Lance refused entry into SA

Ronjay said:
Lance Armstrong is like many Americans, arrogant and pig headed. The passport entry stamp is part of traveling abroad, it's done at most entry points to countries around the world. Just because you're a big deal in America and Europe, pal, doesn't mean you can expect to be treated like "Gods gift" here. And I guarantee you, If you are going to travel to other countries with a full passport you are going to get the same treatment. Friendly welcomes are for people that are welcome, and if you act like an arrogant moron like Ive seen some people act, well, you wont be.
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His passport wasn't full, just didnt have 2 free pages for one small stamp.
 
phiber said:
His passport wasn't full, just didnt have 2 free pages for one small stamp.
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Don't read do you? From the original article:

On Monday at about 21:00 Armstrong wrote on Twitter that he'd landed at the Cape Town International Airport but was refused entry to the country because his passport was full.

It's Armstrong's first visit to the Mother City. He will be taking part in the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay cycle tour on Sunday.

"My passport's full and there's no space for another stamp. So ... I'm stranded," he tweeted.
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No mention of space restrictions.
 
Where did this two free page idea come from? I'd have to check but pretty sure I got more than one stamp a page in my passport.
 
BBSA said:
Dude, not my fault you are slow.

For your benefit:



Peter's view: Passport stamps are needed
My view: Stamps are outdated and not needed
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As bwana has said there are administrative reasons for them, including proof you haven't entered illegally, ie have been through immigration at the border control. In some instances that's a mere formality but it shows that a border control agent has checked your right to be there - passport is valid, you have or do not need a visa, if you're a foreigner you have enough funds to support yourself, your purpose of visit meets visa type, you're not a wanted furgitive of some sort. They're not that inconvenient - it takes 2-3 seconds to get that stamp, hardly a train smash. Every country uses them, even for biometric passports.
 
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PeterCH said:
As bwana has said there are administrative reasons for them, including proof you haven't entered illegally, ie have been through immigration at the border control. In some instances that's a mere formality but it shows that a border control agent has checked your right to be there - passport is valid, you have or do not need a visa, if you're a foreigner you have enough funds to support yourself, your purpose of visit meets visa type, you're not a wanted furgitive of some sort. They're not that inconvenient - it takes 2-3 seconds to get that stamp, hardly a train smash. Every country uses them, even for biometric passports.
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I've been to a few airports in Africa where they didn't even have computers at the passport control, a stamp would be the ONLY way to tell where the person is coming from and controlling the entry/exit process.
 
BBSA will probably be one of those suckups apologizing for the incompetence of this country if he should meet Lance in the Argus.
 
Fudzy said:
Don't read do you? From the original article:



No mention of space restrictions.
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Saw otherwise on the sabc news, just read this article now. Still think 2 pages is beyond ridiculous.
 
BBSA said:
Why are we still using paper-based passports? Just implant a chip in everybodies skull and use that as a passport, no need for a stupid stamp.

That is the big deal about the stamp in any case, are you a security risk if you do not get the stamp?
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Implanted RFID chips have been linked to cancer in animals: http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2007/09/rfid-implants-linked-to-cancer-the-lowdown.ars and besides,
they can be copied and spoofed too, just like the RFID chips in biometric passports.
 
Oh for God's sake..two pages is bloody ridiculous!

Travelling around Europe, most countries didn't stamp my passport unless I asked for it.

Whether you like Armstrong or not, we really don't need to be treating high profile visitors as if they have just crossed the border illegally from Zim...come to think of it...the Zim guys get to stay! :mad:
 
Fazda said:
Oh for God's sake..two pages is bloody ridiculous!

Travelling around Europe, most countries didn't stamp my passport unless I asked for it.

Whether you like Armstrong or not, we really don't need to be treating high profile visitors as if they have just crossed the border illegally from Zim...come to think of it...the Zim guys get to stay! :mad:
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Scr-w 'high profile' people. They should follow the same rules. Certainly in Europe or America they'd have to. Real 'high profile' people would be heads of state, CEOs and owners of large companies - this guy isn't high profile - the real high profile people are sorted out differently.
 
PeterCH said:
Scr-w 'high profile' people. They should follow the same rules. Certainly in Europe or America they'd have to. Real 'high profile' people would be heads of state, CEOs and owners of large companies - this guy isn't high profile - the real high profile people are sorted out differently.
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I think Armstrong and about a million of his fans might disagree with you on that count.
 
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