New Schengen visa exemptions for 6 countries

[Fairtrade]

The other thing the referendum did was to ensure that aborigines were counted in censuses.

Why weren't they counted as australian citizens in the first place, why only in 1967 were they given Australian citizens status when they lived in Australia for over 50,000 years? No need to explain the referandum to me, explain it to the indigenous people of Australia why the weren't seen as Australian citizens in first place???

The British and Europeans have got a lot of explaining to do to rest of the World. You can't just take other peoples land, enrich yourself and then later tell these countries you need a schengen visa to come to my country.

It's dearly beloved and not fair.

[Christophe]

Well, no need to have a go at me particularly. I didn't write the Australian constitution.

[Fairtrade]

They're not that useful because they are the nominal GDP per capita figures and there is no corresponding year - these figures change regularly.

GDP (PPP) per capita is a slightly better indicator as it reflects the value of the dollar locally...

Actually India, Thailand and Turkey are quite stable... Zimbabwe is unstable for example.

It's not the only factor to consider. For example, all things being equal, citizens of a country with high income inequality will represent an increased risk of overstay.

It still doesn't explain why Brazil can get schengen visa free travel and South Africa, Seyschells, Mauritius not. I don't think you can get a country with more higher income inequality than Brazil????

And the reason why Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Uruay and Venezuela can travel visa free in Europe is????????? And the reason why not one African country can travel visa free is???? Why can't Mauritius, South Africa, Seyschells travel Schengen visa free if most of South America can??

If it is not GDP than it is income inequality?? I can't see any of the countries highlighted being any better than than the Seyschells, Mauritius or South Africa, who has also, may I add been European colonies for hundreds of years.

Well maybe it is something the European Union can explain to the world.

[joesoap101]

It is because Europe is inherently dearly beloved and unable to get over their prejudice- I've experienced it personally for years. Like the Dutch who love to promote their tolerant attitudes, the EU does the same but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Ironic how the EU is up in arms about the so called arrogance of the US for not allowing poorer Eastern European countries access to the visa waiver programme... a perfect example of double standards!

Total number of visitors and length of overstay has nothing to do with anything and doesn’t change the fact that they breached the law. But I suppose once you're white and you overstay its not a big deal really.

The problem with Latin American countries are that they have artificially low unemployment rates. The poverty levels in Brazil and South Africa might be very similar (30% conservative estimate) however this in real terms translates into 57 million people below the poverty line in Brazil and 13.5 million in South Africa.

I'm just wondering if South Africa has ever raised the issue with the EU- I personally doubt it - In addition to this South Africa still considers most of Eastern Europe to be unworthy of visa free travel to South Africa. Also Mexico was removed from the visa free list recently, not sure in retalation or not. With tourism growth to South Africa more than 3 times the global average I say its time to have a look at it again, start chargning countries which extort visa fees from South Africans.

[archigabe]

I guess visa free access also depends on the issue of whether nationals from these nations have a pattern of overstaying or immigrating illegally.I know that's how the United States classifies the Visa Waiver program.

[archigabe]

According to an Irish Newspaper, Ireland and the UK might face sanctions for not joining the Schengen agreement.
IRELAND TO FACE EURO SANCTIONS
http://www.metroeireann.com/index.php?o ... &Itemid=50

Penalties on the cards for refusal to sign schengen agreement with EU member states

Ireland and the UK may face financial sanctions over their failure to adopt EU-wide justice measures like the Schengen border control system, it has emerged.

The Schengen Agreement between European states allows for people in signatory member states to cross borders into other member states without a passport. Neither the UK nor Ireland is party to the agreement.

The proposed sanctions, which came to light last week in an EU draft protocol, are a tough blow for the Irish Government, which has maintained that opting into the Schengen Agreement would be impossible without the UK doing likewise.

If the Government was to enter the agreement without the UK, existing freedom of movement between the two states would come into question and passport checks might have to be introduced along the Northern Ireland border.

