Visa?

[dant]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I am trying to understand what
a Visa is. Not the credit card variety, but the kind that gives you
permission to enter into a country other than your own? I thought
that the definition of a Visa was to get permission from the foreign
government if you plan to enter into their country and this does not
require permission from your own country?

Technically, a passport is only needed so that you can prove that
your are a citizen of that country so that you can get back in? So,
in this case, you do not need a Visa? So, what gives the US the
right to require permission of it's citizen(s) to enter into a foreign
country of their own choice and at their own risk?

I was provoked to ask this question because the US has denied
Visa to a US Citizen, a representative the International Softball
Federation, to visit Cuba.

This has me perplexed because I had assumed that if I wanted
to flee my own country (USA, and assuming I had no criminal
warrants), then I don't require a Visa nor a passport?

Or do I?

 

[ScioAgapeOmnis]

I did define:visa in google and I got this:

A visa is either a multicolored stamp or computerized document affixed to a page in the passport by a US Consular office abroad. It allows international visitors to travel to the US as long as the visa has not expired. Once visitors are admitted into the US, visas are no longer the most important documents governing their status. A visa is used only for travel to the US, but it is not used to determine how long individuals may stay in the US.
www(dot)northwestern(dot)edu/international/general_info/glossary.html

A stamp in the passport issued by an American Embassy or Consulate abroad, allowing the holder to request entry to the United States in a certain visa status within the time period specified on the visa. A visa may allow one, two or multiple entries before the expiration date of the visa.
www(dot)igss.grads.vt(dot)edu/definitions.htm

an endorsement made in a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country issuing it.
wordnet(dot)princeton(dot)edu/perl/webwn

Ok it seems that there is no mention of it being issued to leave a country, but only to be allowed entrance. Can you provide a reference for what you said about US blocking someone from leaving? And as far as I am aware, if you have a passport in a country, you do not need anything else to legally enter and live in that country.

Edit: I think this is what you were talking about:
www(dot)nydailynews(dot)com/boroughs/story/502347p-423677c.html

I don't know what US policy prevents someone from entering Cuba - and whether it applies to any other countries. But it seems to be limited to Cuba:

At present, legislation to restore Americans' right to travel to Cuba is making its way through the House and the Senate.

What Bill/Law/whatever denied the right to travel to Cuba and when was it passed and by whom and for what reason? Glad you asked! You know google is an amazing thing when it works!

http(colon slash slash)shr.aaas(dot)org/rtt/policy.htm

Restrictions on travel to Cuba are authorized by the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, which grants the power to prohibit financial transactions in time of war. Citing national security concerns, the U.S. government imposed an economic embargo on Cuba in 1961. In July 1963, the U.S. Treasury Department released the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, which codify the essential elements of the economic embargo against Cuba. Such elements include a freeze of all Cuban-owned assets in the U.S., a prohibition on all non-licensed financial and commercial transactions between Cuba and the United States and between Cuban and U.S. nationals. The financial prohibition includes the spending of money by U.S. citizens for travel to Cuba, which essentially creates a travel ban on the island for all non-licensed U.S. citizens.

Having said that, laws are subject to change, and sometimes on a moment's notice. If you do decide to flee US in the future, you just might require permission.

 

[dant]

Hi ScioAgapeOmnis,

Here is the requested reference:

It is in the SOTT Page: "US Forbids Softball Leader Visiting Cuba"
http://www(dot)signs-of-the-times.org/articles/show/128199-US+Forbids+Softball+Leader+Visiting+Cuba

Note: If you read the "Trading with the Enemy" Act, you will notice it's FINANCIAL TERMS,
using US DOLLARS. So - what you do, is that you bypass this by using FOREIGN MONIES
LEGALLY by using say, DEUTCHMARKS, or EURO, and use THAT. I think they have to make
that clear and it is not. ALSO, you can also take a roundabout way getting to Cuba, by first
stopping to Haiti, Covert $ to Haitian $, then take a chartered boat, spend in Cuba using Haitian
$, return to Haiti, then back to US.

Also, US Citizens are NOT HELD BY US LAWS ONCE OUTSIDE US, right? Isn't that what Guantanamo
jurisdiction was about? That the US LAWS DOES NOT APPLY OUTSIDE THE USA - given the NEW
LEGAL INTERPRETATION of US Jurisdiction according to the Justice Dept?

Hmmm.... very interesting.

BTW: Jimmy Carter DID visit Cuba - so why was HE above the LAW????

 

[anart]

I think it might be wise to remember, at this point at least, that the law is basically whatever 'they' say it is (like SAO says, it can change at a moment's notice - and that's not an exaggeration) - it's not like you could argue your case from Guantanamo - or from any federal prison or detention center. If the U.S. wants to stop anyone from leaving or re-entering, they will.

 

[Peto]

If you do decide to flee US in the future, you just might require permission.

In Vietnam, before the country opened up, its citizens were required to have visas both to leave and enter the country. So to travel overseas, a Vietnamese citizen had to have a passport, a visa of the other country and exit and entry visas of the Vietnam government. The entry and exit visas have now been abolished but it is something that might happen to the US in the future.

 

[Beau]

And as far as I am aware, if you have a passport in a country, you do not need anything else to legally enter and live in that country.

Actually, this is not true for many countries. You can get a short stay visa quite easily, for 60 days or so, but it is more difficult to obtain a long-stay visa. It's kind of a nasty process involving all kinds of red tape.

Check out the requirements for France:

http://gofrance.about.com/cs/relocating/a/visas_3.htm

 

[Z...]

And as far as I am aware, if you have a passport in a country, you do not need anything else to legally enter and live in that country.

Actually, this is not true for many countries. You can get a short stay visa quite easily, for 60 days or so, but it is more difficult to obtain a long-stay visa. It's kind of a nasty process involving all kinds of red tape.

Check out the requirements for France:

http://gofrance.about.com/cs/relocating/a/visas_3.htm

I think SAO was refering to citizens of the particular country, those requirements are there for other then french citizens

In any case this thing with Visa fo exit is not a new invention, most of the totalitarian governments as a rule have such restrictions.
I think during the time of USSR it was extremely difficult if not impossible to leave the country, someone has mentioned Vietnam, and if I am not mistaken North Korea is the same.

In any case this is the perfect illustration what is "the land of free" all about.

 

[Gaby]

In any case this thing with Visa fo exit is not a new invention, most of the totalitarian governments as a rule have such restrictions.

VISA, my unfavorite document, I've been living with a visa for 6 years now (6 visas...)

Q: (L) What is the meaning of the number 666 in the book of Revelation?
A: Visa.
Q: (L) You mean as in credit card?
A: Yes.

Q: (L) On the subject of the 666, I was given an insight into this several years ago as to another meaning of it, is that interpretation also correct?
A: Maybe. VI is 6 in Roman Numerals. S was 6 in ancient Egypt. A was 6 in Sanskrit. VISA, see, is 666. Interesting that to travel for extended periods one needs a "visa" also, yes?