Mailing List Archive

Re: Wikimania-l Digest, Vol 135, Issue 1
I am hearing news about visa rejections from Armenia and Africa.
On Jul 2, 2017 1:02 AM, <wikimania-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org> wrote:

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> 1. Re: Visa rejections (Mardetanha)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2017 00:01:42 +0430
> From: Mardetanha <mardetanha.wiki@gmail.com>
> To: "Wikimania general list (open subscription)"
> <wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
> Cc: Daniela Gentner <daniela.gentner@wikimedia.de>
> Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa rejections
> Message-ID:
> <CAN6NyNqLLVVQ0bonEQBj=ygxmZmVtSc15SBU-=-Rj7Ks30kPvA@
> mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> today I found out another wikimedian from Iraq was also rejected because of
> "purpose of trip", I highly believe this stem from our invitation letter
> which is from WFM not a local entity. why should an American foundation
> invite someone to Canada ?
> it would be great if others could update us about their visa situation
>
> Mardetanha
>
> On Tue, Jun 27, 2017 at 5:27 PM, Cornelius Kibelka <
> cornelius.kibelka@wikimedia.de> wrote:
>
> > Hello all,
> >
> > While preparing the report for the last Wikimedia Conference (which we
> > will publish on Friday), Daniela Gentner, our logistics coordinator, has
> > written a detailed learning pattern about how to support participants in
> > getting a (German) Schengen visa for the Wikimedia Conference. While it
> is
> > certainly focused on German processes, many steps and tips are applicable
> > by any organizer in any country.
> >
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Learning_patterns/Timing,
> > _Communication,_Preparation:_How_to_support_your_event_
> > participants_in_the_best_way_to_get_a_Schengen_Visa
> >
> > Maybe this is could be a good start to collect resources and material
> > around this topic for future events.
> >
> > Happy reading & sharing,
> > Cornelius
> >
> >
> > On 27 June 2017 at 02:49, Pine W <wiki.pine@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> The creation of one or more learning patterns could be good here. Please
> >> see https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Learning_patterns.
> >>
> >> Pine
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sun, Jun 25, 2017 at 11:07 AM, Ellie Young <eyoung@wikimedia.org>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> I think the centralized place on meta is a great idea so we could put
> >>> tips, samples, and maybe even an 'advice line' for people who might be
> able
> >>> to help someone in a particular region. If someone wants to start
> this
> >>> I'd be happy to add, edit, etc.
> >>>
> >>> Ellie
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 5:47 AM, Amir Ladsgroup <ladsgroup@gmail.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> As a person who missed three events because of rejection of visa (one
> >>>> Wikimania, one Wikimedia Hackathon, one WikiArabia) and missed two
> other
> >>>> because couldn't event get an appointment with the embassy
> (DevSummits) I
> >>>> want to share my experience here. There is three parties involved in
> this
> >>>> case:
> >>>>
> >>>> - Participants:
> >>>> -- If you are going to another country that has strict visa rules,
> you
> >>>> should be prepared and know what can go wrong. Usually make a group of
> >>>> people who are more experienced in Wikimedia events and ask them for
> help.
> >>>> This helped me in some events to get visa without trouble. One case I
> >>>> remember was when the invitation letter was from WMF and not the local
> >>>> chapter. It caused rejection of visa before me and once I knew it, I
> fixed
> >>>> it.
> >>>> -- Be prepared for other options. For example, for Esino Lario one of
> >>>> my friends missed the event because he couldn't get appointment with
> the
> >>>> embassy, when I knew this is a problem, I tried the German embassy
> and got
> >>>> the visa ready in time. (Per Schengen laws, you need to make requests
> to
> >>>> the country you will stay the most, so I stayed in Germany for 11
> days and
> >>>> Italy for 8 days to make things legal)
> >>>> -- If you have an interview to justify your visa, definitely mention
> >>>> Wikipedia. People don't know what WMF is but all know Wikipedia and
> have
> >>>> positive feelings.
> >>>> -- I know it's hard but let go sometimes: I decided not to go at this
> >>>> year's Wikimania just because the visa process is horrible and I need
> to
> >>>> travel to Turkey at least twice. Even though I know I miss a great
> event
> >>>> but let's hope to meet them soon.
> >>>>
> >>>> -WMF:
> >>>> -- I know WMF is busy but I mentioned this several times to legal,
> >>>> support and safety and some other teams. People like me have problem
> going
> >>>> to events and there should be support for them. Two things were
> always said
> >>>> and I don't know why it's not being done, 1- Prepare a centralized
> place
> >>>> (probably in meta) so people share experience to help newbies to get
> visa
> >>>> documents right. I have seen lots of problems in the documents my
> friends
> >>>> need to prepare for the visa and helped them to get it right before
> it gets
> >>>> rejected but I had to meet them in person and it's an exclusive club
> of
> >>>> people I know. I want to open this knowledge to others.
