Re: [Wikimania-l] Question for the WM 2014 London team
Most of the UK Embassies worldwide (including Ghana) outsource their visa application handling to VFS Global, so sending the documents directly to the Embassy won't work... Abbas. Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2014 10:52:06 +0200 From: nkansahrexf...@gmail.com To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Question for the WM 2014 London team In addition, there might be other better ways of handling issues for such applicants wanting to attend the Wikimania other than just sending a signed letter to be given to the embassy. Perhaps, the Wikimedia UK, sending specific details of those they've awarded scholarship to the originating country's embassy will give the embassy a fair idea of the one applying. Details like, passport details, itenary ticket, accommodation, length of stay, arrangements to bring the attendee back, track record of returnees of such conferences, and what the embassy should do to wikimedia uk if it happens the person doesn't back. And these details should be sent directly to the embassy. Informing the embassy beforehand is far professional looking and indicates seriousness on the part of the inviting organization, than emailing a letter for the applicant to hold in his hand and give to the embassy. I'm in Ghana, and I know how it is on the ground. I went through hell to get visa from south Africa embassy. The UK can be 5x worse. If the best the inviting organization can do is send a letter, then there's little the applicant here can do. Rexford | Africa Center | wikiafrica.net | sent from Tab On Jan 13, 2014 9:32 AM, Nkansah Rexford nkansahrexf...@gmail.com wrote: Do the invitation letter really change a thing? I will be surprised to see a consular waive all those requirements because of a 1-paged white paper with black in on, signed by an organization called Wikimedia UK. For instance, in Ghana, consulate don't care who or what is inviting you, nor even take delight in reading the letter. If the requirements say get a certain amount and or fulfil certain requirements, please get that with you. Consular even reject visa from applicants invited by United Nations, so I'm still wondering how much impact a letter can do. Get your documents right. Its not easy, but it'll save you from disappointments. Rexford | Africa Center | wikiafrica.net | sent from Tab On Jan 13, 2014 3:31 AM, Muhammad Yahia shipmas...@gmail.com wrote: If this is similar to US visa process, I would think an invitation from WM UK would be enough to waive those requirements, that of course has to be arranged with the British government. On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 5:13 PM, Ellie Young eyo...@wikimedia.org wrote: I have already brought this up with them and waiting to hear back (first response didn't sound like there was much we can do frankly...) My comment about the spring is that is when we will have a guide for our attendees who need visas. They said it would be ready in the next couple of months. We won't be notifying people about their scholarships until April. And while we are on this subject, I want to reiterate that we expect individuals to cover their own visa expenses as well as contacting the British Consulate on their own or through a visa service in their home country. The UK accepts applications for visas 90 days prior to the expected date of entering the UK (applying before doesn't do any good.) Ellie On Jan 12, 2014, at 3:42 PM, aude aude.w...@gmail.com wrote: On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 5:31 PM, Ellie Young eyo...@wikimedia.org wrote: I will be sure to take this up when we are putting together instructions this Spring. UK Immigation has agreed to put together a how to apply guide for our event. I will be sure this issue get put to them. I wouldn't wait until spring to bring this up with UK immigration. It's not too soon to start now. The process for folks in Iran can take quite a while (if similar to the process for Wikimania 2012 in the US) but I think can be successful. People in Iran will need to travel (at least once) to a UK consulate in Turkey or UAE to apply. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/iran/applying/?langname=UK%20English Cheers,Katie Ellie WMF Conference Coordinator On Jan 12, 2014, at 2:08 PM, Muhammad Yahia shipmas...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all, I received this question about visas for Iranian citizens and am passing it along: As it stands now, UK visa requirements for Iranian citizens is to have a bank account with (on average) 1 USD or equivalent in the last six months, plus proof of ownership of a property in Iran, the documents have to be translated and notarized. Most of the volunteers interested in getting scholarship for WM or trying to arrange travel on their own are mostly young people who do not satisfy either conditions, is there something that the UK team can do about that? can they get confirmation that if they apply these requirements
Re: [Wikimania-l] Question for the WM 2014 London team
