Martha Stewart refused entry to the UK

[emad]

Source: Telegraph

By Christopher Hope Home Affairs Editor and Alex Spillius in Washington
20/06/2008
Martha Stewart has been refused a visa to Britain because of her criminal convictions for obstructing justice, the Daily Telegraph has learned.

The lifestyle guru, convicted four years ago in the US for obstructing justice, was planning to speak at the Royal Academy and to hold meetings with several figures in the fashion and leisure industry, including Jasper Conran, and was due to travel within the next few days.

The refusal by the UK Border Agency was sent to Ms Stewart, aged 66. A spokesperson for the business magnate said: "Martha loves England and hopes this can be resolved and that she will be able to visit soon."

She added that Ms Stewart has many friends in Britain, which she has visited numerous times.


Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2159979/Martha-Stewart-refused-entry-to-the-UK.html

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Oh Jesus Christ....

Speechless.

[OneBlueSky]

16. UK must have heard that some of her recipes are bombs . . . and misinterpreted . . . n/t

.

[NYC Liberal]

2. Better keep that dangerous TERRORIST Martha Stewart out, right?

Meanwhile, Bush, Cheney, and the rest of the criminal gang continue to roam free, traveling wherever they want. :freak:

[emad]

4. Yep, soiling our lovely royal castles, poisoning children's minds

with jingoistic whoremongering claptrap and keeping up the fiction of the Warren Commission's JFK assassination findings...

[1Hippiechick]

26. "and keeping up the fiction of the Warren Commission's JFK assassination findings" I LOVE it!..

Topic for another thread, but I LOVE your post!

:headbang:


:applause:


:yourock:

[emad]

33. Thanks!

:hi:

[Warpy]

3. Yes, the UK must be protected at all costs.

While I have little use for her lifestyle tips that require a platoon of servants to carry out, this strikes me as just a little on the ridiculous side.

Somebody must have been confused and thought it was April 1.

[emad]

5. Tit for tat...Recently a woman who accidentally missed swiping her

Bus Pass (Oyster Card) smart card got a criminal conviction for non-payment of a 90p ($1.80) fare had her entry visa to the US refused because of that criminal conviction.....

[tinymontgomery]

24. I wouldn't want a criminal

I wouldn't want a hardened criminal like this coming to America!
:sarcasm:

[1Hippiechick]

27. "got a criminal conviction for non-payment of a 90p ($1.80) fare " WTF?

[emad]

30. Yep. 'Fiddle' your London Oyster Card smart-card on a bus or

on the Subway system and you get a criminal conviction.

Bonkers........


Criminal record for 90p bus fare 'error'
By John Bingham
09/06/2008
A bus passenger is launching a legal challenge after being handed a criminal record amid a dispute over a 90 pence fare.
Tom Usher believed he had paid the charge by swiping his Oyster travel card as he boarded the bus in December.

But a spot check by an inspector found that the payment had not been debited.

Although Mr Usher, 37, still had £1.30 on his card when challenged and maintains that he offered to pay it as soon as the oversight was discovered, he was ordered before magistrates, found guilty of failing to pay the fare and fined £90 with costs of £100.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2100195/Criminal-record-for-90p-bus-fare-'error'.html

ALSO

Student gets criminal record for sake of 90p
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard
17.04.08
A student told today how she gained a criminal record because she did not have 90p on her Oyster card.

Ashley Williams boarded a bendy bus without realising her pre- pay card did not have enough money on it for the fare.

But before she could get off to buy a ticket, the doors shut and she was carried to the next stop where inspectors boarded.

Despite the bus driver appealing on her behalf, the inspectors refused to believe her explanation.

When Ms Williams, 20, rang Transport For London to complain, she was told she would be taken to court...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23478854-details/Student+gets+criminal+record+for+sake+of+90p/article.do

[darue]

44. our governments are run by psychopaths. we need to identify and remove these mad men from power n/t

[MilesColtrane]

6. It's a good thing.

[Tyler Durden]

15. I love your bumper sticker. And the sig line.

[MilesColtrane]

21. Thanks.

I had an epiphany the other day that we're in such a death spiral that nobody's going to be able to pull the country up in time to avoid crashing.
So, we might as well be amused by the our leadership as we crater into a thousand vermillion flames

[Tyler Durden]

31. We DEFINITELY Grok.

we bid on property, where we have a well, septic, wind generators, greenhouses, and a chicken coop: all we need.

I've felt the way you do for YEARS now.

[kay1864]

7. Since when do US citizens need a *visa* for the UK?

All I need is a US passport. I don't have to apply for a visa.

:wtf:

[emad]

8. Since a recent update of UK/US travel arrangements prompted

by US Homeland Security restrictions on UK travel to the USA.

[Indenturedebtor]

10. Gah I hate my government, we can't play nice with anyone but the Saudis n/t

[kay1864]

18. Where did you read that emad?

This is what's on the US passport site:

June 03, 2008

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A visa is not required for tourist or business visits to the UK of less than six months in duration.


http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1052.html

[emad]

28. Official explanation after asking for clarification on behalf of a client

caught up in Dept of Homeland Insecurity red tape last March.

The woman had a quashed US conviction for theft, uipheld on appeal, but still refused entry into the UK because of 'security concerns'.

[kay1864]

34. Refused entry at Customs/Immigration (in the UK), or refused a visa?

'tis odd that there's no mention of a visa on the US Passport site.

[emad]

35. The UK Border Agency is a relatively new creation

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/

[kay1864]

36. That site does NOT list the US as a country needing a visa

Lots of other countries, but not the US:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals

I think the Telegraph got its facts mixed up. Martha Stewart may have been refused entry (or told not to come), but she couldn't be "denied a visa", since US citizens don't need one.

