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Well-known French DJ Laurent Garnier has canceled his planned tour of the States as he refuses to comply with a privacy-invasive process of getting a working visa for the States. (via Boing Boing)
He writes on his website:
In order to obtain this new visa, the rules have once again changed since November 2004 and I would now have to not only fill in an exceedingly probing application form, but also be interviewed by a member of the Embassy staff, and provide proof of ownership of my house, details of my bank account, my mobile phone records, personal information on all my family members and more. I consider these demands to be a complete violation of my privacy and my civil liberties and I refuse to comply.I am horrified by these new regulations and feel really sad that this is what some call freedom and democracy.
It has now become almost impossible for an artist to come and perform in the United States. And until this new legislation changes I will unfortunately refuse to comply with this nonsense.
Thank you for your understanding.
Laurent Garnier
Now Garnier lives in one of 27 waiver countries, which means he does not need a visa to visit the United States.
But for him to legally come tour the country and make money, Garnier has to get a work visa. I've gone through a process of getting a visa for other countries, who mainly want to make sure that visitors are not planning to become long-term residents.
But asking for phone records?
Like Garnier, I'd tell the State Department to keep their visa. (Though Cory called this Homeland Security, visas are handled by the State Department)
As a journalist, there is no way I would ever show any government agent a list of what numbers I called.
If I were a businessman, I'd also not turn over these records.
I'm intrigued as to whether these questions are requirements or simply something that the State Department is now allowed to ask for if it wants to. A State Department secondary screening, if you'll let me.
For those of you who don't care, because you are American and this is ostensibly in place to protect your country, know that border security measures tend to become reciprocal.
Posted by Ryan Singel at February 2, 2005 09:38 AM
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Haha... welcome to the 3rd world.. This is exactly what we have to go through, including proving of birth and reidency in the town we apply from. Oh and did I mention this is just for a stupid visit?
Posted by: rss at February 2, 2005 11:20 AM