Friday, May 28, 2010

Immigration Humor

I'm filling out a DS-160 immigration form for someone.  In order to get a visa, we had to answer the following questions:

  • Do you seek to engage in espionage, sabotage, export control violations, or any other illegal activity while in the United States?
  • Do you seek to engage in terrorist activities while in the United States or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities? 
  • Have you ever or do you intend to provide financial assistance or other support to terrorists or terrorist organizations? 
  • Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization? 
  • Have you ever ordered, incited, committed, assisted, or otherwise participated in genocide?
  • Have you ever committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in torture?
  • Have you committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in extrajudicial killings, political killings, or other acts of violence?
  • Have you, while serving as a government official, been responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom?

The application does not explicitly say so, but one can only assume that answering yes to any of these questions would result in the denial of your application.  While I think those are good grounds, I have to wonder if people really every answer yes to these questions.  If you are a terrorist, would you admit it in a U.S. visa application?  Would a wanna be terrorist think that they could admit it and get a visa?

Maybe they put the questions on the form because it looks like they are doing something.  Perhaps they do it so they can add another criminal charge if the terrorists manages to get into the country.  "Ha, you think you are trouble for blowing up buildings, we've got you dead to rights on lying on an immigration form."

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