Countries Pile Fees, Red Tape On U.S. Tourists

[question everything]

Countries Pile Fees, Red Tape On U.S. Tourists

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107473551773508467,00.html?mod=pj%5Ftravel%5Fhs%5Fcoll%5Fleft

In Response to Post-9/11 Changes, Foreign Governments Hit Americans With New Visa Rules

By ELEENA DE LISSER
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

It's payback time for U.S. travelers.

Partly in retaliation for the United States' tougher stance toward foreign visitors, a number of countries have raised visa fees and erected new hurdles for incoming American citizens. While the higher fees and new paperwork aren't onerous, the added steps could catch some travelers off guard and add a new degree of complexity to overseas trips.

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Countries mentioned: Brasil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, Nepal, Thailand.

[saigon68]

1. Thailand also has a lot of aids and syphilis

So avoid the place

[54anickel]

2. Huh? You directing that at Shrubs brother?

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

5. No, it's 'because' of shrubs brother

can take the man from the trailer....

[sushi]

7. That is well known

but hasn't stopped millions of tourists visiting every year!

[dawn]

16. Thailand is a beautiful country.

It's one of my favorite places on Earth.

Only the men who use the Thai girls for sex get diseases. And trust me, there are tons of those men there. Wasn't Neil Bush one of them?

That said, I'd pay the extra fees to go there. If we require it, so should they. It's not really a big deal to me.

[JailForBush]

3. Love It!

It's about time the world started fighting back. Remember: The vast majority of Americans are enablers, if only through their apathy and materialism.

But I wish they'd enact more severe penalties against U.S. public officials and Republicans. Make the bastards pay.

[JailForBush]

4. By the way, this is more than symbolism.

Other nations should have been taking steps to screen out CIA operatives, corporate gatekeepers and religious kooks long ago.

[Say_What]

6. maybe 'muriKans will get the message that they don't own the world

:evilgrin:

[mitchtv]

8. Nice thought, But

never gonna happen. US arrogance is all encompassing.

[Fleshdancer]

12. But many of the Americans who take the time to travel the world

don't think they own it. :( I think a big problem for many Americans is the lack of interest to see the world, to know the history, to understand.

I can understand why other countries would do this, it makes sense. It just pisses me off that GWB makes it harder for Americans to grow and learn from other cultures. Not that he cares....

[Manix]

9. Bravo !!! If your going to give it, you've got to be able to take it.

There are lots of dangerous people in America, other nations
need to be careful as well.

[lostnfound]

10. Thank you VERY much, George W Bush.

As someone who travels a fair amount, this is really annoying. Not so much that other countries are doing it, but that W has succeeded in making us all persona non grata worldwide.

[Fleshdancer]

11. but but but....

My husband and I are saving money to visit France and Italy later this year. :(

I think American tourists who wear t-shirts that say "Bush Sucks" or "I didn't vote for Bush" should be exempt. :evilgrin:

[soup]

13. Everytime I see another 'the world fights back'

article, I cringe, too.

Our 16 year old son is scheduled for an educational tour to Paris and London in March.

Thought we finally had it paid off, but just received another bill for $27.00 - departure fees went up.

[question everything]

21. You don't have to worry about France and the U.K.

These are among the countries for which citizens do not need a visa to enter the U.S. and vice versa. Citizens from these and other counties with similar agreement won't be subjected to fingerprinting and other measures.

And this is ironic, as was pointed by a news report (don't remember which, either CNN or ABC); Reid, the shoebomber had a British passport and Moussai (sp?) who is being held for - what, exactly? - had a French one...

[roguevalley]

19. check ebay. I bought passport covers that say in Arabic, French and

English that I didn't vote for Bush. :)

[LiberalFighter]

20. Contact the embassies for France and Italy

Maybe they will offer a rebate. :)

[mbperrin]

14. Anyone who doesn't like this needs to contact their local

politicians and seriously raise hell about what WE're doing! I don't know any way to explain it other than to say that no one ever took an international flight into a building in the USA!

[drb]

15. Do you think maybe this is all part of ShrubPlan...

...to keep us all here, instead of bailing out?

[teryang]

17. Another shrub burden on commerce

And the pundits can't figure out what's wrong with the economy.

[Blue_Tires]

18. but

Brazil and Thailand are two of the primary places i want to move to if * isn't ousted in Nov. (Thailand b/c i have friends there, and Brazil for the weather, beaches and women:loveya:

He's even making it difficult for people who want to leave (WTF??!)