Sylvie, I know this is only your 'opinion', as it appears you are certainly not a fan of Laurent's, but you know not of which you speak.
Having personally petitioned on behalf of several foreign DJ's and artists to recieve US work visas post-9/11, US Immigration & Naturalization Service is making foreign nationals jump through hoops to get their visas in time to make scheduled US tour dates. And sadly, recent anti-French sentiments have only made it more difficult. Laurent has only come to play in the US every three years or so. He hasn't cared to. Why would he schedule a tour (twice) and then lie about being denied his visa in time to travel (twice)? I give the man the benefit of the doubt. You should too. Peter Wohelski In a message dated 6/6/03 6:59:30 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Crap! See I told you about this guy back in years, now here we go. What kind of propaganda he tries to organize here ? I guess it is the style of thanking that he sends to UR as UR was keen to play for one of his party at the Rex club in Paris, 3 weeks ago. For people who knows me, they know I'm not affiliated with the US government as the opposite I'm an activist and work for guerrilla news and indymedia so..... But I hate this kind of lies. Does Laurent Garnier think it's better for an immigrant in France ? I can describe to him the process when people have not a French nationality and want to come, leave or just study in France, it's a daily struggle..! That's worst because not the same rules apply to everybody, French immigration rules depend of the country you come from. Someone says discrimination here ? We have some French people on the list even if they don't participate yet, and we went in US 2 weeks ago so.... I personally got a new passport as well, I travel to US for 18 years now more than 4 times a year and I went in US during the Iraq "war". True that since 09/11 2 new US rules apply today : now before the plane takes off, the company you travel with must sent to the US administration your full passport info but they warn you before the boarding plus your passport must be valid six month after your return date. I have to admit that time to time I have big trouble passing through the US immigration, for US anti drugs dealer profilers I am suspect being a South American black girl, traveling most of the time alone and according to them too much. Laurent Garnier wrote: |Since the Iraq conflict, it is totally forbidden to access the |premises. You can only send documents by special |courier like "Chronopost" (our equivalent to Fedex or DHL) Wrong Since 1996 and due to bombs attack in Paris no one can access the premises except if the American embassy sent to you an appointment, so nothing new here. Process to avoid sending documents : people in charge of the security embassy doors in Paris, have been trained and collect the documents, give you the form you need to fill and so on and give you any relevant information you need. You can also ask to them for an appointment with an US embassy representative, but be sure to have a valid reason. Laurent Garnier wrote: |It says on the Embassy's web site that a visa takes 5 days to |get done ......(this was true in the past as I |already applied for about 8 visas for the past 10 years, |without any trouble) Why this French guy needs a visa to go in USA ? I-94 W form is filling on board and it's enough to pass through the US immigration, except if he wants to leave in USA more than 3 months......Same process in France and French embassy do not deliver anymore visas for people who come from North Africa, west Africa, South America. And if it is about a work visa I challenge whoever, any American Dj to ask for a French work visa, good luck and let me know when you have one. And French administration says on their website that it takes 5 days to extend or renew a French passport, mine took 3 weeks last month ! Laurent Garnier wrote: |Yes you are not dreaming .......... It looks like France is now |either considered as a terrorist ,a communist or a |threatening country !!!!! Same for ages in France for people who come from North Africa, West Africa and south America and I know I have not the entire list of French government suspect countries. Laurent Garnier wrote: |01) My pictures were not conform to the new demand of the US |Embassy ...they were of course regular passport |pictures (sounds pretty obvious doesn't it) but these don't |work anymore for a US visa in France. They actually |now request a very precise size, back drop colour, and format |for the pictures, (they now give you a couple of |addresses where to go and get those pictures |done).............I got my little ruler out, checked the size, |everything is conform regarding size and colour, but they still |refused it .....I don't know but maybe they don't |accept people wearing tee shirts anymore on the photos !!!!! |This had never been specified before to me. Whatever ! it's not about the size of the photo of the French passport but the size of the photo that anyone has to enclose with any kind of US form that you have to fill, for 18 years now this size as always been different than the French size. And vice versa you have not the right to enclose an American size photos with a French administration form. Nothing new here yet. Laurent Garnier wrote: |02) They now asked me to fill a new form that is compulsory |for people living in Iraq, Iran, Libya, Ireland, |Syria, North Korea, Sudan ,Cuba .!!!!!!! True if you have been in such countries and your passport is stamped with these countries, do not even try to go through an US custom, better to change your passport before. However it's not true anymore for Cuba- it's had been true during 30 years. |Give all the names of every single country you have visited in |the last 10 years, also give the years of each |visit (I have roughly thought a minute about this one, each |time I've been abroad in the past 10 years I would |have to put around 900 dates and countries) |-Have you ever been involved in an armed conflict...? (that's |a good one, euhhh not really other than what the |television shows me every day....) |-Have you got special experience with explosives, nuclear, |chemical, biological weapons? (heuuu sorry I'm French, |we make very good Camembert, does that count??) Is this guy stupid or what ? The same question are asking on the I-94W form- The I -94W form, it's the form that French people fill on the plane while flying to USA (that replaces a 3 month American visa), who is idiot enough to even answer yes to a question they ask you ? I-94 W form exists since 20 years or so... Laurent Garnier wrote: |They were fully aware of my dates of departure ,they only |waited until this morning to tell me that they needed |new things that they never requested before !!!!!! Damn if this guy uses to travel for real or what ? This risk is clearly identify and notify on any plane ticket. It is an IATTA rule and that's nothing to do with the American embassy. Laurent Garnier wrote: |Well all I can say is that I hope that one day artists will be |free again to travel to the States, but until that |date it doesn't look like I am going to be able to come over |and play records for you. All I hope is one day my family can obtain the authorization to simply visit me in France and to travel free as a bird to France. Laurent Garnier wrote: |So here are the facts: I have paid 3400 Dollars !!!(yes you've |heard right 3400 Dollars) to the US embassy in |December 2002 for a visa that they still won't give me yet. Now ladies and gentlemen Laurent Garnier needs to get under psychotic drugs. Laurent Garnier wrote: |Well all I can say is that I hope that one day artists will be |free again to travel to the States, but until that |date it doesn't look like I am going to be able to come over |and play records for you. Don't play in USA, dinosaur, who cares ? >>