My dear Rexford, Please read my email again. I clearly used the word _application_. I am very well aware of who processes and issues the visa. My point was that you can not simply bend protocol and forward your application documents directly to the embassy when there is a structure in place to do just that. Abbas. Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:50:41 +0200 From: nkansahrexf...@gmail.com To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Question for the WM 2014 London team Well, don't be tricked! They have outsourced the COLLECTION of the visa from the public to vfs, but it is the embassy that ISSUES the visa. The vfs people, EVERYDAY, send in applications they've received to the embassy they work for. When the visa is processed and is ready, the vfs people will go and collect from the embassy, and the applicant will go and collect the issued visa from VFS, thinking the vfs people issued it. If the vfs people issue visa, then why don't the embassy close, after all someone is doing the job? I was at the embassy, about 3 times, and I saw vfs car, bring in the application. They've outsourced the collection, so that people don't overcrowd the embassy residence all the times. For Ghana, that's how it is. For other countries, I have no idea. Perhaps, the consular is resting, whiles vfs issues visa. Rexford | Africa Center | wikiafrica.net | sent from Tab On Jan 13, 2014 11:08 AM, Abbas Mahmood abbas...@hotmail.com wrote: Most of the UK Embassies worldwide (including Ghana) outsource their visa application handling to VFS Global, so sending the documents directly to the Embassy won't work... Abbas. Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2014 10:52:06 +0200 From: nkansahrexf...@gmail.com To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Question for the WM 2014 London team In addition, there might be other better ways of handling issues for such applicants wanting to attend the Wikimania other than just sending a signed letter to be given to the embassy. Perhaps, the Wikimedia UK, sending specific details of those they've awarded scholarship to the originating country's embassy will give the embassy a fair idea of the one applying. Details like, passport details, itenary ticket, accommodation, length of stay, arrangements to bring the attendee back, track record of returnees of such conferences, and what the embassy should do to wikimedia uk if it happens the person doesn't back. And these details should be sent directly to the embassy. Informing the embassy beforehand is far professional looking and indicates seriousness on the part of the inviting organization, than emailing a letter for the applicant to hold in his hand and give to the embassy. I'm in Ghana, and I know how it is on the ground. I went through hell to get visa from south Africa embassy. The UK can be 5x worse. If the best the inviting organization can do is send a letter, then there's little the applicant here can do. Rexford | Africa Center | wikiafrica.net | sent from Tab On Jan 13, 2014 9:32 AM, Nkansah Rexford nkansahrexf...@gmail.com wrote: Do the invitation letter really change a thing? I will be surprised to see a consular waive all those requirements because of a 1-paged white paper with black in on, signed by an organization called Wikimedia UK. For instance, in Ghana, consulate don't care who or what is inviting you, nor even take delight in reading the letter. If the requirements say get a certain amount and or fulfil certain requirements, please get that with you. Consular even reject visa from applicants invited by United Nations, so I'm still wondering how much impact a letter can do. Get your documents right. Its not easy, but it'll save you from disappointments. Rexford | Africa Center | wikiafrica.net | sent from Tab On Jan 13, 2014 3:31 AM, Muhammad Yahia shipmas...@gmail.com wrote: If this is similar to US visa process, I would think an invitation from WM UK would be enough to waive those requirements, that of course has to be arranged with the British government. On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 5:13 PM, Ellie Young eyo...@wikimedia.org wrote: I have already brought this up with them and waiting to hear back (first response didn't sound like there was much we can do frankly...) My comment about the spring is that is when we will have a guide for our attendees who need visas. They said it would be ready in the next couple of months. We won't be notifying people about their scholarships until April. And while we are on this subject, I want to reiterate that we expect individuals to cover their own visa expenses as well as contacting the British Consulate on their own or through a visa service in their home country. The UK accepts applications for visas 90 days prior to the expected date of entering the UK (applying before doesn't do any good.) Ellie On Jan 12, 2014, at 3:42 PM, aude aude.w...@gmail.com wrote: On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 5
Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa Acquisition Assistance