[Richard66]

According to an Irish Newspaper, Ireland and the UK might face sanctions for not joining the Schengen agreement.
IRELAND TO FACE EURO SANCTIONS

Oh, if this news only were true!

Or is it?

[palpicolo]

I am a Mauritian living for almost 10 Years in Austria with my both Nationality.I have been to South Africa and many other places in the world.For me S.Africa is totally fully a crime State in Africa comparing to Mauritius that can say is real a paradise for living. comparing to Mauritius and Seychelles,Mauritius has the highest educated rate when compare to S.Africa.Do not forget in the 4 Millions White S.African just a few of them still hold the economy in their hand and around 24 Millions Black African are still strugling daily to servive,just a few black in the S.African communities are enjoying the fruit of the economy the rest still have no education no good sanitary system and the Indian community are doing quite well there.Mauritius had a higher GDP compare to S.Africa because most of S.Africa population ar still in deeply poverty.All these big boss corporations like DEBEERS diamond giant what have they done up to now for all these poor S.Africans,Which we see Millions of them are dying of aids yearly.This is one of the reason why S.African can not and will not be allowed to enter freely in Schengen States.

The Bahamas ($20,200 PPP), Barbados ($17,300 PPP) arent exactly poor but the rest are relatively poor. There are two things that count in their favour - all are island nations and their combimed population is a tiny 2 014 000. I know the Bahamas has been moaning for years about being on the Schengen black list.

So it seems that the first 'african' countries to be on the Schengen white list is Mauritius and the Seychelles.

I generally welcome any additions to the vise exempt list, and I believe Bolivia should have been removed years ago.

I suppose if you had to ask the ministers about South Africa they would say that they don't have confidence in the passport issuing mechanism etc etc

I agree that Bermuda and Bahamas are relatively wealthy. I've been to Mauritius and Seychelles and can confidently say that the vast majority of their citizens live in devastating poverty, so the decision to include them on the list baffles me.

South Africa still requires visas for citizens from several Eastern European countries that recently joined the EU so I'm guessing this is a major issue.

[joesoap101]

Actually, South Africa has a literacy rate of 86.4% and Mauritius has a literacy rate of 84.4%. With a population of 1.2 million Mauritius does shockingly poorly with all the opportunities they have been given!

As of 2007 the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) continue to classify South Africa as a developed country. Yes there is poverty and crime, like in every country in the world. If poverty was the sole measurement of development then the UK, USA, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy and many more 'developed' countries would fall short as they have fairly large numbers of relatively poor! Which is the case in SA - relative poverty. In the global context, the poor in SA are actually middle class.

The white population of SA is between 5 and 5.5 million (not 4 million) and the black population make up 37 million.

Without sugarcane and tourists Mauritius would be non-existent- but the reality is that you cannot compare a country such as SA to Mauritius- the SA economy is about 35 times bigger than that of Mauritius and the constantly touted 'higher' GDP per capita is a misnomer as there is only about $400 difference.

Mauritius will never attain the education rates of South Africa, because you simply don't have the quality Universities that SA has.

Finally, SA has very low visa refusal rates, one example- the visa refusal rate for US visas (which are difficult to obtain in the first place) was 5.2% in 2006- one of the lowest rates in the world! The refusal rate for Mauritius was 10% (yes double!).

[Fairtrade]

Who cares who can enter the EU visa free or not, the fact is Africa will never be on the EU's visa free list because the EU is dearly beloved...... FACT

[davcom]

@palpicolo: SHUT UP YOU PROUD IDIOT! Mauritius is a a paradise only for tourists. I can tell, I'm a Mauritian and I live there >_< Mauritians are dearly beloved among themselves, are proud, like to boast themselves (like palpicolo just did), and I just can't stand it when they do it! And no, I'm not going to protect you just because I'm Mauritian... You're an idiot, that's all there is to it... Just thought I'd say that: Stop being the average selfish Mauritian and start to think rationally!!!

And also I don't think U.K citizens are dearly beloved... French citizens are, to some extent. The rest of europe I don't know, although portugal and spain do not appear dearly beloved to me...

