1986731 1-Apr-2018 11:48

lxsw20:

Once you get over the media/Trump side of things, the US is amazing place to visit. Back to NYC for 2 weeks on Monday for work myself. NY International Auto Show is on by coincidence, and QOTSA were playing at MSG last time I went (also by coincidence) Can not wait!

I agree 100%. Having spent a fair bit of time on holiday in the US over the past 15 years, I can tell you that the way some people perceive America(ns) is pretty unfair. They are people just like you'd find in any other countries, and in my experience, there are far more aholes per head of capita in Australasia than you'd find in the US.

BTW Disneyland is not America so if your opinion is based on this experience, you''ve done yourself a disservice.

One of my sisters was horrifyingly anti American, until she actually went there. People who decide America is a terrible place without having gone there display the same or worse ignorance than you'd hear them being critical of the US for on it's worst day.

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#1986732 1-Apr-2018 11:52

As we all know, Kiwi accents stick out like the proverbials - but particularly it seems here in the US. Americans seem intrigued by it and frequently want to know where we’re from. Often they think we are from the UK (or Britain, as they call it). Some guess Australia and a small minority say NZ if you’re chatting and ask them to guess.

Once they know you’re from NZ, invariably they will say ‘Oh, lovely’ or words to that effect - and mean it. Then a lot of them say ‘ ... I’ve always wanted to go there’. Americans generally seem to have a very positive image of NZ - except for the very occasional ones who have absolutely no idea where it is. Americans really are lovely people in their own country and, even allowing for the ‘Have a great day’, they are unfailingly polite, pleasant and genuine people.

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eracode

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#1990970 7-Apr-2018 12:07

sbiddle:
I was sitting next to a California while getting my hair cut the other day. His general chit chat with the barber was very much about how he's from California and not America!

There’s a bit of a groundswell movement in California for it to break-away and be independent of the US. I was surprised to learn recently that CA has the largest economy of the 50 States, is the fifth-biggest economy in the world and its economy is larger than Russia’s.

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#1990974 7-Apr-2018 12:14

eracode:
sbiddle:

I was sitting next to a California while getting my hair cut the other day. His general chit chat with the barber was very much about how he's from California and not America!

There’s a bit of a groundswell movement in California for it to break-away and be independent of the US. I was surprised to learn recently that CA has the largest economy of the 50 States, is the fifth-biggest economy in the world and its economy is larger than Russia’s.

I was in SF for NYE and went out with friends who were hosting a party. The amount of anti US / Trump sentiment was absolutely astounding.

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#1990978 7-Apr-2018 12:23

Yeah but they won't suceed. Almost zero chance.

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#1990998 7-Apr-2018 12:46

I look at the map and the USA no longer sticks out as somewhere I'm overly keen on going. If they turned me down due to not using social media, then meh.

Quite frankly, I prefer Asian countries. As long as someone can support themselves and not cause trouble, they will let them in. I can now get 1 year visitor visa on arrival in the Philippines, due to being married to a Filipina.

From what I have herad - on arrival to the USA - can be a pretty unpleasant experience for some.

The Asians have a different mindset and quite frankly, Uncle Sam just ain't competitive anymore.

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#1991133 7-Apr-2018 16:30

networkn: Yeah but they won't suceed. Almost zero chance.

Haha, my friend in the US who is a history teacher said that very simply, California would have to fight and win a war because the congressional approval options are even less likely to happen!

I really like the US (esp. Disneyland/World!!). I generally call out people who hate on America and it's very rare for them to have an opinion that is not part of the anti-us circle jerk.

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#1991135 7-Apr-2018 16:37

A lot of people haven't even heard of New Zealand.. When I play PubG the chinese ask me where I am from they don't know I have to say ''near Australia'' then they know.

Linuxluver

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#1991137 7-Apr-2018 16:41

DarthKermit:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/353827/us-may-tie-social-media-to-visa-applications

I have no intention of ever visiting the USA, but if I did and this social media scrutiny came to pass, I wonder how people who never use social media like facebook, twitter, instergram, whatever-the-hell-else-is-popular and also never use mobile phones would get on? Would they believe me when I state I don't use any of these? It's totally true: I don't and never have had an account on any of these platforms.

I have said a number of quite uncomplimentary things about Trumpy in the trump thread, back when I was still participating in that thread. Would that count as a bureaucrat's definition of social media?

Like you, the US isn't on my menu. For a country that supposedly supports freedom they have worked hard to reduce freedom. For me, it also because they have gone a tad crazy.....and they no longer seem like a nice, friendly place to visit. Because this has been going on for some time, the world now has routes around the US. Twenty years ago it was hard to get to Canada or Europe or South America without crossing the US, but now we can fly direct to Vancouver, Buenos Aires and Singapore (and HongKong and Shanghai and Tokyo) direct from Auckland....and then fly onward. No shortage of alternatives.

I guess I could spend time setting up an alternate "me" on the Internet and let it ripen for a few years.....and then let them look at that. They are unlikely to see as credible a raft of accounts all created last week.

No Internet presence? They will either buy that or they won't. If they don't, they may waste your time or just send you back or refuse the visa application. They can do that with no explanation or right of appeal. More reasons why I just can't be bothered playing that game.

If you were ever held up at the border.....the key is stay calm and don't get rattled. I'd seen some terrible accounts......and they left me wondering if the person who fell apart maybe shouldn't be allowed out of the house anyway.

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