Reactions to My Romanian Visa Post (and my response)

Reactions to My Romanian Visa Post (and my response)

2015-03-18 09:28:15-04

Wandering Earl

This is a post I wasn’t expecting to write. But I’m writing it because my last post – the one about having my Romanian residency visa refused – certainly went in an unexpected direction.

Let me recap what that post on Tuesday was all about:

I applied for a 1-year temporary residency visa in Romania, the visa was refused and so I left the country.

That was it.

Yet somehow, a controversy was created. The fascinating part is that the controversy was created, not by myself, but by a few angry commenters who seemed to interpret my post in their own interesting way.

I received nasty comments and emails from people who were bringing up points that, not only were incorrect or just absurd, but had absolutely nothing at all to do with what I wrote in the post.

Lets take a closer look

Um, Im Not Upset

At no time whatsoever in that last post did I state that I was upset right now about my Romanian visa situation. Yes, I did mention my initial anger at being told my visa was rejected after I had already been told it was accepted by immigration. But that anger lasted about 5 minutes. After that, I left the immigration office, packed up my stuff and left the country the next day.

In my post, I didnt complain, I didnt say it was a crime that I wasnt given the visa. I dont expect anyone to be compassionate about this situation. I dont blame anyone in Romania or the Romanian government. I never talk negatively about Romania as a country or about the immigration authorities or about anyone at all.

I just told the story of what took place.

Things happen, so it goes, no big deal. Ill survive just fine. Im really not too upset about it all.

But its incredible to see how fired up people get about things I didnt even say. It’s as if some were waiting for the first opportunity to express their own anger at something, at life, and I apparently, and inadvertently, provided it. And so I think a few things need discussing at this point…and here’s a good place to start.

Break My Legs? Nice.

For some reason, a few of you got the idea (without knowing me or doing any research on my site at all of course), that I just showed up at the Romanian immigration office and said, Im a cool blogger, give me residency.

Well, sorry to disappoint you but thats far from the case. I followed the rules just like anyone. I actually followed exactly what the Romanian immigration authorities told me to do in order to be granted the residency visa. I stood in line for 3 days to apply for my visa, dealing with complete chaos at the immigration office each day. I purchased health insurance, got my notarized documents, had my proof of accommodation, did everything I was told. Oh well.

So, based on all of this, I really cant understand why one of you would write this comment:

Ohh, a story so sad, Im very sorry, when back in Bucharest, let me know, we drink a beer together and after I will break your legs, go back where you came from! That is for your hypocritical story.

As much as that comment made me laugh, its a bit, well, absurd? Immature, maybe? I can certainly understand why you didnt use your real name when submitting that comment. Good call my friend.

Lets move on to a couple of the other points that some upset commenters brought up, often ever-so-colorfully, in response to my last post.

US Immigration

A few people seemed stuck on the US immigration issue, with such comments as:

Honestly, I am really happy that it happened! It is first time in my life I heard an American was refused a visa to stay in Bucharest. It is a good opportunity to remind you that hundreds of thousands of Romanians have been refused a visa by the US Embassy regardless of their status, business, education etc. Do you know the pile of papers one needs to apply for a visa to the US Embassy? Do you know that US Embassy does not speak to you with regard to the refusal reasons as the Romanian immigration officer did with you? Do you know how humiliated Romanians feel because of that?

Sorry to hear about this but dont forget the fact that for me, a Romanian, getting a US visa means going to an interview, feeling humiliated, gather a ton of dollars to prove Im not some homeless and more. Which is why US is out of my travel list for good. So I cant even get to step on American soil for 1 second. Is a great thing, right?

But, why am I so proud, well first of all because as a Romanian I cannot enter USA without a visa and to get that visa I have to humiliate myself: I have to go to Bucharest (6-8h by train) wait in line for another 5-6 hours, pass an interview (which I am not sure I will be able to pass) and so on…This is just to enter the country, eat a big mac and get out of the country, moreover just to pay for my plane ticket I have to work 3 months on minimum wage here in Romania. In other words, the way US gov. treats Romanians, the same way should Romanian government treat you to humiliate you.

Okay, wait a minute.

First, this comparison is completely irrelevant to my post and to my situation so those things you said above aren’t really things you wanted to say to me. I have nothing to do with US immigration policy (about as much as you have to do with the Romanian immigration policy) so theres really no sense in blaming me or bringing that into the discussion. But with that said, I think we’re talking about somewhat different scales here as I have a feeling there are slightly more people that US immigration must deal with than the Romanian immigration. There are reasons the US needs to be stricter. Again, I’m not qualified to discuss immigration policy but I think it’s a bit more complex than countries just trying to humiliate other people.

