Couchsurfers refused entry into Ireland
 

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Plano men denied entry to Ireland | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Headline | National and International News

It makes little sense to be turning away tourists in the current climate, especially as there are no jobs to steal in this country anymore. It's caused a bit of a controversy here in Ireland as people think our reputation is now on the line.

I guess the lesson is make sure you read the rules before going to another country and have everything you should have ready. On the plus side I've heard an Irish chain of hotels has contacted the 3 lads and offered to fly them back to Ireland put them up in their hotels and give them free tours of the country.

Most countries technically require you to have a ticket out of the country and an address you'll be staying at, though it never seems to be enforced. I'm not quite sure how they didn't know the address of the person they were surfing with the first night?

But seriously, that photo screams "preppy Plano kids," I'm surprised a customs officer paid the slightest bit of attention to them. (For those that don't know, Plano is a pretty wealthy suburb of Dallas...in fact I just saw on Wikipedia that the Census bureau rated Plano the wealthiest city in America with >250k people for 2008)

Probably just some asshole having a bad day who decided to power trip and fuck some people over to make himself feel better...could happen anywhere.

Wow I'm definitely bringing a physical bank statement when I go in December. After what happened last time - the hungry hungry Guarda playing 20 questions with me - I won't take the risk again.

It could be a tit for tat thing. The article does say that "the requirements Ireland makes of visiting non-Irish nationals mirrors those made by the US immigration authorities in respect of non-US nationals visiting that jurisdiction" So maybe this is an implicit way of saying some Irish nationals got refused entry to the US.

I might have to rethink going back to Ireland. The first time I was there was my honeymoon. The customs official grilled my wife and I and only gave us time on our passport for what we had reserved, which was about 3 days. What if we changed our minds midway and wanted to stay longer?

:(Well Ireland you now go to the back of the line. :(

Irish guards are dicks. For the most part they have little to be doing other than get off on their limited power. I don't know what got up this ones goat or why they're giving Americans such a hard time but like Lizz said it wouldn't surprise me if this one or some family member got rejected from entering the states (it is very difficult to get into the states though, fingerprints and that craic) Irish guards like to hold a grudge and will wait years to get their own back, that's how petty they can be.

The tourist board certainly aren't happy about the way these guys where treated, Ireland without American tourist just wouldn't be Ireland. :cheers: It's also caused a bit of outrage with everybody else in Ireland who are pretty shocked to see Americans turned away. I think you could find that Americans won't be getting to much scrutiny for a few months because of this.

The only other reason I can think of for this happening is allot of young Americans used to stop here for a while and work illegally during the boom, because the wages where so good they could fund their Euro trip. Once your in the country there's little hope of you getting caught either. Maybe their trying to clamp down on that but at the same time the jobs just aren't there and in typical Irish fashion jobs are going to friends and locals over foreign workers.

I also want to add that I had a wonderful time in Ireland and I thought the people were very warm and kind. This ordeal just doesn't make sense to me. The US is filled with Irish. There are more Irish descendents here then there are people in Ireland :confused:. Of all the people to be worried about one might think we would be dead last.

Yeah, sounds like one of the Irish guards (whoever started this ruckus) has a hard on for US citizens for whatever reason.
If not, why would he/they allow the kids to show their online bank balances?

My guess is retaliation. Someone's harboring some personal animosity towards the US...That sucks....:mf_plasmawhore:

Just to clarify my point, I don't think its personal animosity (although it also seems a possibility with any immigration officer) but something dictated by the government. ie recently the US raised the visa fee for Russians by $31 and in turn the Russian government raised the visa fee for US citizens by $31.

Perhaps some Irish citizens were denied entry to the US on some stupid technicality and this is the reciprocation.

That does suck, but they should have covered their asses with all the proper requirements. I work in Plano and know that there is a sense of entitlement that a lot of people here have. Makes me wonder is their attitude towards not having all the necessary paperwork played more of a part.