> >>>> -- The other option I always mentioning is support for getting one
> >>>> multiple entries visa instead of getting one visa for each event,
> This is
> >>>> very true for European events. This would make life of lots of people
> way
> >>>> easier.
> >>>>
> >>>> Local chapters:
> >>>> -- When there is a Wikimania, a local chapter will be handling
> process
> >>>> of visa for lots of countries with different issues. Sometimes they
> handle
> >>>> it perfectly and other problems might be the reason for rejection but
> >>>> sometimes I need to come back to them and ask for more documents which
> >>>> increases the chance of rejection or visa not being issued in time.
> They
> >>>> usually consult with an immigration lawyer before the process, this
> needs
> >>>> to be increased and WMF needs to make sure these consults happen.
> >>>>
> >>>> Sorry for the long email. I hope this would be helpful for you.
> >>>>
> >>>> Best
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 1:51 PM Ilario valdelli <
> >>>> ilario.valdelli@wikimedia.ch> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> On 24/06/2017 02:00, Ellie Young wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Fri, Jun 23, 2017 at 2:10 PM, Gabriel Thullen <
> gabriel@thullen.com>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> I have a few comments:
> >>>>>> 1)
> >>>>>> We do not know how the Montreal venue was selected for Wikimania.
> >>>>>> Jean-Philippe said:
> >>>>>> "A "Wikimania Montreal Committee", now defunct, was behind the
> >>>>>> request to WMF to have Wikimania in Montreal and they did not
> coordinate
> >>>>>> with the chapter in doing this."
> >>>>>> The situation there is obviously more complicated than what is being
> >>>>>> said so I will not dwell on that. What disturbs me is that the
> Montreal bid
> >>>>>> was accepted in absence of the local chapter support. That is not
> >>>>>> acceptable. Looking back on the success of the Esino Lario event, I
> believe
> >>>>>> that strong local chapter and volunteer support is vital for a
> Wikimania
> >>>>>> event.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> ??Let us just say that there was confusion and communication issues
> >>>>> with the original proposers to host. The Steering Committee
> (including
> >>>>> yours truly) thought that Wikimedia Canada was involved. I think
> >>>>> everyone can agree how important it is for having the local chapters
> >>>>> involved--- most recently Esino Lario and Mexico City and of course
> South
> >>>>> Africa coming up.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Hi Ellie,
> >>>>> This is an interesting point. I know that recently there has been a
> >>>>> decision to have Wikimania's organization notified two years in
> advance,
> >>>>> but this model can only work if there is a "local group" with a
> mature
> >>>>> organization. Two years are too many for a local "extemporary"
> >>>>> committee.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> A chapter (with at least a small staff) is something that can assure
> a
> >>>>> commitment for two years and can support efficiently a local group
> (and
> >>>>> perhaps to save the organization in case of withdrawal).
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Basically the two year model cannot be disconnected from a *mature*
> >>>>> local organization as a chapter, otherwise the model will not work.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> But at this point is also interesting to know how big may be the
> >>>>> impact on a chapter. The organization of an event like Wikimania is
> >>>>> something fascinating, but at the same time it's more than a "stress
> test"
> >>>>> for a chapter.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Kind regards
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Ilario Valdelli
> >>>>> Wikimedia CH
> >>>>> Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens
> >>>>> Association pour l’avancement des connaissances libre
> >>>>> Associazione per il sostegno alla conoscenza libera
> >>>>> Switzerland - 8008 Zürich
> >>>>> Tel: +41764821371 <+41%2076%20482%2013%2071>http://www.wikimedia.ch
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_
> source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> Mail
> >>>>> priva di virus. www.avast.com
> >>>>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_
> source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>
> >>>>> <#m_185410550034025492_m_1267552695921599484_m_
> 6880580939877686418_m_-1851108117246999399_m_3850020966839007458_m_-
> 2762511510589227394_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> Wikimania-l mailing list
> >>>>> Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Ellie Young
> >>> Events Manager
> >>> Wikimedia Foundation
> >>> eyoung@wikimedia.org
> >>> c. 510 701 8649 <(510)%20701-8649>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Wikimania-l mailing list
> >>> Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
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> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cornelius Kibelka
> > Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC)
> > for the Wikimedia Conference
> >
> > Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
> > Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0
> > http://wikimedia.de
> >
> > Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge allen
> > Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei!
> > http://spenden.wikimedia.de/
> >
> > Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
> > Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg
> unter
> > der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für
> > Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/029/42207
> >
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