No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

[c1ue]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...650566,00.html

American plans to introduce an entrance fee for Germans and other Europeans entering the US has been met by harsh criticism. At an EU meeting on Monday, Germany's Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble opposed the plans, saying the plan to charge visitors a fee didn't make sense.

A high-ranking member of the German government is calling on Washington to abandon plans to introduce a fee to visit the US. At a meeting in Brussels on Monday, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party (CDU), said that entering the United States should remain free of charge. The US had previously revealed plans to introduce a $10 (€6.80) fee for anyone wishing to enter the country without a visa.



"This is something we must talk about with the United States," Schäuble said. He has already discussed this issue with the new US ambassador in Berlin, Phil Murphy.


The US is planning on imposing the fee on anyone travelling from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program. The scheme allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the US for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. Germany and the majority of EU countries are part of this program.

[pianodoctor]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

Offhand, it does sound stupid. It seems to me that attracting tourism should be the higher priority. Incentives and welcome mats, not discouragements. It seems to me that tourists are a great deal for the U.S. They earned their money somewhere else, but they're spending it here.

I don't expect that a $10 fee will stop many would-be travelers from coming, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth as opposed to something welcoming or incentivising. I'd rather have foreign travelers telling their friends that the U.S. is a great place to visit and that Americans seem to really want them to come.

[metalman]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

Offhand, it does sound stupid. It seems to me that attracting tourism should be the higher priority. Incentives and welcome mats, not discouragements. It seems to me that tourists are a great deal for the U.S. They earned their money somewhere else, but they're spending it here.

I don't expect that a $10 fee will stop many would-be travelers from coming, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth as opposed to something welcoming or incentivising. I'd rather have foreign travelers telling their friends that the U.S. is a great place to visit and that Americans seem to really want them to come.

one more 3rd world feature added to the usa.

[World Traveler]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

That's it. Kind of third world. And in some of those countries, you have to pay an EXIT tax also, i.e., they won't let you leave till you pay up.

[Jay]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

One baby step closer to a closed protectionist world. Let's see what inflation does when globalization halts.

[Jim Nickerson]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

You guys should start hoping that someway the US Government starts raising revenue in order to liquidate its debts. $10 a pop isn't bad, and shit things are and will continue to be so cheap here for those with stronger currencies, what is $10? You fellas should save up your "bitchin' ammo" for when the government starts raising taxes on to pay off its debt. I surely don't think we'll grow out of it.

[Adeptus]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

I don't know, it sure looks to me like somebody is getting a free ride...





Adeptus

[MulaMan]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

one more 3rd world feature added to the usa.

or you call it a fascist feature.

of course illegal Mexican slave labor is free to come and go as they please.

[Chris Coles]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

As an Englishman that has, frequently, in the past, but not lately, travelled to the USA, I would have no problem with the $10. In the past, others have talked about two cultures speaking the same language which is true. But the fact is, we, here in Europe have much to learn from our American cousins and the more we come into contact and share our respective beliefs and differences, the more we can learn to understand each other. The differences illuminate what each can bring to the table of learning and from which we can all benefit.

[c1ue]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

Those of us who travel to countries like Brazil have learned that tit will cause tat.

The US charging Brazilians for visas caused Brazil to start charging $100 for US citizens desiring visas for Brazil.

I expect the US fee for visa waivers will result in an EU fee for US citizens travelling to Europe.

Then again, maybe that is the goal: restriction of US population from going abroad :eek:

[*T*]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

As an Englishman that has, frequently, in the past, but not lately, travelled to the USA, I would have no problem with the $10. In the past, others have talked about two cultures speaking the same language which is true. But the fact is, we, here in Europe have much to learn from our American cousins and the more we come into contact and share our respective beliefs and differences, the more we can learn to understand each other. The differences illuminate what each can bring to the table of learning and from which we can all benefit.

I do. I find the border guard objectionable as it is, what with being fingerprinted & photographed like a criminal.
It's only $10, but it's symbolic.

[lurker]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

I do. I find the border guard objectionable as it is, what with being fingerprinted & photographed like a criminal.
It's only $10, but it's symbolic.

I agree. Perhaps the government could institute an optional $10 fee for the border patrol to be nice to you.

Don't pay your $10 ... go join the line for Mr Nasty at the end, and make sure you purchased a flexible round trip ticket. Pay your $10 and that nice lady will smile and wave you through.

Overall I think it's another unnecessary way to make visitors feel unwelcome.

[c1ue]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

Here we go...

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...662387,00.html

Two parties in Denmark's parliament are calling for stricter checks on American travelers to the country out of terrorism concerns. Danish Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen agrees that restrictions may be necessary.

...

"To start with, the justice minister should make a proposal. But it may be that we have to be more restrictive towards American nationals. One proposal could be at the EU level -- to introduce the same type of visas from American nationals that Danes must have when they travel to the United States," says Dybkjær.

US Checks Europeans

Danish nationals are required to fill out a form prior to travelling to the United States allowing them to be checked by American authorities prior to arrival.

Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen says it may be necessary to introduce restrictions. "There is no doubt that terrorists are currently trying to organise themselves in many different ways. I will not rule out the possibility of having to introduce a stricter monitoring of travellers from the United States. But any decision must rest on a police evaluation -- so I will be discussing this with the Security and Intelligence Service," says Mikkelsen.

[WildspitzE]

Re: No more free rides: US proposing to charge fees to European visa waiver travellers

Those of us who travel to countries like Brazil have learned that tit will cause tat.

LOL. That's the first thing that I thought. When then US began to take fingerprints, I had a lady in Brazil take my fingerprints (with ink, not some digital gizmo). She looked at the form with my fingerprints, and then proceeded to crumple it up and throw it in the bin. Her colleague did the same for my business partner. We could spot all of the Americans, they were the only ones walking out of the airport, after an overnight flight, with their hands all inked up. Branded.

All these policies are stupid. Much like the US legal drinking age laws (21 years of age) led to the creation of Cancun, the treatment tourists get in our airports are leading to the creation of substitutes, like Panama (in lieu of Miami).