Plano men denied entry to Ireland | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News — They were backpacking. Of course they had no plan to stay. They were backpacking!
immigration officials said they couldn’t enter Ireland because they lacked an address where they planned to stay in Dublin and bank statements to prove they could afford to travel.
“If they want us to go to their country, they shouldn’t do this,” said Colin Zwirko, 21, who sold his Volkswagen to help pay for the trip. “They should step up and apologize or help.”
Found by Tim Yates.
arrrrgggghhh….WTF?? One wonders if the Border/Customs officers were just jealous of these kids being able to take such travel.
I actually experienced something similar when I went to the UK to see my sister. I only had her phone # and the bus stop to get off at. They wanted me to give them an address. I was fortuante I’d printed out one of her emails so I wrote that down on the form infront of the official.
I suppose any address you can remember would work. sheesh…
Pretty standard really to have to show you have money at least (even just knowing the same of hostel is usually enough) …. worst is trying to enter the USA, but to be honest most backpackers aren’t exactly a benefit to their countries they drink in so I can see why they try to keep them back …
Hey, the US wants to know my mortgage details, and an insane lot more, before I can get in and aid the American economy, just because I happen to work in media.
There are limits, for me. A lot of countries have crossed them.
#3
You also forgot that they get awfully suspicious of you if instead of getting a red lobster sunburn you get a fabulous tan.
If that’s actually a picture of the backpackers, I can’t say I blame the Irish authorities.
They obviously said something to the customs officer to indicate they planned to get a job, or something similar. This is certainly not the norm. On another note, imagine the number of news articles we’d be reading for all the people who are refused entry into the US.
They’re from Texas right? I’m willing to bet these guys would approve of this treatment towards Mexicans spilling over the border.
Back in 2005 I (a citizen of the usa) went to a conference in Vancouver and at customs I couldn’t remember the name of the hotel I was staying at and got sent to the special search area so i’m not entirely surprised about this. Saddened but not surprised.
lets remember that we’re relying on ireland to block the lisbon treaty this october so lets no go too harsh on them.
Do the rockets know Yao Ming was backpacking?
I went to Canada once and made the mistake of telling them I was there to install a piece of equipment. They gave me a choice, next plane back to the USA or pay a fine for non-resident trying to work in Canada illegal alien bullshit.
So now I have a record at Canadian Customs for being an illegal alien. I paid the $200c fine and the next time I went to Canada on business I told them I was sightseeing. No problems….
They must have said something stupid. I’ve never been asked those things (besides filling out a landing card you can lie on) when flying into any EU country.
Backpacking across Europe is (apparently WAS) a time honored tradition. Use to be that all you needed was a passport and some American $$ (exchanged everywhere).
#5
Why? Cause they’re white?
#7
I’ll take that bet.
It’s a risky business applying your fears and prejudices to other people.
Being from Texas it’s no wonder they were shocked. Coming up from Mexico into the U.S. they would have been given some welfare paperwork, directions to the closest maternity ward, some bottles of water, a lotto ticket for a Social Security card and qualified for a house they couldn’t afford. 🙁
Entering the US is a lot worse. We have to get a visa beforehand (only when going to the US). That involves many hours standing on a line because there is only ONE American consulate issuing visas for the entire state (forcing some people to travel almost 1,000 km), paying a hefty fee and undergoing an interview. In that interview, you have to show quite a few documents to prove that you can afford your stay, including airplane and hotel reservations made and paid for in advance.
Then you wait several days for the outcome of that interview. If you’re not approved, tough shit. You don’t get a refund for the visa fee, the plane ticket or the hotel reservation. Fuck you.
Even worse is that the visa doesn’t guarantee anything. Many people are approved and get their visa, but as soon as they land in the US, they are detained for many hours, denied food, water or any kind of communication, and get sent back for no reason whatsoever. You don’t have the right to be given a reason. Fuck you.
USA has had the same rules for Canadians since at least 1970. Whether they get enforced is mostly luck, but you can help yourself.
