Dear Members, I have been informed by the ICANN Travel Staff that there are considerable challenges being faced facilitating visas for several nationalities. This stems from: The fact that Colombia does not have missions (especially those that process visa applications) in several developing countries The fact that the Colombian Foreign Office has not been forthcoming in streamlining visa applications in coordination with ICANN. This means the following for me: 1. In all its wisdom the Colombian Govt. has designated its INDIAN embassy for receiving Pakistani applications. Hence I first have to apply for an INDIAN visa (as a Pakistani). As a Pakistani it is extremely difficult to apply for Indian visa. The Indian Govt. may not be too convinced by my purpose for travelling to India and it is possible that visa is refused. In any case it can take up to 2 months to apply for an Indian visa. Then if I get an Indian visa I will need to physically fly to India and apply at the Colombian Embassy there and wait around until my visa is issued. Then return to Pakistan. Then fly to Colombia. 2. To attempt to apply in the UK, for instance, there is every possibility that even if they write to me that they are willing to accept my application, when I arrive and apply, they not reject my application asking me to fly to India instead. (ICANN had asked the SFO Colombian Embassy 3 times if they are willing to process visas in a group, to which they agreed but when ICANN staff flew to SFO, they were told that the Colombian Embassy staff was incorrect and so ICANN Staff had to fly back empty handed). Even if by some luck another Embassy such as the UK Embassy issues me a Colombian visa it is possible that when I arrive in Cartagena the immigration may take the view that the visa has been issued from the wrong office and refuse entry. (credit to ICANN they had even offered to fund a trip by participants to such third countries to apply for visas) 3. The Colombian Foreign Office has informed a frustrated ICANN staff that ICANN participants may be issued visas on arrival. However ICANN staff has correctly cautioned that it may be possible that since this irregular I could come across an immigration officer who may be unaware and so may refuse entry. In any case airlines would not let passengers board their flights unless they have visas and so I may find myself unable to board flights to Cartagena and find myself stranded in Miami, for instance (not a bad outcome either but doesnt get me to the meeting). And if you thought this was it there are other convoluted permutations to the problem faced by me and participants from other countries. Hence, I have taken the following decisions: · It is best that the travel support allocated to me as a BC Councillor instead be made available and be used for other BC participants. · It is best that I not travel for this meeting considering the confusion and uncertainty around visas and have chosen to make alternate commitments during that time. I hope that this experience demonstrates that by simply rotating meetings and having them at exotic locations does not necessarily assist in participation by developing countries. Since many developing countries do not have the capacity to maintain diplomatic missions all over the world and they need to prioritise, they tend to have more missions in developed countries than in developing countries. This by itself is a challenge for participation and ought to be considered before choosing ICANN meeting venues. Sincerely, Zahid Jamil Barrister-at-law Jamil & Jamil Barristers-at-law 219-221 Central Hotel Annexe Merewether Road, Karachi. Pakistan Cell: +923008238230 Tel: +92 21 35680760 / 35685276 / 35655025 Fax: +92 21 35655026 <http://www.jamilandjamil.com/> www.jamilandjamil.com Notice / Disclaimer This message contains confidential information and its contents are being communicated only for the intended recipients . If you are not the intended recipient you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this message by mistake and delete it from your system. The contents above may contain/are the intellectual property of DNDRC, and constitute privileged information protected by attorney client privilege. The reproduction, publication, use, amendment, modification of any kind whatsoever of any part or parts (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means whether or not transiently or incidentally or some other use of this communication) without prior written permission and consent of DNDRC is prohibited.