Visa in general (cost, passports, reputation, Canada)
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I just can't understand why countries make you buy a visa just for entering their country.
Only thing I can guess is. Is it for control of visitors from out siders or is it just for income?
I think it's just for extra money; which seems to counter the purpose because when people enter that country, of course they are going to spend money and contribute to their economy.
For the US, it is for control purpose, though the US ironically does not hardly control the southern border, and basically gives out visas to select countries with less then stellar citizens while overly restricting other places.
Kyrgyzstan use to have visas for US citizens until they did away with that and the exit fee.
Russia does not have a visa requirement for Kyrgyzstan citizens, yet has one for US citizens.
My opinion the US has one of the most absurd visa policies in the world.
For the US, it is for control purpose, though the US ironically does not hardly control the southern border, and basically gives out visas to select countries with less then stellar citizens while overly restricting other places.
Kyrgyzstan use to have visas for US citizens until they did away with that and the exit fee.
Russia does not have a visa requirement for Kyrgyzstan citizens, yet has one for US citizens.
My opinion the US has one of the most absurd visa policies in the world.
I know about Kyrgyzstan, but that free visa is only for 90 days.
Know what you mean about the US. It's free coming across the south border, long as you can swim. LOL
I just can't understand why countries make you buy a visa just for entering their country.
Only thing I can guess is. Is it for control of visitors from out siders or is it just for income?
I think it's just for extra money; which seems to counter the purpose because when people enter that country, of course they are going to spend money and contribute to their economy.
Both control and income.
Many times it's reciprocity. The US has many controls on US admittance, so a country will do the same thing to US citizens entering their country...just because they can. A sort of tit-for-tat arrangement.
I just can't understand why countries make you buy a visa just for entering their country.
Only thing I can guess is. Is it for control of visitors from out siders or is it just for income?
I think it's just for extra money; which seems to counter the purpose because when people enter that country, of course they are going to spend money and contribute to their economy.
For developing countries it's a way to milk the tourists. Or, in the case of Russia, it's retaliation.
For developed countries it's necessary to avoid a lot of illegal immigration.
Many of these visa fees are reciprocal to punish US, Canada and other developed countries. For example, if the US insists on a $50 visa fee for Brazilians, why shouldn't Brazil charge that same fee to Americans? Fair is fair. I'm sure some fairly impoverished places like Cambodia and Laos make lots of money charging for visas from "rich" western tourists.
Increasingly, Americans are being hit with "reciprocity fees" -- American passport holders have to pay, in addition to the usual token processing fee, a penalty, typically $100 for a single entry 30-day visa. Because the USA makes it so financially burdensome to get a USA visa. This is becoming widespread in Latin America, and I've noticed that a few African countries (Gambia, for one) are doing it now, too.
In at least a half a dozen Latin American countries, all nationalities are just stamped in free at the border, except for USA passports, which require a $100 30-day single entry visa obtained from a consulate in advance.
Americans wishing to retire abroad are also being given the cold shoulder, as countries see Americans as health-care refugees.
The "Ugly American" concept is back, only this time it is not because of the soiled reputation of the traveler, but of the country he comes from.
It is more than about money, it is about getting approved also.
How many people can't get approved who should? It seems that most who can't get visas approved have a criminal background or seem to have ulterior motives for their travel (ie unauthorized employment).
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I just can't understand why countries make you buy a visa just for entering their country.