And yes, 1year after the initial publication in the european journal, Mauritians still require a VISA to enter schengenland... Now talk about slow administration -_- Any news about seychelles and the others?

[sudhy6]

DAVCOM-

You dont live in UK so please just dont give your opinion. I have lived in both countries and I fully agree with the other guy, mauritius is a paradise. Everyday in the news in the UK, immigrants are blamed for something or the other. Even when UK lost out in the Euro qualifiers, immigrants were blamed! I think the day is not too far when immigrants will be blamed for the crap weather! Brits turn their nose to foreigners. In Mauritius, despite all the negative aspects that you have so clearly highlighted, you still have a voice and dont really suffer from Rascism. Live in these countries one day and you will change your tune! And if you did care about your country you would really do something about it, rather than dissing it out in the public light. Mauritius is a gem and people like you just annoy me. You call that guy rascit, but you are the uncooperative one. Look just change the attitude man, if more people would stick together we could actually make our lovely country lovelier!

[davcom]

Well, I've lived in france and reunion island for 4years, now I'm back in mauritius and I work for a U.K company and the boss's actually in mauritius, he's british, and I can tell U, of all the bosses I've ever had he's the one whom I met is the less discriminating and most close to his employees... He's a fair guy, unlike some I've met in other places I won't mention so as not to do defamations... But I mean, if he's a fair sample of the average british citizen then I I'd say no, they're not dearly beloved... Happens everywhere... The most narrow-minded people just make the most noise, doesn't mean everyone else's the same as them...

Now, I know the administrations are a bit lovely at times, but the average european people I've lived with have always been fair to me, and actually my best friend's a french, so... And he's white and I'm dark colored >_< Now I don't know which part of the Island U call paradize? Lemme know and I'll go check it out

And I'm sorry if I hurt any Mauritian who read this post, but most of us around here just stick to our own kind... It's a bit awkward to come back to that after 4yrs in a country where everyone was considered as a citizen of the country, even if sometimes the guy in front of you despised you, at least professionally he'd treat you just like any other customer, no matter how bad he doesn't like you... I know, it may sound an hypocrite attitude, but I think professionally it's the right way to behave... Privately you do whatever you want... But here it rarely happens, it's mostly boot-licking the most good-looking, the one with the most money, with the better attitude... You may have come first and been waiting for hours, but that guy in a black suit gets served before you just because he arrived in a BMW and came in waving his gold credit card... Whatever... Maybe if that attitude stopped I'd change my mind? But I do try to make a difference by being fair to everyone I meet... It's just that sometimes I'm so fed up by some people's attitude... And I'm not the only one thinking that... Go read what's being posted on facebook.com in mauritius groups and see for yourself...

You want to talk about counter-productive? Saying it's a paradize when it's not, that's counterproductive... Not hiding behind false "everything's fine" color post-cards and trying to make a difference, that's not

[archigabe]

And I'm sorry if I hurt any Mauritian who read this post, but most of us around here just stick to our own kind... It's a bit awkward to come back to that after 4yrs in a country where everyone was considered as a citizen of the country, even if sometimes the guy in front of you despised you, at least professionally he'd treat you just like any other customer, no matter how bad he doesn't like you... I know, it may sound an hypocrite attitude, but I think professionally it's the right way to behave... Privately you do whatever you want... But here it rarely happens, it's mostly boot-licking the most good-looking, the one with the most money, with the better attitude... You may have come first and been waiting for hours, but that guy in a black suit gets served before you just because he arrived in a BMW and came in waving his gold credit card... Whatever... Maybe if that attitude stopped I'd change my mind? But I do try to make a difference by being fair to everyone I meet... It's just that sometimes I'm so fed up by some people's attitude... And I'm not the only one thinking that... Go read what's being posted on facebook.com in mauritius groups and see for yourself...

You want to talk about counter-productive? Saying it's a paradize when it's not, that's counterproductive... Not hiding behind false "everything's fine" color post-cards and trying to make a difference, that's not

Most of the mauritians I've met in Ireland have Indian ancestry...Im curious if the old caste discrimination has been carried over from India to Mauritius as well, from what you describe?