Well, I should have beeen more specific: I was referring to the European/American/Western context. Just to give you a heads up: don't expect the British Embassy to process your visa application the way Hong Kong does. Abbas. Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 07:59:38 + From: nkansahrexf...@gmail.com To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa Acquisition Assistance There's no dedicated honk Kong embassy in Ghana. Chinese embassy wasn't functional during the period of visa applications. However with the support of visa assistance from the organizing team, a Ghanaian could attend the conference even with less than 3 weeks to time. The secret? The HK organization proved the real visa assistance I know of. She didn't visit any embassy nor consular - all she did was to fill a form. But she got her visa just in time. Her application was even mailed physically. The need for her to present her case wasn't even available in her case, simply because HK visa assistance was real, practical, and timely. After presenting the best of my case also, a case presented from the other side ( or the inviting organization ) is essential. If one is traveling on his own will, its a different ball game compared to winning a scholarship for conference. In the latter instance, much work is involved in assisting in visa. Rexford On Aug 17, 2013 3:31 AM, Abbas Mahmood abbas...@hotmail.com wrote: Nkansah, I have been to more than 10 different embassies and in my experience, I have learnt that there is only so much that a third party can do to expedite the visa application process. So if I were you, I'd focus on finding out what _you_ did wrong in your last visa application, and start refining how you will make a better visa application next time. Because ultimately, the consular officer's decision will be made on how _you_ present your case. Abbas. Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 22:38:22 + From: nkansahrexf...@gmail.com To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa Acquisition Assistance The expression normal US visa procedures is a relative statement. 'Normal' in one country can be 'abnormal' in another. What then is a 'normal' visa procedure for US? On Aug 16, 2013 4:45 PM, Lodewijk lodew...@effeietsanders.org wrote: Please read this in context: compared to normal US visa procedures. 2013/8/16 Nkansah Rexford nkansahrexf...@gmail.com ..-Wikimania had the support of the state department so the bureaucracy was handled quite smoothly Really? You think so? I don't think so. On Aug 16, 2013 8:59 AM, Deryck Chan deryckc...@gmail.com wrote: No, the person who didn't receive his visa on time submitted everything well ahead of the deadline. It was their local Chinese Embassy which was being generally unhelpful and delaying the application beyond Wikimania. Since the application was stuck at the embassy rather than Hong Kong, there was basically nothing we can do from the Hong Kong side. The advantage of Hong Kong was that the vast majority of Wikimaniacs did not require visas to enter Hong Kong. But the disadvantage is that Hong Kong is not an independent sovereign state, therefore the bureaucracy is extra-difficult to navigate through for the few who did need visas. This is the opposite problem of Wikimania DC - huge amounts of people needed visas, but Wikimania had the support of the state department so the bureaucracy was handled quite smoothly. Deryck On 16 August 2013 00:31, Amir Ladsgroup ladsgr...@gmail.com wrote: I think I have to clarify a thing: the guy that couldn't get his visa in time There was just one reason. he didn't send his documents in time. It wasn't the committee's fault at all or policy of the government Best On 8/15/13, Deryck Chan deryckc...@gmail.com wrote: Next year, WMF and Wikimania London are hiring the company which got the visas for everyone in London Olympics! Fingers crossed. Also, unfortunately, this year we did have one person who didn't get his visa on time. One is too many for Hong Kong! :( On 15 August 2013 16:02, Nkansah Rexford nkansahrexf...@gmail.com wrote: Without doubt, Wikimania HK has been a successful one. For the first time, a Ghanaian from Ghana could attend the event. This brings us much joy. That wouldn't have been possible without the keen support of the local organizing team in terms of Visa acquisition. Though through a lot of inconveniences in acquiring Visa, Ghana was represented. I see their support as a very practical and effective approach in helping countries like ourselves obtaining a visa to enter such high-ranking countries. I believe and hope such visa assistance mechanism and approach is adopted and improved upon by LOCs of upcoming Wikimanias to enable persons from semi-banned countries like Ghana attend such wonderful events. Rexford -- +Rexford https://plus.google.com/107174506890941499078
Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa Acquisition Assistance
