The shambolic organisation surrounding the issuing of visas for many of those traveling from Australia and New Zealand to the World Cup shows no sign of improving
Cricinfo staff10-Jan-2007We reported on potential problems in Australia and New Zealand with getting visas for the World Cup. Here are a selection of your replies. If you want to add to the debate, click here and tell us what you thinkI am a Jamaican and I am appalled at this misadventure by the Caricom Governments. This attempt to fleece cricket fans by the implementation of this excessive visa fee is further compounded by the ineptitude of the organizers in facillitating the process by even putting in place the infrastructure to efficiently collect the fee. Dehring’s explanation is pathetic and I know that he knows better. This is the proverbial “basket to carry water”. IanI’ve done as requested, sent off my passport and made my payment, and am now completely at their mercy – I just hope I see my passport again. Frankly, the money is not really a big deal – I’ve already spent thousands on match tickets, flights and accommodation, so another $100 isn’t the end of the world – but the inconvenience is huge. GeoffThis seems to me to be more of a petty tit-for-tat thing – apparently West Indians have to do likewise to get an Australian Visa, and this is a way of putting pressure on the Australian officials to do something about it. Us poor old kiwis get stuck in the middle of it all simply because of our geography.The last-minute $100 US visa stipulation will enrich Caricom a bit in the short term but wreck its reputation. Since processing thousands of visas is logistically impossible in the time frame left, the authorities owe it to fans (who will spend lots of $$$ in the islands) to either dump this insane regulation or simply charge the visa fee at the port of entry. Chris Dehring says that Caribbean people need visas to enter Australia, etc. So what? Don’t make me laugh; processing a few visas is not like processing thousands. AsokaThe Windies have instituted a fairly short sighted and opportunist ‘tax’ on fairly well off and numerous visitors for the World Cup. However, what is truly comical is that these fairly well off countries, with complicated and expensive visa processes are complaining to the third world about expensive and unfair treatment. Try being a Ghanian or Nigerian, or Trinidadian, with a pinch of humor and a great deal of patience you should be able to laugh off this whole “debacle”. Jalaluddin MohammedCARICOM Visa – Well I just paid for my Visa online and the office in Sydney to tell them I would be dropping my passport off. I didn’t seem to have any problems so it seems to be going OK so far – Let’s hope I get it back OK ! RichardsonDidn’t people from the Caribbean pay for visas to watch previous World Cups in both NZ and Australia? Carl CampbellVisas… The mere word sends shivers. I am an international worker and entry to most countries is not easy. As a tourist the idea adopted by a lot of countries is probably the best solution. Visa issue at point of entry (airport). Many countries use this system and it works well. There is a small risk of ‘undesirables’ getting in, but the embassy visa issuing doesn’t solve that either. As for the fee, I have a Russain visa which cost me $450. Airport issued visas would solve this problem too. Chris AdamsCaricom visa … what a lousy idea. Why didn’t they follow the Schengen visa model? Apply to the country of the main destination, and have other countries honor the visa issued by the main country. No need to set up any adhoc office, as in the Sydney shambles. Oh well. The only silver lining here is that the authorities in the various Caribbean islands can be very flexible, and in the end common sense should prevail. S ThomasThe visa issue is just the tip of the iceberg – none of the countries are ready to host the World Cup. In Guyana for example, they expect over 20,000 visitors and only have accommodation for about 2500-3000. Where would the rest sleep? Where would they find food? They do not have eating houses to feed 5000 people per night much less more. Jamica too has admitted that they do not have enough accommodation for the amount of people they expect. The outside world is not aware of the shambles going on within the host countries. Most of the Stadiums are not ready … even the hotel that is supposed to house the ICC officals in still not completed in Guyana and in the meantime the ordinary cricket fan who is doling out hard earned cash for the World Cup is being kept in the dark. Sita, Guyana