[Dawie]

DAVCOM-

You dont live in UK so please just dont give your opinion. I have lived in both countries and I fully agree with the other guy, mauritius is a paradise. Everyday in the news in the UK, immigrants are blamed for something or the other. Even when UK lost out in the Euro qualifiers, immigrants were blamed! I think the day is not too far when immigrants will be blamed for the crap weather! Brits turn their nose to foreigners. In Mauritius, despite all the negative aspects that you have so clearly highlighted, you still have a voice and dont really suffer from Rascism. Live in these countries one day and you will change your tune! And if you did care about your country you would really do something about it, rather than dissing it out in the public light. Mauritius is a gem and people like you just annoy me. You call that guy rascit, but you are the uncooperative one. Look just change the attitude man, if more people would stick together we could actually make our lovely country lovelier!

Now the gloves are off, here are some observations about Mauritius:

- Rizla rolling papers are banned in Mauritius because of their "subsersive" associations and if you are found in possession of them you can go to jail for being in possession of drug paraphenalia. There is no such ban in South Africa where people are not subjected to such draconian measures.

- The only clean beaches in Mauritius are the ones immediately in front of fancy 5 star resorts, the rest are all disgustingly polluted with plastic bags and bottles, dog shit, and various other pollutants. Hardly the paradise in tourist brochures. South Africa has hundreds and hundreds of kilometers of pristine unspoilt beaches.

- Race relations in Mauritius are regularly tainted by stories of Indian-origin police arresting and torturing members of the Creole community. There have been numerous riots by Creoles protesting their treatment at the hands of Indian Mauritians. South Africa moved away from this sort of nonsense years ago.

- The first-world cities and infrastructure of South Africa are comparable to any in Europe (aside from the slums surrounding them) while Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, could be described as a small town at best with a distinctly third-world feel.

That aside, I enjoyed my time in Mauritius immensely. However I was privileged enough to go there with a Mauritian friend of mine and was able to see the "real" Mauritius, not the Mauritius of tourist brochures and travel agencies.

Whatever you say or claim, you cannot get away from the fact that Mauritius is a spoilt, polluted paradise on an incredibly crowded and tiny island in the middle of the Indian ocean desperately trying to punch above its weight on the world stage.

South Africa is the powerhouse of Africa with an economy bigger than all of the sub-saharan countries combined, immense mineral wealth, a large amount of natural resources, fine schools and universities and almost unlimited potential.

It's an interesting fact that Mauritians make up one the largest groups of foreign students studying in South Africa at the moment.

[davcom]

@archigabe:
Yes, the ****** caste system has been carried over, though it's not that present today. I mean, the old idiots still tend to think about it, but it's not really present among the younger generations. So, I'd say, unless you meet the odd idiot on the island, then the caste discrimination's something of the past... Although I know of 1 or 2 cases of "arranged marriages" still happening in "remote" rural areas... And again, the politicians are still the old idiots >_< I'd really appreciate a big earthquake that would send them all flying into outer-space and have a fresh new politician generation with fresh ideas... But I guess it's the same all over the world, the old idiots still get to rule... Like it's ever going to change -_-

@Dawie:

Rizla rolling papers are banned in Mauritius because of their "subsersive" associations and if you are found in possession of them you can go to jail for being in possession of drug paraphenalia.

Yeah, I agree, that's stupid nonsense!!! As is going to jail if you practice Sodomy, even with your wife >_< I don't say it's wrong or right to do that, but I mean, everyone can do whatever he wants in bed, that's none of the state's business!!! Oh, and you're going to laugh! When you learn to drive, you don't have to right to drive @ more than 40KM/Hr and you're not allowed to drive on the motorway! And they think that when the poor stressed out girl gets her driving license she'll miraculously know how to drive @ 90KM/Hr and leave a motorway exit without smashing into the upcoming cars and all that... Oh, another hilarious one, according to the law, you're still supposed to signal that you're going to turn right or left or brake using your hands! Like there's no such thing called flasher or brake lights! Still living with 1920s laws here! And if you fail to do the hand signals on top of pulling the flasher the day of your driving license test, too bad, you fail! Ah, and the test happens only in traffic-jammed town, never @ more than 30KM/Hr, to assess that you're supposedly allowed to drive @ 90KM/Hr...
Now, I'm being counterproductive for my country to get that VISA Free access, but hey, I'm not the one hiding behind post-cards! You want to world to recognize you, fuckin' do something about it man! Grow up! There's something called evolution, and it's not only in textbooks ^_^

