I am hearing news about visa rejections from Armenia and Africa.
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Visa rejections (Mardetanha)
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2017 00:01:42 +0430
From: Mardetanha <mardetanha.wiki@gmail.com>
To: "Wikimania general list (open subscription)"
<wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org >
Cc: Daniela Gentner <daniela.gentner@wikimedia.de>
Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa rejections
Message-ID:
<CAN6NyNqLLVVQ0bonEQBj=ygxmZmVtSc15SBU-=-Rj7Ks30kPvA@ mail.gmail.com >
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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 <
cornelius.kibelka@wikimedia.de> 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 <wiki.pine@gmail.com> 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 <eyoung@wikimedia.org>
>> 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 <ladsgroup@gmail.com>
>>> 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 <
>>>> ilario.valdelli@wikimedia.ch> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 24/06/2017 02:00, Ellie Young wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Jun 23, 2017 at 2:10 PM, Gabriel Thullen <gabriel@thullen.com>
>>>>> 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_ > Mailsource=link&utm_campaign=sig- email&utm_content=emailclient
>>>>> 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>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ellie Young
>>> Events Manager
>>> Wikimedia Foundation
>>> eyoung@wikimedia.org
>>> c. 510 701 8649 <(510)%20701-8649>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org
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>>>
>>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> 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
>
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