The very many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXVII

[SS-18 ICBM]

Keep a copy of your passport with you, separate from your passport, leave a photocopy of it at home as well. Just in case. I assume you are coming from somewhere that doesn't need an entrance visa? Our visa process is atrocious, so I hope you don't need one.

I'm told Canadian citizens don't need one.

Look up to see if you need to do anything to your phone to have it work in the States.

That's definitely something I might not have considered, thanks.

 

[salty mud]

Our visa process is atrocious

Really? When I went to New York a few years ago it was fairly painless.

 

[Gori the Grey]

I'm expecting the next Sharknado to be in the New Orleans area, and perhaps about that time. So you should probably bring a chain saw.

 

[Quackers]

So...I guess I just signed up for a roadtrip to New Orleans for February 2015. This will be my first trip to another country for the purposes of tourism. Other than my passport and bringing enough US currency, what else should I prepare?

I wouldn't bring a load of cash with you. That is too easily stolen. As Spengler points out see if you can use your card to access money in the states without any fees. Warn the bank that you will be using it abroad otherwise they may think it has been stolen. If you lose your card and run out of money whats your back-up plan?
Have you thought about travel insurance? What will you do in the case you get sick? (EHIC FTW)

Bring an extra non-passport photo ID.

Where are you going to be staying?

 

[Farm Boy]

Really? When I went to New York a few years ago it was fairly painless.

Depends where you are coming from and for the life of me I couldn't remember if he was from Europe or Canada(I actually though he was from the East coast of the USA, shows how much I know). I think it's pretty easy for the British/Irish/etc. Try visiting from, say, Armenia without a company sponsoring your trip and it'll be drastically different. USA visa processing treats much of the globe like every visa application involves an intention to stay permanently. I know grad students whose parents have been denied coming over to visit them. That's pretty standard.

 

[EgonSpengler]

Canada and the United States use the same phone system. You don't need to dial a country code or anything. And no, you don't need a visa. Heck, it's only recently that you even need a passport.

 

[bhsup]

This is exactly why we just need to annex Canada. So good people like SS-18 ICBM can travel in our glorious country without difficulty.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I wouldn't bring a load of cash with you. That is too easily stolen. As Spengler points out see if you can use your card to access money in the states without any fees. Warn the bank that you will be using it abroad otherwise they may think it has been stolen. If you lose your card and run out of money whats your back-up plan?

It's not like I'm travelling alone.

Have you thought about travel insurance? What will you do in the case you get sick? (EHIC FTW)

Bring an extra non-passport photo ID.

Good advice, both very important. Thanks.

Where are you going to be staying?

Some hotel. I'll ask the group's planner for details.

This is exactly why we just need to annex Canada. So good people like SS-18 ICBM can travel in our glorious country without difficulty.

I don't know, the United North American States led to a second American civil war.

 

[Phrossack]

It's not like I'm travelling alone.


Good advice, both very important. Thanks.


Some hotel. I'll ask the group's planner for details.


I don't know, the United North American States led to a second American civil war.

We can't allow a Serf Iffrican to steal Liberty's head!

Random question: Is there ANY information, fanfic or otherwise, on early gunpowder-era krogan from Mass Effect? I'm fascinated by the idea of krogan with matchlocks.

 

[madviking]

So...I guess I just signed up for a roadtrip to New Orleans for February 2015. This will be my first trip to another country for the purposes of tourism. Other than my passport and bringing enough US currency, what else should I prepare?

if you're going to bourbon st, bring an empty stomach.

otherwise, there isn't too much to do, imo. you can ride in the steamboat or go visit the plantations but most of the fun stuff is on bourbon st and the french quarter in general.

 

[Takhisis]

But the French are not 'Merican!

 

[Camikaze]

Really? When I went to New York a few years ago it was fairly painless.

The fact that there's a visa process to speak of for everyone who visits in itself makes the US one of the hardest places for most people to enter. I think Canadians and those entering via Canada are excluded from this, but for everyone else, the least onerous obligation is to register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This takes a lot more time and effort than what is required for most countries you'd be likely to visit (which means more than zero).

 

[bhsup]

Well it's not like it is a right for foreigners to enter America. So what if they have to jump through hoops. It's not a right, it's a privilege, and one that we do not have to extend.

 

[Camikaze]

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that it can be hard to enter, unlike a lot of other countries. Australia's pretty similar, as far as I'm aware. The UK is similar for some people, but not Australians or Americans or a number of other nationalities (though we don't get the EU citizen treatment). Brits might therefore feel a bit aggrieved at the lack of reciprocation. Not because the US doesn't have a right to impose conditions on entry, but because it'd be nice if Americans treated Brits the same way Brits treat Americans. There's a potential economic cost too; the more difficult the US is to enter, the less attractive it is for tourists.

 

[Farm Boy]

You're forgetting a couple important things I think B!

 

[salty mud]

Well it's not like it is a right for foreigners to enter America. So what if they have to jump through hoops. It's not a right, it's a privilege, and one that we do not have to extend.

but we want your freedums

(though we don't get the EU citizen treatment)

Isn't there a Commonwealth condition you colonials fulfil? Are Commonwealth countries granted easier passage?

 

[bhsup]

but we want your freedums

You may petition for Statehood at your convenience

 

[Takhisis]

Why the hell would anyone want to join a bunch of bagpipe-seizing, trouser-wearing lunatics?

 

[bhsup]

Why the hell would anyone want to join a bunch of bagpipe-seizing, trouser-wearing lunatics?

 

[Takhisis]

Exactly! They're attacking the freedom of people to play a pipe!