Never overstay your tourist visa or under the VWP..

[Max1gk 68]

I found by accident this interesting article about a woman who years before overstayed her VWP by 8 days due to medical problems...incredible

http://www.independent.ie/travel/travel-advice/i-was-frogmarched-through-dublin-airport-by-an-armed-us-customs-guard-1898771.html

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

Ouch! But she should have checked before going to the airport. A quick call to the embassy or a internet search would have told her she could no longer travel on the VWP.

[Max1gk 68]

You're right penguin, but I noticed that the majority of people have no clues about all these rules - I don't know a single casual traveler and non-VJmember( ) that knows what VWP even means,so they genuinely don't even think about these issues. I can recall an episode (I didn't witness it in person) at Newark airport in 2008 where a Polish lady that was going to visit her family for x-mas was deported because 20 years earlier she overstayed her B2. Many people don't realize how Immigration in certain countries is taken extremely serious (unless you're from south of the border..) and hopefully making them aware of these stories will help them opening their eyes.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

The rules are the rules indeed, but in such a case I have to side with the Irish, which is a first for me.

[Harsh_77 716]

Nothing wrong, most ppl from VWP country feel they have extra previliage and they can cdo whtever they want. They feel 8-10 days overstay would not be bad and they can always be forgiven for that. unfortunately it does not work that way.

Rule is Rule......

[Max1gk 68]

Yea I agree,but in this case being an overstay because of medical reasons It could have been forgiven honestly. I also think that that lady should have had a letter from the doctor explaining the reason for her overstay. But rules should be enforced toward everyone - My impression is that very often immigration in the US is very tough with those that generally follow the rules,but sometimes accidentally miss one,and very forgiving with those that instead totally by-pass the system.

[Sc0tt28 26]

You're right penguin, but I noticed that the majority of people have no clues about all these rules - I don't know a single casual traveler and non-VJmember( ) that knows what VWP even means,so they genuinely don't even think about these issues. I can recall an episode (I didn't witness it in person) at Newark airport in 2008 where a Polish lady that was going to visit her family for x-mas was deported because 20 years earlier she overstayed her B2. Many people don't realize how Immigration in certain countries is taken extremely serious (unless you're from south of the border..) and hopefully making them aware of these stories will help them opening their eyes.

That's why the "rules" are printed on the back of the VWP form right above where they sign their name saying that they have read and understood the afore mentioned "rules".

[ryna 132]

While I believe she was denied entry, I think her story is a little over-dramatic (or understated regarding her actions.)

Unless Dublin airport only handles US-bound flights, there was no reason to eject her from the airport, and even less to turn her over to local police as she had violated no Irish laws by overstaying a previous US Tourist visa. I've pre-cleared in the Bahamas and in Bermuda and, in either case, the worst that would have happened to someone would have been that a person is denied access to the cleared area (and thus the U.S.)

Either way, she's lucky it was a pre-clearance airport because she didn't get sent back after arriving and she could at least salvage her unused airline tickets even if it meant a change fee.

[Boiler 43,434]

I did not think Poland was a VWP country.

[Ryan H 3,790]

I did not think Poland was a VWP country.

It's not.

[Max1gk 68]

That's why the "rules" are printed on the back of the VWP form right above where they sign their name saying that they have read and understood the afore mentioned "rules".

I agree; People are too used to sign stuff without reading

[Harsh_77 716]

Dont think the news reporter covered complete details, all the immigration officer at Dublin would tell her is she is not granted an entry.

At this point I am sure she created scenario and they would have to call the local police to remove her and they prob made her walk out of the airport.

I have seen some weird cases first hand, I have seen a preg woman argue with CO why they would not grant her the tourist visa and she would not move from the window until they grant her visa.

At end CO just walked off the window and security personal removed her from the window.

Edited June 9, 2011 by Harsh_77

[Max1gk 68]

I have seen some weird cases first hand, I have seen a preg woman argue with CO why they would not grant her the tourist visa and she would not move from the window until they grant her visa.

At end CO just walked off the window and security personal removed her from the window.

Wow..that woman ignored the fact that even if she had ran into a drunk CO willing to issue her a tourist visa,she would have probably been denied entry at immigration anyway. They're getting pretty strict about anchor babies

[Harsh_77 716]

Wow..that woman ignored the fact that even if she had ran into a drunk CO willing to issue her a tourist visa,she would have probably been denied entry at immigration anyway. They're getting pretty strict about anchor babies

Yep but my point was if some dumb reporter was present looking for some fast seeling news - he would had written the story about how a preg woman was brutally escorted out with armed guard and how ppl at embassy were rude and on and on.

Same is the case in the article journalist just saw an opportunity to make some headline news and posted the article without complete research about the Irish woman and her past.

[Max1gk 68]

Yep but my point was if some dumb reporter was present looking for some fast seeling news - he would had written the story about how a preg woman was brutally escorted out with armed guard and how ppl at embassy were rude and on and on.

Same is the case in the article journalist just saw an opportunity to make some headline news and posted the article without complete research about the Irish woman and her past.

yea yea I know and I agree; I was simply thinking out loud about that episode you mentioned