I have to admit $1000 in the bank for a Europe trip isn't a lot. No matter how many couches they surf :)

I doubt the Irish government would do that. When America brought in the stricter immigration laws that had people in the streets the Irish government where working in behind closed doors meetings getting special consideration for us paddies, I believe we have pretty easy access to the states even though the Irish are notorious for disappearing once they're in the country. I know plenty of Irish over in New York working illegally, one has a chain of restaurants but is completely ignored.

Plus the Irish government is money hungry and would bend over backyards to make the US happy so ye'll keep your factory's here. I'd say it's completely down to that guard taking it all too seriously. When you compare that to the security I faced coming back from Amsterdam. There was no security, didn't even x-ray the bags and I can easily jump to the conclusion that I wasn't the only one bringing a bit back with me.

some Irish citizens?

i myself have been detained ,had my fingerprints taken as well as a retina scan.i was denied entry because i had failed to get a form that came with my student visa signed by someone at my school(it was during the summer holidays i came home).not even someone from the presidents office at the school confirming that i was expected back to start class's in 4 days was enough to get me past customs.

that's just my story.i have a couple of friends that have been deported for over staying the ninety days allowed without a visa(one was 3 weeks over ,the other just 4 days),not to mention the dozen or so that have been refused entry all together

not having the proper documentation to enter Ireland is a civil offense.as far as i know ,only in America is it a criminal one.Americans have no right to complain when they get treated harshly at another countries border as its par for the course while trying to enter the states

caoimhin-

Yes we (Americans) DO have the right to complain, just as you have. I like to hear when other people have problems; it helps to fix things.

I'm sorry, but did you say your friends overstayed their visas and then were deported? What part of "overstayed thier visa" don't you understand? And when you say "proper documentation" what do you mean because I didn't have anything but my passport?

dig-

by proper documentation i mean any accompanying documents with your visa(i needed one when in college in the states)

if you were found to have overstayed your visa in Ireland or any other western country you would be asked to make your way home.only in the u.s would you be arrested and treated like a common criminal.the case of the two irish lads whisked off a train in Portland and transported east in shackles last year springs to mind(they were making their way home anyway).

the people i know who abused the visa waiver system by staying on past ninety days all knew it meant they would never get into the states without a visa again.punishment enough for enjoying a few extra days of a holiday don't you think?

are you honestly of the opinion that somebody who overstays a visa deserves a criminal record?

Caoimhin - I think its good that the government deports people that overstay their visa. It is illegal - so I would think they would be arrested. Their are people that try live and work in countries without getting the proper visa, so they just overstay their holiday one.

As regards to the documentation - if you get turned away for that, its your fault. Do the research before you get fly, also at the airport when booking in - just ask! I asked when flying to America, and got my visa waiver form.

Granted you should do research Michelle, but it seems like rather than inconvenience travelers, they should have a special inspection process so they could have shown bank statements or heck, even had their parents wire them some money.

--Joey

In all seriousness, who prints out a copy of their bank statements when entering a new country? I've also flown to a few places without return tickets because I plan to travel overland to a third country and have fortunately never had a problem. When asked for where I'm staying on landing cards I also just write "traveling" and never had a problem with that either.

It does make you think though. When I travel to Aus and and US I will probably make 100% sure I fulfill their criteria, especially with my "unique" passport stamps.

I wonder how many times something similar happens and the people say, "oh let me show you the bank statement" and they just say "oh okay" and nothing happens.

The fact that you don't hear about this all the time means it is rare. I had a little trouble getting into Britain one time but after a 15 minute inspection, I was on my way.

--Joey

That reminds me, when I was back in the UK I had a Japanese friend fly over to visit me from Spain. When she went through customs she hadn't yet printed out her return flight ticket so wasn't able to show it, and she was staying with me so didn't know the address either. They questioned her for about 15 minutes and then gave her a special stamp that means the next time she goes to the UK everything has to be in perfect order or she'll be refused entry.