Nkansah, I have been to more than 10 different embassies and in my experience, I have learnt that there is only so much that a third party can do to expedite the visa application process. So if I were you, I'd focus on finding out what _you_ did wrong in your last visa application, and start refining how you will make a better visa application next time. Because ultimately, the consular officer's decision will be made on how _you_ present your case. Abbas. Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 22:38:22 + From: nkansahrexf...@gmail.com To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Visa Acquisition Assistance The expression normal US visa procedures is a relative statement. 'Normal' in one country can be 'abnormal' in another. What then is a 'normal' visa procedure for US? On Aug 16, 2013 4:45 PM, Lodewijk lodew...@effeietsanders.org wrote: Please read this in context: compared to normal US visa procedures. 2013/8/16 Nkansah Rexford nkansahrexf...@gmail.com ..-Wikimania had the support of the state department so the bureaucracy was handled quite smoothly Really? You think so? I don't think so. On Aug 16, 2013 8:59 AM, Deryck Chan deryckc...@gmail.com wrote: No, the person who didn't receive his visa on time submitted everything well ahead of the deadline. It was their local Chinese Embassy which was being generally unhelpful and delaying the application beyond Wikimania. Since the application was stuck at the embassy rather than Hong Kong, there was basically nothing we can do from the Hong Kong side. The advantage of Hong Kong was that the vast majority of Wikimaniacs did not require visas to enter Hong Kong. But the disadvantage is that Hong Kong is not an independent sovereign state, therefore the bureaucracy is extra-difficult to navigate through for the few who did need visas. This is the opposite problem of Wikimania DC - huge amounts of people needed visas, but Wikimania had the support of the state department so the bureaucracy was handled quite smoothly. Deryck On 16 August 2013 00:31, Amir Ladsgroup ladsgr...@gmail.com wrote: I think I have to clarify a thing: the guy that couldn't get his visa in time There was just one reason. he didn't send his documents in time. It wasn't the committee's fault at all or policy of the government Best On 8/15/13, Deryck Chan deryckc...@gmail.com wrote: Next year, WMF and Wikimania London are hiring the company which got the visas for everyone in London Olympics! Fingers crossed. Also, unfortunately, this year we did have one person who didn't get his visa on time. One is too many for Hong Kong! :( On 15 August 2013 16:02, Nkansah Rexford nkansahrexf...@gmail.com wrote: Without doubt, Wikimania HK has been a successful one. For the first time, a Ghanaian from Ghana could attend the event. This brings us much joy. That wouldn't have been possible without the keen support of the local organizing team in terms of Visa acquisition. Though through a lot of inconveniences in acquiring Visa, Ghana was represented. I see their support as a very practical and effective approach in helping countries like ourselves obtaining a visa to enter such high-ranking countries. I believe and hope such visa assistance mechanism and approach is adopted and improved upon by LOCs of upcoming Wikimanias to enable persons from semi-banned countries like Ghana attend such wonderful events. Rexford -- +Rexford https://plus.google.com/107174506890941499078 | +CG Centralhttps://plus.google.com/b/103109918657638322478/103109918657638322478/posts | +233 266 811 165 l BFCThttp://www.blendernetwork.org/member/nkansah-rexford-nyarko/ ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l -- Amir ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
Re: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2013 call for scholarship review committee
Dear Simon, Will the committee members be eligible to apply for a scholarship? Thanks, Abbas. Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:03:12 +0800 From: simon.s...@wikimedia.hk To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org CC: wikima...@wikimedia.hk; deryckc...@wikimedia.hk Subject: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2013 call for scholarship review committee Dear Wikimaniacs, We are now calling for a scholarship review committee. The scholarship review committee is an important and diverse group of volunteers who help to run the scholarship program. The main duties of the committee members prior to Wikimania 2013 are: * Assistance in determination of scholarship applicant requirements. * Assurance of due consideration and speedy response time to Wikimania scholarship applications. * Work with the local team. We are looking for Wikimedians from all over the world, who are: * Fluent in written English. * Good communication skills. * Discretion and ability to handle confidential applicant information, and objectively assess candidates. * Willing to review scholarship applicants in early 2013. * Either: ** Prior attendance at Wikimania. ** Strong knowledge of cross-project Wikimedia community. You will be working remotely. While we hope that scholarship review committee members will enjoy Wikimania 2013 by giving significant input to it, the local team cannot guarantee financial support for the committee members' travel expenses. If you're interested to serve on the scholarship reviewing committee, please send us an email at wikima...@wikimedia.hk . If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to ask us. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, December 11, 2012. The local team will contact all candidates between November and January; the list of scholarship committee members will be announced in January. Yours sincerely, Simon Shek Community coordinator, Wikimania 2013 / Wikimedia Hong Kong ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
Re: [Wikimania-l] Accomodations page is now live!
