Re: [ericas] Stuck getting visas for IETF meetings

[Vinayak Hegde <[e-mail]>]

On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 12:35 PM, S Moonesamy <[e-mail]> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> A nice person mentioned the following in a message:
>
>   One of the issues some of the people from emerging region attending
> university
>   in a non-emerging region see is that they don't feel they can be IETF
> regulars
>   because they'll get stuck getting visas for IETF meetings.
>
> Regards,
> S. Moonesamy
>

That is true whether you are from university or not. The "emerging nations"
is also 3rd world and the first world doesn't want us. Unfortunately Most
IETF meetings are held in 1st world countries. Sad but true. Nothing that
the IETF can do about it. Everytime I have to come to the IETF I have to
spend about > $300 from my pocket to apply for Visa and almost 200 pages of
documentation (I need to show that I am fiscally solvent so is the company
where I work. I have a job/property/married and will not try to emigrate).
I need my hotel reservations and airline tickets several months in advance.
Got to live with it - no point complaining. So many people make it to the
meeting despite it.

Regards
Vinayak