But I have to say though, the only thing that's good over here's the tourism industry and people living on the coast Yeah, the polluted public beaches, that was true not so long ago... But I'm happy to say that's something that's changed now Where the local authorities weren't moving enough, people living around got together and cleaned the whole coast! Now they're all clean and white sand and smelling good and everything, just like they are in front of the fancy 5Star hotels And that made the local government move, seeing NGOs being shown on TV freely cleaning beaches and trying to make the coast look better, government moved and did the rest of the job! Fast at that! And rather well too

But you're right, coming to Mauritius and living in hotels and being shown around by taxi drivers or tour operators is seeing a TOTALLY DIFFERENT Mauritius than coming and live with a friend of yours... It's like visiting 2 different countries...

Ah, and I warn you (yeah, shoot me!), don't hesitate to bargain when you come over here! Retailers tend to sell things twice as much to tourists... If you don't want to get "robbed" when shopping go to places where prices are clearly shown, buy your food in supermarkets and avoid groceries ^_^ If you want something on the road, bargain for half the price, or walk with a Mauritian, he'll get you the real price for whatever you want to get ^_^

Ah, how I love this "paradise of truth and love"! >_<

Oh, there's something nice about this island though... And it's a paradise when compared to europe! There are no gang wars, you can walk the streets at night without fear of being kidnapped or robbed of your car (like in S.A ^^) Oh, it happens, if you're foolish enough to walk alone in sugarcane fields @ 1a.m... But if you're happily dandling down the beach where there're lights nothing major'll happen to you... Apart from the 2 big police jeeps that'll come @ you and flash their lights at you and tell you not to wander too far off... You can even sleep drunk on the beach with your girlfriend and wake up @ 8a.m in the car still half drunk and see U're surrounded by 2 or 3 fishermen bikes (they're already in the water :p). I mean, yeah, if you do foolish things like running half naked in the fields @ night, then something might happen to U. But if you stay where there're lights, well, nice calm nightlife with your girlfriend's possible Near major public beaches there're always 2 police jeeps sitting there all night long and another one patrolling... They're not obtrusive, just there to serve and protect you That too changed from the days of indian policemen torturing creole prisonners.. That policeman died actually, of natural causes >_< Now if you break down @ 2a.m you'll have a young open minded police officer on patrol in his land-cruiser who'll stopped by and ask if you need help and help you pull your car on the road side and lend U his cell phone and wait with you until the towing service arrived... And that's a young indian officer helping a creole guy Well, I say that, but among younger people now it's more and more young mauritian helping out another young mauritian FINALLY!!! But talk to someone past 40 something, it's another island... And these get to rule the country!

So, let's resume the paradize:
+ The beaches
+ Rather safe at night if you're not stupid
+ The Young police officers (young "gendarmerie nationale" officers in france are jerks. Although very effective and to the point, like civil soldiers...)
+ Most of the educated and rational young population, more so if they've been abroad and seen the rest of the world for at least one year...

All the rest's more or less shit!

[geoffsinclair]

We have this club that has an elite membership of former (and current) maffia, barbarians, nazis, hooligans, intellectuals, artisans, scientists, paedophiles and common thieves. Now that all of that is in the past, we wish to invite a select few outsiders in without the hassle of being frisked/cavity searched at the door. We will make our choice based on arbitrary criteria, we are crooks after all. Once these few are chosen we will make them jump through hoops to enjoy their priviliged association, and the others can argue about who is more backward and third world than whom. Not to forget that we treat you all with utter contempt and disdain. Your bitter infighting fills our wretched hearts with joy!