Hi, Could you please create a page on-wiki where those who are planning to stay in the hotel could list down their names -- making it easy for people to look for a potential pair? --Abbas. Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:59:21 -0400 From: messedroc...@gmail.com To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Accomodations page is now live! The market rate is subject to fluctuation; the deal we have is a guaranteed fixed rate. I don't know if you can get $139 for July, but since Wikimedia DC is not obliged to give them any money in any case, it couldn't hurt to try. James On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 6:54 PM, Itzik Edri it...@infra.co.il wrote: Hi James, Can you clarify something? because it doesn't make sense to me... I tried to order via the website (hope the link will work): https://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?hotelid=4614LanguageID=1locale=ENdateIn=07%2F11%2F2012Adults=2Children=0dateOut=07%2F15%2F2012Rooms=1x=28y=8#STD The same room, the same dates - via your deal will costs 149$ per night, and direct by the website cost 139$ without any discount... Maybe for now it will be better to order directly while the pre-orders prices on this hotel are lower? Itzik On Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 1:30 AM, James Hare messedroc...@gmail.com wrote: Hello! I have posted links to the room reservation forms for our two hotel options in DC: http://wikimania2012.wikimedia.org/wiki/Accommodation. The two hotels we have group deals with are the Dupont Circle Hotel and the State Plaza Hotel. The Dupont Circle is an incredibly cool hotel with everything a traveling Wikimedian could want. The State Plaza Hotel is not as awesome, but it is three blocks away from the venue and costs less. (It's still a good hotel, all things considered.) With both hotels, you are allowed to have a second person stay with you for no additional cost—that way, you can split the costs with someone. We also have a sizable reservation at Hostelling International, but due to the many people receiving scholarships we cannot open that option up to the public right now. We will be adding more options later, including more low-cost rooms as well as links to cheap hotels in the suburbs. I understand that cost is an issue for many attendees, so we are working to find accommodations that will work for everyone. Regards, James Hare Coordinator, Wikimania 2012 ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
Re: [Wikimania-l] Accomodations page is now live!
From: josephfoxw...@gmail.com Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:41:54 +0800 To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Accomodations page is now live! I would imagine they easiest way is to simply use usernames on a page on the Wikimania wiki somewhere, then work something out through email or IRC? Details should also include whether one is looking for a pair and gender preferences. --Abbas. ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
Re: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2011 videos inquiry
Thanks! /Abbas. From: it...@infra.co.il Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:02:35 +0200 To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2011 videos inquiry Jimmy Wales video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVR82uP_f6Q On Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 7:59 AM, Abbas Mahmood abbas...@hotmail.com wrote: Hi, I'm looking for the Jimmy Wales video at the closing plenary. Has it been uploaded to YouTube? --Abbas. ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
Re: [Wikimania-l] CD
From: amir.ahar...@mail.huji.ac.il Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:51:22 +0300 To: wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimania-l] CD Having Wikimania during Ramadan doesn't prevent people from attending. Actually it does. Personally, Ramadhan was one of the reasons I did not attend Wikimania. This is because, I come from a school where during Ramadhan, I only attend half-day classes. Also, in most of the Middle East, and some Muslim-centric organisations, people work significantly less hours in the office. I honestly believe that getting a Muslim to attend a three full-day conference during Ramadan is difficult. //abbas. ___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
[Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2011: Opening Video
Hello, This is nice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4MAxefJfBY Yay, to Wikimedia Israel for making this video :-) Abbas.___ Wikimania-l mailing list Wikimania-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
