I am hearing news about visa rejections from Armenia and Africa. On Jul 2, 2017 1:02 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: Visa rejections (Mardetanha) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2017 00:01:42 +0430 > From: Mardetanha <[email protected]> > To: "Wikimania general list (open subscription)" > <[email protected]> > Cc: Daniela Gentner <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa rejections > Message-ID: > <CAN6NyNqLLVVQ0bonEQBj=ygxmZmVtSc15SBU-=-Rj7Ks30kPvA@ > mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > today I found out another wikimedian from Iraq was also rejected because of > "purpose of trip", I highly believe this stem from our invitation letter > which is from WFM not a local entity. why should an American foundation > invite someone to Canada ? > it would be great if others could update us about their visa situation > > Mardetanha > > On Tue, Jun 27, 2017 at 5:27 PM, Cornelius Kibelka < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > While preparing the report for the last Wikimedia Conference (which we > > will publish on Friday), Daniela Gentner, our logistics coordinator, has > > written a detailed learning pattern about how to support participants in > > getting a (German) Schengen visa for the Wikimedia Conference. While it > is > > certainly focused on German processes, many steps and tips are applicable > > by any organizer in any country. > > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Learning_patterns/Timing, > > _Communication,_Preparation:_How_to_support_your_event_ > > participants_in_the_best_way_to_get_a_Schengen_Visa > > > > Maybe this is could be a good start to collect resources and material > > around this topic for future events. > > > > Happy reading & sharing, > > Cornelius > > > > > > On 27 June 2017 at 02:49, Pine W <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> The creation of one or more learning patterns could be good here. Please > >> see https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Learning_patterns. > >> > >> Pine > >> > >> > >> On Sun, Jun 25, 2017 at 11:07 AM, Ellie Young <[email protected]> > >> wrote: > >> > >>> I think the centralized place on meta is a great idea so we could put > >>> tips, samples, and maybe even an 'advice line' for people who might be > able > >>> to help someone in a particular region. If someone wants to start > this > >>> I'd be happy to add, edit, etc. > >>> > >>> Ellie > >>> > >>> > >>> On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 5:47 AM, Amir Ladsgroup <[email protected]> > >>> wrote: > >>> > >>>> As a person who missed three events because of rejection of visa (one > >>>> Wikimania, one Wikimedia Hackathon, one WikiArabia) and missed two > other > >>>> because couldn't event get an appointment with the embassy > (DevSummits) I > >>>> want to share my experience here. There is three parties involved in > this > >>>> case: > >>>> > >>>> - Participants: > >>>> -- If you are going to another country that has strict visa rules, > you > >>>> should be prepared and know what can go wrong. Usually make a group of > >>>> people who are more experienced in Wikimedia events and ask them for > help. > >>>> This helped me in some events to get visa without trouble. One case I > >>>> remember was when the invitation letter was from WMF and not the local > >>>> chapter. It caused rejection of visa before me and once I knew it, I > fixed > >>>> it. > >>>> -- Be prepared for other options. For example, for Esino Lario one of > >>>> my friends missed the event because he couldn't get appointment with > the > >>>> embassy, when I knew this is a problem, I tried the German embassy > and got > >>>> the visa ready in time. (Per Schengen laws, you need to make requests > to > >>>> the country you will stay the most, so I stayed in Germany for 11 > days and > >>>> Italy for 8 days to make things legal) > >>>> -- If you have an interview to justify your visa, definitely mention > >>>> Wikipedia. People don't know what WMF is but all know Wikipedia and > have > >>>> positive feelings. > >>>> -- I know it's hard but let go sometimes: I decided not to go at this > >>>> year's Wikimania just because the visa process is horrible and I need > to > >>>> travel to Turkey at least twice. Even though I know I miss a great > event > >>>> but let's hope to meet them soon. > >>>> > >>>> -WMF: > >>>> -- I know WMF is busy but I mentioned this several times to legal, > >>>> support and safety and some other teams. People like me have problem > going > >>>> to events and there should be support for them. Two things were > always said > >>>> and I don't know why it's not being done, 1- Prepare a centralized > place > >>>> (probably in meta) so people share experience to help newbies to get > visa > >>>> documents right. I have seen lots of problems in the documents my > friends > >>>> need to prepare for the visa and helped them to get it right before > it gets > >>>> rejected but I had to meet them in person and it's an exclusive club > of > >>>> people I know. I want to open this knowledge to others. > >>>> -- The other option I always mentioning is support for getting one > >>>> multiple entries visa instead of getting one visa for each event, > This is > >>>> very true for European events. This would make life of lots of people > way > >>>> easier. > >>>> > >>>> Local chapters: > >>>> -- When there is a Wikimania, a local chapter will be handling > process > >>>> of visa for lots of countries with different issues. Sometimes they > handle > >>>> it perfectly and other problems might be the reason for rejection but > >>>> sometimes I need to come back to them and