Phuket Bar Mat Lady Denied Usa Visa

[sanmiguellight]

Thats the price one pays in a modern, cohesive, civilized society.

But the country where she got the conviction has one of the most corrupt police forces and legal systems on the planet and is not a modern, cohesive, civilized society as you put it.

And the US is a Orwellian police state not a cohesive, civilized society.

So the Orwellian police state decided not to let her in. Why is that surprising?

Where did i say it was or wasnt surprising?

Biometric identifiers with Iris scans, finger printing are some of the things a tourist needs to enter your country is this not what could be deemed an Orwellian state?

[Spee]

BAR mat mum Annice Smoel's dream family trip to Disneyland is in tatters after she was denied a US visa because of her conviction in Thailand.

Ms Smoel had planned to take her four daughters to Disneyland to make up for the family's Thai nightmare.

The trip was all but cancelled after the US embassy knocked back her application for a non-immigrant visa, the Herald Sun reports.

What's wrong with this picture?

Australian passport holders do not require a visa for stays of 90-days or less, in accordance with US State Dept requirements for Visa Waiver Program.

Why would someone be applying for a non-immigrant visa for a trip to Disneyland when one isn't required?

There would seem to be something else going on that isn't being publicized.

[zorro1]

maybe she wanted to spend 91 days in Disneyland? or maybe she has a great publicity agent sooner or later womens day will pay her 50k to tell her unfortunate story. As some else mentioned shes not press shy...

[Oberkommando]

What's wrong with this picture?

Australian passport holders do not require a visa for stays of 90-days or less, in accordance with US State Dept requirements for Visa Waiver Program.

Why would someone be applying for a non-immigrant visa for a trip to Disneyland when one isn't required?

There would seem to be something else going on that isn't being publicized.

+1

[sbk]

off topic, aggressive, inflammatory and abusive posts have been deleted. (and their responses)

Further such posts will result in more formal moderator action than just deletion.

Lets keep it civil , please

[fiddlehead]

4 kids, and herself (possibly husband?) air fare from Australia to the states, accomodation, tickets for Disneyworld, food, etc.

Looks like she could have afforded to buy that bar mat.

might have saved her a bit of trouble.

[sanook2me]

oh well never mind who gives a f.......

Bet the oz version of Max Clifford is lurking in the background!

Magazine articles, book and film coming soon.

I don't know her but it's very sad to use her kids to gain publicity for herself. A very sad lady indeed.

Desperate person trying to reach desperate celebrity status....

Ho heavans sake such a silly lady please tell me she is barred from entering here again...

[Jimjim]

What's so wrong with Hong Kong Disneyland? Much closer to her country and cheaper. Perhaps she doesn't like Asian countries, anymore. Feels a bit superior to Asia by the sounds of it.

[lazygourmet]

Euro disney In Paris. Problem solved.

Beat me to it by 30 odd seconds.

The real Mickey Mouse lives in Florida though!

I always thought that he was living in Anaheim, Ca.!

People lied to me, once again...

[Carib]

Now if this were to have happened to a US national, the reactions would have been just as `aggressive`, but with the thought that a US national cannot be denied entrance just because of a small ` incident` like this one.

Edit: typo

Edited June 12, 2009 by Carib

[asia_pilot]

She is Australian, correct ? Australians fall under the VWP ( Visa Waiver Programm ) as almost ALL western countries. She doesn't even need a Visa to the US. So the whole story is made up.

[Carib]

She is Australian, correct ? Australians fall under the VWP ( Visa Waiver Programm ) as almost ALL western countries. She doesn't even need a Visa to the US. So the whole story is made up.

True.

[CFIT]

Plenty of innocent people have copped a plea to avoid lengthy Thai prison time..or waiting months to even have a hearing , particularly if they are tourists. We all know this but somehow it's convenient to forget in this woman's case.

In addition she had a group AND the Phuket governor vouching for her innocence, yet was charged with a felony over a used rubber mat because the " crime "happened at night.

She was never charged with being abusive, physically OR verbally.

( let's not forget other stories are surfacing that this bar in particular , AND Phuket in general has a history of harassing tourists.)

It is this FELONY that is preventing her from obtaining the visa, and yes, she must have admitted to it on the US Visa application, to not do so would be the real felony .

Seems to a lot of posters fantasizing, there must be " more to the story " , women are OK only as long as they're Thai and doing you "favors", but western, out on their own , having fun, and worse- sticking up for themselves women really brings the misogynists out that seem to have made themselves a sort of last refuge of chauvinist's club in Thailand.

And lighten up US , make an exception , give this woman a break .

Edited June 12, 2009 by CFIT

[bonobo]

She is Australian, correct ? Australians fall under the VWP ( Visa Waiver Programm ) as almost ALL western countries. She doesn't even need a Visa to the US. So the whole story is made up.