Im not saying that its fair for those who genuinely want to visit and Im not saying that Romanians want to go and stay there illegally either. But some commenters made it seem as if the US is picking on Romanians specifically. Sorry, but thats not the case. Most countries in the world have to go through a visa process to get into the US, thats just how it goes given the circumstances, which are, again, circumstances that Romania doesnt face in terms of immigration, hence the difference in procedure.

But, and this is purely for discussion sake since it also doesnt have to do with my last post at all, lets talk about the getting a US visa means going to an interview, feeling humiliated, gather a ton of dollars to prove Im not some homeless and more and In other words, the way US gov. treats Romanians, the same way should Romanian government treat you to humiliate you part.

Im sorry, but thats not true from the information Ive received. Perhaps some of you have been rejected for a US tourist visa but out of all the Romanians Ive met who have applied for a US tourist visa (at least 15 people Ive talked to now that I think about it), they all:

• 1. Received the 10 year tourist visa
• 2. Never had to show much paperwork or bank statements or proof of employment even though they brought that paperwork with them (in fact, some of these people were unemployed when they applied)
• 3. Had an interview that consisted of 2 or 3 quick questions at the counter
• 4. Were not humiliated in any way at all

In fact, while some might complain about waiting for 5-6 hours in line to get your US visa, let me remind you that I waited for three days to apply for my Romanian visa, three crazy days. So that 1 day isnt so bad considering the amount of applications they process and from what I hear, its quite organized inside the US Embassy, something that the Romanian immigration office is not unfortunately.

This whole humiliation thing doesnt seem to be the case anymore. I really cant find, and believe me I tried to tonight, someone who had a humiliating or extremely difficult experience when trying to get a US tourist visa. Im sure some of you will say you did, and that is unfortunate for sure, but it doesnt seem like all Romanians are having a really tough time with this.

Just Because I Have a Blog?

I mean really, you really expected a residency visa just because you promote Romania on a blog? I really cannot think of a country willing to issue you a residence visa for your motives and purposes.

Actually, I can think of one. Its called Romania. As a couple of commenters pointed out on the last post, I was already given a Romanian temporary residency visa in 2012 for these very motives and purposes. In fact, I had a meeting back then with the Romanian immigration officials (they have weekly audiences where you can talk to them and ask questions) and they actually told me exactly what I needed to do to get the visa based on being a blogger. I followed their instructions, which involved a contract with a Romanian organization, and I was given the residency visa. So there you go.

No Intention of Paying Taxes

I dont know why you are surprised that they did not give a visa to someone who has no intention of paying taxes in the country.

Romania has a category of temporary residency visa called Other and this is the category that the immigration officers, during my meeting with them, told me to apply for. This category is used for applicants who want to stay in the country but who will not be working or studying there. It’s for, and I quote from the Romanian immigration website, “Other activities which are not contrary to the Romanian laws“.

So, I followed the rules for that category as instructed by Romanian immigration officials, and applied, again, receiving the visa back in 2012 without any issue. Also, during my meeting with officials, it was brought up that I was a good candidate for the temporary residency visa because I didnt use any government resources and yet I spend a lot of money in the country.

Another Unemployed Man

Also, by writing a blog, you do not provide sufficient evidence that you can sustain yourself in Romania and another unemployed man to sustain is not what we as Romanians desire.

Fair enough, if I was unemployed. However, I am employed (I run two companies) and I earn a good salary and I was actually told, by the immigration officer, when applying for my visa, that American applicants do not need to show proof of income or any bank statements. I had the statements printed out and ready to hand in but the officer handed them back to me when I applied and said they didnt need them. If they did look at them, Im quite certain they would have found the numbers to be more than sufficient evidence that I can sustain myself.

Three Final Notes

• 1. I didnt approve every comment that I received on my last post. Those with profanity, those that included threats to either myself or others and those that were just extremely rude were deleted.

• 2. Its a bit disappointing how people tend to judge so quickly, to form an opinion based on very little information. And sometimes, this comes from the very same people who like to be judged as individuals themselves and not based on stereotypes. Quite a few people were ready to blurt out their conclusion and to be so nasty about it, without ever asking any questions or taking time to learn more about the situation. Its unfortunate and a good reminder that there are always more angles to every story than what we initially might think.

• 3. Without a doubt, I still love Romania, I still think its a wonderful destination to visit with so much to offer and I still love the people that Ive met all over the country. Thank you to every one of you who made my time in your country so rewarding and an absolute highlight of my 15 years of travel Im sure I shall see you again!

There you have it. Thats my response to the accidental controversy created by my last post. And thats also the last Ill talk about it since, once again, it was just a story.

It was just a story about what happened to me this month, nothing more.