ask for more documents which > >>>> increases the chance of rejection or visa not being issued in time. > They > >>>> usually consult with an immigration lawyer before the process, this > needs > >>>> to be increased and WMF needs to make sure these consults happen. > >>>> > >>>> Sorry for the long email. I hope this would be helpful for you. > >>>> > >>>> Best > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 1:51 PM Ilario valdelli < > >>>> [email protected]> wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> On 24/06/2017 02:00, Ellie Young wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> On Fri, Jun 23, 2017 at 2:10 PM, Gabriel Thullen < > [email protected]> > >>>>> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> I have a few comments: > >>>>>> 1) > >>>>>> We do not know how the Montreal venue was selected for Wikimania. > >>>>>> Jean-Philippe said: > >>>>>> "A "Wikimania Montreal Committee", now defunct, was behind the > >>>>>> request to WMF to have Wikimania in Montreal and they did not > coordinate > >>>>>> with the chapter in doing this." > >>>>>> The situation there is obviously more complicated than what is being > >>>>>> said so I will not dwell on that. What disturbs me is that the > Montreal bid > >>>>>> was accepted in absence of the local chapter support. That is not > >>>>>> acceptable. Looking back on the success of the Esino Lario event, I > believe > >>>>>> that strong local chapter and volunteer support is vital for a > Wikimania > >>>>>> event. > >>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Let us just say that there was confusion and communication issues > >>>>> with the original proposers to host. The Steering Committee > (including > >>>>> yours truly) thought that Wikimedia Canada was involved. I think > >>>>> everyone can agree how important it is for having the local chapters > >>>>> involved--- most recently Esino Lario and Mexico City and of course > South > >>>>> Africa coming up. > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Hi Ellie, > >>>>> This is an interesting point. I know that recently there has been a > >>>>> decision to have Wikimania's organization notified two years in > advance, > >>>>> but this model can only work if there is a "local group" with a > mature > >>>>> organization. Two years are too many for a local "extemporary" > >>>>> committee. > >>>>> > >>>>> A chapter (with at least a small staff) is something that can assure > a > >>>>> commitment for two years and can support efficiently a local group > (and > >>>>> perhaps to save the organization in case of withdrawal). > >>>>> > >>>>> Basically the two year model cannot be disconnected from a *mature* > >>>>> local organization as a chapter, otherwise the model will not work. > >>>>> > >>>>> But at this point is also interesting to know how big may be the > >>>>> impact on a chapter. The organization of an event like Wikimania is > >>>>> something fascinating, but at the same time it's more than a "stress > test" > >>>>> for a chapter. > >>>>> > >>>>> Kind regards > >>>>> > >>>>> -- > >>>>> Ilario Valdelli > >>>>> Wikimedia CH > >>>>> Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens > >>>>> Association pour l’avancement des connaissances libre > >>>>> Associazione per il sostegno alla conoscenza libera > >>>>> Switzerland - 8008 Zürich > >>>>> Tel: +41764821371 <+41%2076%20482%2013%2071>http://www.wikimedia.ch > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_ > source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> Mail > >>>>> priva di virus. www.avast.com > >>>>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_ > source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> > >>>>> <#m_185410550034025492_m_1267552695921599484_m_ > 6880580939877686418_m_-1851108117246999399_m_3850020966839007458_m_- > 2762511510589227394_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > >>>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>>> Wikimania-l mailing list > >>>>> [email protected] > >>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > >>>>> > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Ellie Young > >>> Events Manager > >>> Wikimedia Foundation > >>> [email protected] > >>> c. 510 701 8649 <(510)%20701-8649> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Wikimania-l mailing list > >>> [email protected] > >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > >>> > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimania-l mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > > Cornelius Kibelka > > Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC) > > for the Wikimedia Conference > > > > Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin > > Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0 > > http://wikimedia.de > > > > Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge allen > > Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei! > > http://spenden.wikimedia.de/ > > > > Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V. > > Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg > unter > > der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für > > Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/029/42207 > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimania-l mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: <https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimania-l/ > attachments/20170702/b930e65a/attachment.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimania-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Wikimania-l Digest, Vol 135, Issue 1 > ******************************************* >
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