[emad]

38. It might be a new regulation for convicted criminals that obliges

them to apply for an entry visa from the US to the UK.

[kay1864]

40. A regulation so "new" that it's not on the US or UK websites?

Sure. :eyes:

[iverglas]

45. hoping to clear it up

People with certain criminal convictions simply aren't allowed to enter. Whether they come from a country with a visa requirement or not.

There's no visa requirement for anyone who is a citizen of the US.

The prohibition applies to anyone, even if they are coming from a country for which there is a visa requirement and they had managed to get a visa by not disclosing the conviction, but the conviction becomes known when they are being interviewed after landing at the airport, say. They will be denied entry, visa or no visa. (Or could be allowed to enter exceptionally, probably subject to conditions, if the local procedure allows for that.)

Stewart probably, sensibly, inquired in advance as to whether her conviction would prevent her entry, and was told it would.

She can now set about whatever the procedure is for requesting that an exception be made.

Exceptions are always possible. People with criminal convictions are allowed to enter to be at the bedside of a dying parent, or for any good reason, if they are not seen as a danger.

[iverglas]

39. exactly: denied entry, as the headline says

The Telegraph (always one of my own favourite sources for facts -- Conrad Black, anyone?) was using inaccurate layperson lingo when it said "visa".

The UK, like Canada and the US, undoubtedly has immigration legislation that prohibits entry by persons convicted of certain criminal offences, which would generally be the equivalent of what are called felonies in the US.

That prohibition applies completely independently of any visa requirement. If you have a conviction for robbery in the US, you may not enter Canada, and vice versa, even though no visa requirement has ever applied.

Kind of makes sense that a country would not want people convicted of relatively serious crimes crossing its borders.

There are always provisions for exceptions to be made, in cases where there is plainly no threat and there is good reason to admit an individual. The exceptions can be made by whoever has the authority to do so (in Canada, it can be done at the border), or can be made by a top-level decision, i.e. at the ministerial level, overruling a denial at a lower level.

Stewart would appear to be hoping for such an exception, and it could be made.

[kay1864]

41. And the Telegraph's sloppy language is being promulgated by other news agencies

All citing the Telegraph as their source.

Kee-rist.

[emad]

46. OK, maybe it's the UK Borderline Personalities Agency's fault then,

I dunno....

[woodsprite]

9. But Georgie-Boy doesn't have a problem getting in. n/t

[NV Whino]

11. Meanwhile the war criminal has tea with the Queen

Fuck.

[Diclotican]

14. NV Whino

NV Whino

Traditionally the Queen and the american President meet for dinner.. It would say that it is an powerfully symbol that the Queen are just talking to mr Bush over tea....

On the other hand, this administrations top leaders should after mr BUSH are out of office never come to Europe again. Because many want them arrested, on charges of crimes against humanity.. And it is not that far away from London to the Hague.. So I would say that if they ever adventure over to this place of the world, they should be very, very careful of who them are with..

That is what the former secretary of defense discovered, when he was almost Goth and send to the Hague in France.. The fast departure to Germany was to close to comfort I guess

So in many ways, even that mr Bush are flying around Europe to kiss up for the last time.. He know if he ever visit europe after 22 november 2009, he can be arrested, and if necessary been send to the Hague to stand trial. I would bet that an presidency like Obama would be more than happy to give all the information Hague need, to nail both Bush and the rest of the bandits where they deserve it

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[NV Whino]

47. I can assure you

that we are among the many that want Bush and his crew arrested for crimes against humanity.

And a belated welcome to DU. We are always happy to hear comments from around the world.

[opihimoimoi]

12. Thats it, cutting all ties to UK...not investing, and not buying anything English

I giving up them English Strumpets and Tarts too.

I will never forgive them for acting like the boneheaded Pigs they are. fuck off asshole limeys

[Blue_Tires]

13. well in that case, why did they let in Roman Abramovich??

[emad]

29. Cosy arrangement with Vlad 'The Impaler' Putin...

like all things oligarchic in the UK............

[mnhtnbb]

17. She must have been planning to stay longer than 6 months. According to

entry requirements on this website:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1052.html#entry_requirements

she doesn't need a visa for business or leisure travel to UK if staying less than 6 months.

I wonder if she was planning to buy a house over there?

[dipsydoodle]

22. Wouldn't matter if she was planning to buy a house.

As long her stay didn't 6 months uninterupted without prior permission there shouldn't have been an issue.

All sounds a bit petty to me.

[mnhtnbb]

42. If she was planning on an extended stay, maybe it was because she's buying a house

over there. Maybe she'd like to get out of the U.S., too, like some of the rest of us.

I have no doubt that she tried to play fast and loose with the insider trading regs--BUT--I also
have no doubt that she's probably 1 in 100 (or more)who get caught doing the same thing.

[Carnea]

19. I'm not sure Canada would let her in either they are quite strict. nt

[cornermouse]

20. That's just silly.

I wonder if any of Bush's associates contacted them or whether the British are trying to curry favor and if so, given the way Bush has treated them, why?

[underpants]

23. If I remember W had to get special clearance to enter Canada back in 2001

due to his DUI of course that isn't mentioned in this article seeing how Martha is just a watered-down Emmanuel Goldstein for crying out loud


:sarcasm:

[frickaline]

25. Beware the Martha Brigade!

They can't be serious.

[emad]

32. From the Telegraph story, UK Border Agency statement:

The UK Border Agency said it would not comment on individual cases. A spokesman added: "We continue to oppose the entry to the UK of individuals where we believe their presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good or where they have been found guilty of serious criminal offences abroad."

[uppityperson]

37. I feel guilty for laughing.

[hedgehog]

43. Whatever happened to Martha Stewert's appeal of her conviction?

She served her time to get it over with, but I thought her case was still under appeal.