[davcom]

We have this club that has an elite membership of former (and current) maffia, barbarians, nazis, hooligans, intellectuals, artisans, scientists, paedophiles and common thieves. Now that all of that is in the past, we wish to invite a select few outsiders in without the hassle of being frisked/cavity searched at the door. We will make our choice based on arbitrary criteria, we are crooks after all. Once these few are chosen we will make them jump through hoops to enjoy their priviliged association, and the others can argue about who is more backward and third world than whom. Not to forget that we treat you all with utter contempt and disdain. Your bitter infighting fills our wretched hearts with joy!

Can I join in? I'll be the godfather

[globocentro]

The reply South Africa gave to the Uk when the Uk said they might have to review the Visa free travel for south africans was that South Africa would do the same...(eg. asking brits also for visas when visiting South Africa)

Annually almost a quarter of a million Brtis travel to South Africa for tourist purposes, business ect....... So lets see a quarter of a million Brits paying 60 euros for a visa..... Since that day you never heard a word from the UK goverment about reviewing the visa policy.

Annually just over 7 million tourist flock to south africa, not to mention all the illegal Africans. Just imagine the football world cup in South Africa 2010, 12 million tourist flock to south africa all have to pay 60 euros for a visa.....well let's see who in europe will be complaining first.

By the way getting back to the Topic does anybody know when will the Schengen countries extend the visa exemption to:

Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the Seychelles;

Just looked at the Netherlands embassy website in london and also the German embassy and there is still no mention that these countries can travel visa free..... So am I right in saying there is still no black majority countries that can travel visa free in Schengen europe?

Yes. I watched a documnetary on Heathrow recently. I saw one white south Africen being allowed into the UK despite NOT HAVING A WORK PERMIT when she was clearly entering UK for employment. She was arrogant enought to say that she IS ELIGIBLE TO TRAVEL UNDER THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYMENT PURPOSES. What a joke indeed. I am sure my passport will be crossed immediately if i were to do such a thing. Sheer hypocrisy on the part of the British government. There is no such thing as common wealth.

[Fairtrade]

That is unusual . Can you tell us what time (date)this heathrow documentry was on???

I mean really the Uk wouldn't allow any one in (black or white) if they openly admit they are going to work in the Uk without a Workpermit, I mean seriously that Immigration officer would be sacked!

[seywoot]

I've been to Mauritius and Seychelles and can confidently say that the vast majority of their citizens live in devastating poverty, so the decision to include them on the list baffles me.

South Africa still requires visas for citizens from several Eastern European countries that recently joined the EU so I'm guessing this is a major issue.

Devastating poverty? All those African images circulating the net of starving children, orphans dying from AIDS, people with barely no clothes on, slums & shanty towns...everything that the rest of the world think of Africa: NONE of these images were taken from Mauritius or Seychelles. In fact, we've NEVER seen these things in Seychelles. Our government would not let that happen to our people; our people would not let that happen to our country.

So before attempting to analyze a successfully developing small island-country, look at what your own country & people are going through. South Africa's got a whole lot of rich people and places...but the unimaginable & 'devastating poverty' that lies on the other side of your country pretty much cancels out the wealthy part.

To be brutally honest and cynical I think the major stumbling block for the easing of visa requirements for South Africans is the large amount of black people who live in South Africa.

There is currently not a single African country in the visa-free list for the Schengen countries (or on the list of US visa waiver countries) although there are definitely a handful who deserve to be (South Africa being amongst them). One cannot help but come to the conclusion that this is racially motivated.

Although I have frequently experienced the frustration that comes with obtaining a South African passport from Home Affairs, I don't think they are any more or less corrupt than any other country.

The thing about South Africa is that the Blacks were practically robbed by the Whites. So despite several wealthy Black South Africans, most Blacks are still poorer than the Whites (in general). They are therefore more likely to commit migration fraud and all that other stuff.

