When George Bush was in Poland this summer, he apparently was surprised to learn that Poles needed a visitors visa to come to the U.S. "Why?" he asked incredulously. President Bush would be wise to look into the blatant discrimination against persons from Poland and Eastern Europe in the distribution of visitor's visas by the U.S. consulates in these countries. The blunt fact is that most applicants from Eastern Europe are denied and virtually all are treated shabbily. Consular officials are rude, derisive, and routinely inconsiderate toward persons wanting to visit our country. Many pay little or no attention to documents presented by the applicant. Each application receives an average of approximately 5 minutes of attention by consular officials. Getting a tourist visa at a U.S. consulate such as Warsaw is literally a crap shoot.
The system needs to be reformed. Even if the U.S. wants to limit the number of visas given, the process should at least be more rational and predictable. Clear guidelines should be established, defined and followed. Arbitrariness in the process only breeds bitterness among our friends in Eastern Europe and presents a bad image of the U.S. government. Our consular officials should at least read the paperwork so carefully prepared by applicants and give applicants ten minutes of their time to be heard as to why the applicants wish to visit the U.S.
Most of all, these diplomats - our chosen representatives abroad - should present a good image of Americans by treating all applicants for visas with respect, courtesy and kindness.
Now that we are all (or soon to be) brothers in NATO and united in the fight against world terrorism, we should at least show our brothers a little fairness and courtesy at the consulate level.
And, who knows, maybe we should adopt our own President's belief that our loyal friends in Eastern Europe shouldn't require a visa at all to visit our country.
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