Cryptographers and U.S. Immigration

[alan]

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004, R. A. Hettinga wrote:

> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> 
> http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0407.html#3
> 
> Cryptographers and U.S. Immigration
> 
> Seems like cryptographers are being questioned when they enter the U.S.
> these days. Recently I received this (anonymous) comment: "It seems that
> the U.S. State Department has a keen interest in foreign cryptographers:
> Yesterday I tried to renew my visa to the States, and after standing in
> line and getting fingerprinted, my interviewer, upon hearing that my
> company sells [a cryptography product], informed me that "due to new
> regulations," Washington needs to approve my visa application, and that to
> do so, they need to know exactly which companies I plan to visit in the
> States, points of contact, etc. etc. Quite a change from my last visa
> application, for which I didn't even have to show up."
> 
> I'm curious if any of my foreign readers have similar stories. There are
> international cryptography conferences held in the United States all the
> time. It would be a shame if they lost much of their value because of visa
> regulations.
> 
> ####

It makes you wonder what they are going to do to cryptographers that try 
to leave the country.

"Please step onto the square marked 'trap door'."