True.

This is all I could think of while reading this thread.  Visafor the US?

[ubonjoe]

The story is starting to stink even more. Yes she can travel without a visa. But there is a new pre-approval you have to get now to enter the US. Info on the website for it indicates she would not be denied entry.

( B ) Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?

Source: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/WebHelp/ESTA_...Help_1.htm#What information do I need to complete the application?

[samran]

She is Australian, correct ? Australians fall under the VWP ( Visa Waiver Programm ) as almost ALL western countries. She doesn't even need a Visa to the US. So the whole story is made up.

True.

wrong, actually:

I was arrested/convicted of a crime years ago. Can I use the VWP?

ESTA will assess your eligibility for travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The assessment includes questions regarding previous arrests and/or convictions. If you have been arrested for or charged with a crime, including offences involving drink driving or the use of a controlled substance, you may require a U.S. visa and, in some cases, a waiver of ineligibility. If you choose to apply for electronic travel authorization via ESTA, the system will advise you whether you must visit a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for a visa. For further details on ESTA and to see if you are eligible for the VWP please refer to the ESTA website.

http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visas/niv/vwp.html

[bridge]

BAR mat mum Annice Smoel's dream family trip to Disneyland is in tatters after she was denied a US visa because of her conviction in Thailand.

Ms Smoel had planned to take her four daughters to Disneyland to make up for the family's Thai nightmare.

The trip was all but cancelled after the US embassy knocked back her application for a non-immigrant visa, the Herald Sun reports.

What's wrong with this picture?

Australian passport holders do not require a visa for stays of 90-days or less, in accordance with US State Dept requirements for Visa Waiver Program.

Why would someone be applying for a non-immigrant visa for a trip to Disneyland when one isn't required?

There would seem to be something else going on that isn't being publicized.

I am certainly no expert on US immigration laws, but isn't there a declaration that you have to sign on the incoming passenger card with regards to past criminal convictions (among other things). Therefore those that may have problem entering on the visa waiver should apply offshore for a visa to avoid problems on arrival. Just my take on it anyway.

bridge

[asia_pilot]

I am not american, but does this picture have to be here ?

Edit: I see it has been removed already - thanks mods.

Edited June 12, 2009 by asia_pilot

[zorro1]

surprise surprise shes now the front page story on ninemsn. darn she is good !

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/824646...r-bar-mat-theft

[CFIT]

The story is starting to stink even more. Yes she can travel without a visa. But there is a new pre-approval you have to get now to enter the US. Info on the website for it indicates she would not be denied entry.

( B ) Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?

Source: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/WebHelp/ESTA_...Help_1.htm#What information do I need to complete the application?

"Moral Turpitude"? That is so general as to laughable, typical US hypocritical sexualised moralizing.

Agree: Convicted criminals are not eligible for visa waivers

Edited June 12, 2009 by CFIT

[klikster]

What's wrong with this picture?

Australian passport holders do not require a visa for stays of 90-days or less, in accordance with US State Dept requirements for Visa Waiver Program.

Why would someone be applying for a non-immigrant visa for a trip to Disneyland when one isn't required?

There would seem to be something else going on that isn't being publicized.

One of the terms of ESTA:

The traveler must provide (in English) biographical data including name, birth date, and passport information. The traveler will also be required to answer VWP eligibility questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests, and convictions for certain crimes, and past history of visa revocation or deportation, among others. Get ESTA

If the applicant makes a false statement in the ESTA application process, and that false statement is realized by the U.S., the person will likely be flagged for many years .. and might actually be turned away by immigration upon arrival in the U.S.

[CFIT]

surprise surprise shes now the front page story on ninemsn. darn she is good !

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/824646...r-bar-mat-theft

Good glad to see it, this ridiculous story should be all over...Maybe it will help get some sense back into US laws - and more exposure to the Thai " Justice " system can't hurt either.

Go, Annice Go !!!

[ubonjoe]

I just deleted another post.

Since this topic is not going to go anywhere but downhill with flames and bashing comments.

Topic

Edit: Deleted my comment about credibility. But topic will remain closed after warntings from 2 other mods topic was still degenerating to flames and bashing.

[Maestro]

Update:

Disneyland out for beer mat mum

By: POST SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 14/06/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

PHUKET : The woman who sparked an international incident when she stole a 2,000 baht beer mat from the Aussie Bar in Patong has now been banned from travelling to the US.

Australian mother of three Annice Smoel, 36, has been forced to cancel a planned trip to Disneyland after the US embassy in her home city of Melbourne refused her application for a visa, based on her conviction in Phuket last month.

...

-- Bangkok Post 2009-06-14

Reported here by PoorSucker

--

Maestro