Re: Informix User Forum 2005 - - 5 days left for Registration
Not a technical Informix issue: this is off-topic banter spun off from a conference registration announcement. A UK poster worries whether he can enter the US under the Visa Waiver Programme to attend the Informix User Forum, after a joking warning that immigration might object to a "technical conference" and advice to call it a training class. Others quote the VWP/US-VISIT rules (business or pleasure, under 90 days, return ticket, I-94W) and suggest he'll be fine, while noting Canada, not the US, has charged travellers a work-permit fee for giving training at such events. No authoritative answer is given, just anecdotes and jokes.
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<david@smooth1.co.uk> wrote in message news:1133289655.246561.261840@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > > Well I hope I'm registered? > > After the IIUG fuck up... Tell us how you really feel, Dave! Probably you'll get turned back at immigration for trying to attend a technical conference on the Visa Waiver programme. As Stuart Litel says, Tell them you're attending a training class ;-)
Neil Truby wrote: > <david@smooth1.co.uk> wrote in message > news:1133289655.246561.261840@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > > > > Well I hope I'm registered? > > > > After the IIUG fuck up... > > > Tell us how you really feel, Dave! > > Probably you'll get turned back at immigration for trying to attend a > technical conference on the Visa Waiver programme. As Stuart Litel says, > Tell them you're attending a training class ;-) Really? Surely attending an IBM event would be ok? IBM is hardly a fake company I've made up to get into the country. Does that mean people outside the USA can no longer attend events inside the USA without lots of advance planning?
Well I will fly British Airways. http://www.britishairways.com/travel/usawaiver/public/en_gb "The Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) The VWP allows the citizens of certain countries to travel to the USA without having to obtain a visa prior to travel." I have a machine readable passport so all I need is:- "Other requirements if travelling on the VWP are: - Travelling for business, pleasure or transit only, and - Staying in the USA for less than 90 days, and - Hold a confirmed return or onward ticket (or e-ticket receipt), and - Present a completed I-94W form to the authorities on arrival in the USA. (These forms can be obtained at check-in or on-board the aircraft.) Please note, you must have the address and zip code for where you are staying to ensure you are able to fully complete the I-94W Immigration form when you land." Also I have to comply with the USA Visit program. "What does the US-Visit programme involve? On arrival in the USA the immigration officer will collect unique data from each visitor in the form of fingerprints using an inkless scanner and a digital photograph. This takes place at the normal immigration desk as part of the entry process and it is not expected that the arrival process will take any longer than usual." This does not mention conferences at all?
> david@smooth1.co.uk> wrote in message > news:1133308408.681464.292360@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > > Well I will fly British Airways. > > http://www.britishairways.com/travel/usawaiver/public/en_gb > > "The Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) > The VWP allows the citizens of certain countries to travel to the USA > without > having to obtain a visa prior to travel." > > I have a machine readable passport so all I need is:- > > "Other requirements if travelling on the VWP are: > > - Travelling for business, pleasure or transit only, and You'll be alright. I was allowed in even though I've done all sorts of seditious things. I used to fread The Guardian when I was a student. And Hell, I had a French car once, before they were crap .... But you *should* ask Stuart Litel. He had this theory that you'd get charged by Customs if you said the wrong thing about the conference having a training element. That might have been Canada though, come to think of it ...
> He had this theory that you'd get > charged by Customs if you said the wrong thing about the conference having a > training element. That might have been Canada though, come to think of it Definately Canada. Been caught by it myself. From memory they levied a 100 CAD entry fee if you say you are either attending or giving training at an event that is run by a subsidary or parent company of the company you are working for - and they include presenting at a conference 'giving training'.
"Mark Townsend" <markbtownsend@comcast.net> wrote in message news:438D151F.9040705@comcast.net... > Definately Canada. Been caught by it myself. From memory they levied a 100 CAD entry fee if you > say you are either attending or giving training at an event that is run by a subsidary or parent > company of the company you are working for - and they include presenting at a conference 'giving > training'. I live in Canada and I can tell that the above news has as much credibility as any of Oracle's marketing claims.
rkusenet wrote: > "Mark Townsend" <markbtownsend@comcast.net> wrote in message news:438D151F.9040705@comcast.net... > >>Definately Canada. Been caught by it myself. From memory they levied a 100 CAD entry fee if you >>say you are either attending or giving training at an event that is run by a subsidary or parent >>company of the company you are working for - and they include presenting at a conference 'giving >>training'. > > > I live in Canada and I can tell that the above news has as much credibility > as any of Oracle's marketing claims. > > Definately true. Why would I make this up ? At least is was a few years ago - and I'm guessing from the forensic trail below possibly still:- Here's the list of jobs exempt from work permit requirements in Canada - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/exempt-1.html Note the term 'Business Visitor" Here's the definition of who qualifies as a Business Visitor - http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/dbc/Business-Travel-Canada-entry-Requirements-en.aspx The term 'business visitor' includes individuals travelling to Canada to: Meet with business contacts Provide after-sales service: - warranty service - fulfilling service contract - some installation activities Buy Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government or receive training or familiarization services in respect of such goods and services; Receive or provide training within a Canadian parent or subsidiary of the corporation that employs them outside Canada if any production of goods or services that results from the training is incidental; Take orders for foreign goods or services; no sales can be made to the general public in Canada. Here's the cost of a work permit - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/fees.html Work permit $150 So if you arrive to provide training to a company that has both in country Canadian and overseas operations, and the customer official ascertains the "production of goods or services that results from the training is" not "incidental" (i.e someone will make money from hearing what you say, maybe a custome rin the audience buys the product); then they ping you on the spot for a $150 dollar work permit. I rember it well, because they would not take credit cards. I had to literally find spare change in my luggage to make the ante.
david@smooth1.co.uk wrote: > Well I will fly British Airways. > > http://www.britishairways.com/travel/usawaiver/public/en_gb > > "The Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) > The VWP allows the citizens of certain countries to travel to the USA > without > having to obtain a visa prior to travel." > > I have a machine readable passport so all I need is:- > > "Other requirements if travelling on the VWP are: > > - Travelling for business, pleasure or transit only, and > > - Staying in the USA for less than 90 days, and > > - Hold a confirmed return or onward ticket (or e-ticket receipt), and > > - Present a completed I-94W form to the authorities on arrival in the > USA. > (These forms can be obtained at check-in or on-board the aircraft.) > > Please note, you must have the address and zip code for where you are > staying to ensure you are able to fully complete the I-94W Immigration > form when you land." > > Also I have to comply with the USA Visit program. > > "What does the US-Visit programme involve? > On arrival in the USA the immigration officer will collect unique data > from each > visitor in the form of fingerprints using an inkless scanner and a > digital photograph. > This takes place at the normal immigration desk as part of the entry > process and it > is not expected that the arrival process will take any longer than > usual." > > > This does not mention conferences at all? > David, Be sure to refrain from asking about any references to pot, or crack whilst at the airport once you land here in America. You'll be able to get this information outside the airport(s) and especially in Atlanta from the cab driver, or if you rent a car, there will be plenty of people around who can get you what you're looking for. Just be advised that you can't drink and drive in America without putting yourself at risk, however, if you're smoking, you can probably mask your actions with a cigar or cigarette. Smoking hasn't been outlawed in your car just yet. The cabbie may even have something on them to party with you too on your way to your hotel. You'll have a nice ride through town, so enjoy the ride. If you drive, remember we reversed the lanes just last week, so it can be a bit confusing. Everything was working perfectly and then they changed the lanes, so be careful, it's a bit backwards from jolly ole England. I don't know what possessed them to do it but anyway...