When crossing borders, be polite, quiet, answer the questions, and don’t volunteer any information.
tourists, what can you do with them..
PISS THEM OFF, and ship them HOME.
wow, neet idea.
And then you wonder why many nations arent making any tourist dollars..
Cant blame them for not wanted a bunch of hippies entering the country.
@#1, #6, #12 : No they didn’t need to piss anyone off or to say anything inappropriate. Visa and entry rules in European countries are clear as a day and they won’t let you in if you violate the terms. You need to prove you have enough accessible money. You need to know where will you stay (if not hotel, typically a letter from family with whom you’ll stay or similar). Finally (they didn’t mention that part), proof of medical coverage and insurance for related expenses. It is their country and they have every right to require whatever they want to.
In the backpacking circles of Europe, (I backpacked for 6 months thru 9 countries) the Americans are generally disliked by everyone. These kids can blame the decades of arrogant Americans that went before them for spoiling it for them. Being from Canada, I was welcomed everywhere and had a great time, but there were some awkward moments at some of the youth hostels when an American would open their mouth and talk about how much better things were in thier country. It would seem these Irish know exaclty what they are doing by not letting in these pennyless clowns.
# 19 dusanmal said, “Visa and entry rules in European countries are clear as a day and they won’t let you in if you violate the terms. You need to prove you have enough accessible money.”
Really? How come I’ve entered the EU from the US too many times for me to count and have NEVER been asked to prove anything, other than I’m carrying a US passport?
I spent a lot of time overseas and never understood the arrogance of a lot of people from the US. I would purposely go off the beaten path and spend time with locals getting to know the country. They never treated me badly so long as I treated them with respect.
So the Gen X and Y probably have mouths on them that they couldn’t keep shut. Too bad boys.
I know from personal experience that U.S. Customs agents, like all other police, are dicks only more so. I had the happy experience of driving commercial vehicles between Canada and the U.S. of A. for years. I am ever so glad I don’t need to travel for a living anymore. I would probably end up being arrested if I did.
You should see some of the ones they DO let in.
Also. Good idea to go into the country with your pregnant girl friend. Any baby born in Ireland automatically gets citizenship.
Doesn’t half cause some resentment there.
Majority of births in Dublin hospital maternity wards – I am unreliably informed – are from Europeans (East Europeans) taking advantage of the rules. This is a country highly hostile to the British in many quarters (particularly in the schools, of which I have first-hand experience/knowledge) but clearly has a different perception of others (not backpackers).
Going through airport customs I’ve been picked to have my bags searched twice. Funnily enough, although they took at least 20 minutes with everyone else, both times the people who were actually searching my bags barely opened them and took less than 5 minutes and were cool. I guess they put the jerks on the front line separating and the nice people on the hand searching section.
Were these guys aware of what Irish weather is like? Looking at how they are dressed, apparently not. Even in the “summer”, this is not a backpacker-friendly country, since you need to be dressed for at least three seasons at all times of the day and night. These muppets would have ended up requiring a rescue from the top of Glendalough, or drowning in a Connemara bog.
@15
Amen brother! Americans have absolutely no right to complain. The way they treat others on their border and in their consulates is just the worst!
I wish I was Canadian – they keep telling us how wonderful they are!
Nothing new there. Visitors to the US are required to provide the US address of where they will be staying. Also, a lot of cities and towns in the US have vagrancy laws where you can be arrested for not having more than $5 on you.
In Italy, as in a lot of countries, you are required by law to surrender your passport to the hotel whenever you check in. That always makes me feel good giving up my passport to some dodgy hotel clerk.
My first international trip was done on minimum funds back in 83. I was flying to london to later take the ferry to france and the train to spain. They stopped me in JFK, and told me that unless I had x amount of money they probrably wouldn’t let me in to england and that I’d be responsible to pay my flight back were that the case. If it weren’t for the fact that the customs agent was a woman, and I had a romantic sob story (wanted to surprise my girlfriend), and it was christmas eve, they probrably would’ve sent me back. It’s a typical error of inexperience. Stupid kids.