Visa free for Ukrainian tourists to the US!

[William3rd]

VWP is NOT visa travel. Just the opposite.

For those other countries, their citizenry can still apply at the US consulate for a visa and be subject to the criteria for that country. Visa waiver allows certain countries to board a plane without making the application-BECAUSE THEY GO HOME AFTER THEIR STAY.

It is handled a lot lower than heads of state.

[groovlstk]

Groove, I never credited Bush as you say.  But countries presidents talk before thinking about granting visa travel.  Than a lot more work takes place.  Its a very long process but starts with the countries leaders first. I do like how you dodge questions.  I did some homework and found out you work for an entertainment company and used to be a writer.  And you like to hack into email accounts.  But you must be a decent guy as you know a friend of mine in Slava Fetisov. 

Kievstar, I agree it's a more complex process than a conversation between politicians, perhaps I interpreted your post too narrowly - but you didn't mention any of these other elements, either.

I'm not obligated to answer any of your personal questions, whether or not I've been to Europe 100 times or once it has no bearing on what I know about immigration policy. What I do for a living doesn't either. This is the internet, I can be the Count of Monte Cristo or the Ambassador to Rock Candy Mountain. If someone argues a position it's the words they commit to a post that count, and they'll either sink or swim on the validity of their position. I've been wrong before, two weeks ago I stepped in it with both feet, and I apologized to you with 100% sincerety. If you want to know more about me, next time you're flying through JFK let me know, my wife and I would be happy to welcome you to our home for dinner.

How do you know Fetisov? He is a fascinating guy, all the Russian players in the NHL owe him a huge debt for paving their way, the younger ones will probably never understand the risks he took. One of my USA! USA! buddies hated Russians with a passion and once when we were playing against Fetisov, he took a run at him from halfway across the ice. Fetisov stepped aside with the grace of a matador and my friend ran head first into the sideboards at full speed and gave himself a bad concussion. I thought he was going to leave a cutout in the glass in the shape of his body like Daffy Duck or something, we still bust his balls about it to this day.

[kievstar]

Hi Groove, I do not read all the posts so I never did see apology but you did not have to.  I like a good open debate on things as I know there are many sides.  I actually respect your views.  I am actually a terrible writer so what I try to say usually comes out wrong or missing details.

I did international tax work for some of the Red Wings (I worked for KPMG).  Anyways the Russian 5 needed a lot of help and so knew most of them.  Slava was the only one who really wanted to understand how his tax work was being done and stayed in touch for a longtime.  Red Wings were first team to smuggle players out of Soviet Block like Peter Klima out of Czech.   Klima, Yzerman, and Probert was a great line.  Slava is a tough guy.  He survived a terrible car accident in 1997. 

[groovlstk]

Hi Groove, I do not read all the posts so I never did see apology but you did not have to.  I like a good open debate on things as I know there are many sides.  I actually respect your views.  I am actually a terrible writer so what I try to say usually comes out wrong or missing details.

I did international tax work for some of the Red Wings (I worked for KPMG).  Anyways the Russian 5 needed a lot of help and so knew most of them.  Slava was the only one who really wanted to understand how his tax work was being done and stayed in touch for a longtime.  Red Wings were first team to smuggle players out of Soviet Block like Peter Klima out of Czech.   Klima, Yzerman, and Probert was a great line.  Slava is a tough guy.  He survived a terrible car accident in 1997. 

Kievstar, I once did shots with Yzerman, Probie, and Peter Klima at a bar not far from the Meadowlands in NJ late one night after they played the Devils. I was in college at the time and it was before Probert acknowledged he had a problem, but everyone went back to their hotel long before Klima did. He was half their size yet drank them all under the table and then went home w/one of the barmaids.

My offer still stands, we'd love to have you over for dinner some time if you're ever in NYC. Viking and Simoni survived the experience, and we've also hung out with Rivcardo and Dan & family.

To steer this slightly back on topic, I remember reading that when Fetisov and Kasatonov initially came to the US, they had huge hurdles. Not only did they have to adapt to a new system of hockey, they had to learn English and having grown up in the Soviet system they had no idea what a credit card was, yet suddenly they were making big piles of $$. And we complain about having to educate our wives about budgeting - compared to Slava our women have it easy.