As for White Africans complaining about visas to Europe: you chose to be African - so tough!

Why wasn't those black islands like the Scheychelles allowed to have visa free travel from the start, it is only after complaining about not having any predominatly black country visa free travel that they now quickly have changed their minds because they don't want to be know as being dearly beloved. They are giving only small islands of black majority countries visa free travel.

It's about foreign relations and the countries' stability and all that stuff. There are millions of mainland Africans in Europe despite strict visa laws. Imagine what would happen if mainland Africans didn't need a visa to enter Europe. Europe would be overpopulated with mainland Africans because situations in many parts of Africa is just unbearable.

It's more realistic to lift visa restrictions for smaller countries like Seychelles and Mauritius because: not only do we have a small population, but many people from our countries, esp. Mauritius are not desperate to leave (proof that situations in our countries aren't as bad as mainland Africa in general).

Like the other Seychellois on this thread, I am appalled by the responses made. You guys are angry at the wrong people (perhaps it's your education system that encourages irrationality?). Seychelles and Mauritius are great countries...WE ARE THE PRIDE OF AFRICA - despite our size. We prove this statistically in many aspects. Instead of hating us, you guys should admire us & wish us well/continued success.

Get angry at the people at Schengenland for imposing visa restrictions for your country.

Yours truly,
A Seychellois living in a non-European country, with a valid visa.

[globocentro]

That is unusual . Can you tell us what time (date)this heathrow documentry was on???

I mean really the Uk wouldn't allow any one in (black or white) if they openly admit they are going to work in the Uk without a Workpermit, I mean seriously that Immigration officer would be sacked!

It was a BBC show titled "Airport". I cant remember the exact date of the show as i watched it last year. I watched it on an Australian channel and i dont think i can remember the name of the chanel as well. It has been a while since i left Australia. The I/O actually refused to stamp her passport and referred the case to the chief immigration officer. The chief immigration officer then gave her two months to apply for a work permit. Nevertheless, i still believe that it is gross injustice as non whites will never be given such an exception

[sudhy6]

Anybody has any updates regarding this matter? When will that be implemented? I kno wit has not been implementd for Mauritians or Seychelles, so which country has it been implemented for so far?

[Wanderer]

That is unusual . Can you tell us what time (date)this heathrow documentry was on???

I mean really the Uk wouldn't allow any one in (black or white) if they openly admit they are going to work in the Uk without a Workpermit, I mean seriously that Immigration officer would be sacked!

It was a BBC show titled "Airport". I cant remember the exact date of the show as i watched it last year. I watched it on an Australian channel and i dont think i can remember the name of the chanel as well. It has been a while since i left Australia. The I/O actually refused to stamp her passport and referred the case to the chief immigration officer. The chief immigration officer then gave her two months to apply for a work permit. Nevertheless, i still believe that it is gross injustice as non whites will never be given such an exception

I watch this show avidly.

In one episode a black african woman was allowed in with stolen passport. True it was her passport that was stolen and used fraudently, she was innocent but the IO's went to great lengths to sort it out. I thought they went out of their way to resolve it instead of just turning her back.

Conversely I saw one ep where a white SA woman was searched and they found details of registry offices for marriage in her bag and discovered she was meeting her UK boyfriend. Even then she wasn't turned away, ISTR she was given 48 hrs to return to SA.

Eric the IO is great!

[joesoap101]

The Airport tv series is quite old, most of the episodes are from 2000 I think. There has been more scope in the past to deal with citizens from countries who do not require a tourist visa to enter the UK as they could change their status whilst in the UK without a problem - I'm sure there are many people on here who would be more clued up on this point.

Also, this particular woman was a professional who had a job contract with a UK employer and I believe she had a British husband. This obviously changes the circumstances.

Also, I've seen a number of episodes where white South Africans were turned away because they couldn't prove that they had sufficient funds. globocentro you obviously have a chip on your shoulder and I know the reality of discrimination is difficult to accept but don't make selective reports by omitting facts to conveniently emphasize the point you're trying to make.