I am hearing news about visa rejections from Armenia and Africa.
On Jul 2, 2017 1:02 AM, <wikimania-l-request(a)lists.wikimedia.org> wrote:
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Visa rejections (Mardetanha)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2017 00:01:42 +0430
From: Mardetanha <mardetanha.wiki(a)gmail.com>
To: "Wikimania general list (open subscription)"
<wikimania-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Cc: Daniela Gentner <daniela.gentner(a)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(a)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(a)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(a)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(a)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(a)wikimedia.ch> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 24/06/2017 02:00, Ellie Young wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Jun 23, 2017 at 2:10 PM, Gabriel Thullen <
gabriel(a)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_
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>
>>>>
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>>
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--
Ellie Young
Events Manager
Wikimedia Foundation
eyoung(a)wikimedia.org
c. 510 701 8649 <(510)%20701-8649>
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