Why would English Golfer have Visa Problems to get to USA for the US Open

[notfrommensa]

Back on May 30, there was a international qualifier in England for the US Open (golf) which is played this week outside of Washington DC. Robert Rock (an Englishman) was one of the qualifiers. He played (and won) a golf tournament in Italy this past week and plays a very international schedule on the European Golf Tour. In the past two years he has played in such places as Czech Republic, Abu Dhabi, Morocco, China, and Singapore.

But as of today, he still has not arrived in the USA for the US Open which starts tomorrow morning. (He is rumored to be in-flight as I type this and arriving this evening). Fortunately, for him, his tee time tomorrow is one of the later times. Apparently he had some visa issues (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/us-golf-open-rock-idUSTRE75E3YX20110615) with the US Embassy.

Since he has traveled extensively internationally in the past 2 years, I would imagine a visa and travel papers would have been basically rubber stamped. He knew that he qualified over two weeks ago and I would assume his manager would be doing the necessary paper work. He just going from England to USA.

Assuming nothing nefarious in his past, what could be the problems for this guy getting to the USA?

[Dr. Drake]

Since he is coming to work, he is coming in on something other than a tourist visa. A minor error or inconsistency in the paperwork, a misfiled form, no reason at all—almost anything can delay a visa. It might not have anything to do with his specific case. The process is surprisingly expedient but the visa-issuing process has complex and byzantine aspects.

[kenobi 65]

1) He primarily plays on the European Tour; travel between European Union countries is far easier, from a documentation standpoint, than travel from the UK to the US, especially after 9/11.

2) Yes, one might assume that his manager would have been taking care of this weeks ago...but the article makes it sound like it was a question of paperwork having not been done, and having to be expedited at the last minute. It sounds to me like Rock (and / or his manager) dropped the ball.

3) As Dr. Drake has noted, coming to play in a golf tournament requires a work visa, which makes things more complicated.

[hibernicus]

2 weeks is not a lot of time to arrange a visa to visit the US. In fact, I am surprised it is possible at all.

To get a visa you must go through an automated telephone booking system to book a visit to the embassy. This may be several weeks away, in which case you've immediately missed your 2-week deadline.

Prior to your appointment you must fill in an astonishingly long and extensive form online, giving details of your life, your schooling, your family, your previous travel, etc. Actually, several online forms (and fees) for different agencies are required, depending on your reason for travel.

On arrival at the embassy you must have all the documents in order, including photos that conform to exact measurements (distance from chin to forehead, etc.) If you do not have everything in order you will not be allowed inside the door of the embassy.

Once inside, you will be interviewed by an embassy official. If he or she is satisfied, they will post out your passport with the visa inside, and you will receive it within a day or two.

All of this applies to British people who are travelling to work, to study, by private transport or for long periods. Tourists intending to stay less than 90 days travel under the visa waiver programme.

[notfrommensa]

Well if it a laborious process, I really do not see why he even tried to qualify in the first place, or he should have put the wheels in motion when he filed out his entry form (which was two months ago). he is a popular player on the tour and pretty sure he is friendly enough with peers who have played golf tournaments in the USA.

He has been journeyman golfer for many years so he should know that visas are time consuming. Logically, I would imagine that paperwork in order to travel/play in China and Abu Dhabi and Qatar is more rigorous than ones to the USA.

If the manager dropped the ball, I would be looking for a new manager. As it is, he is going into the USOpen absolutely blind, never seeing the golf course until tomorrow morning. He plays Thursday afternoon/Friday morning, and there is a pretty good chance he will be flying back to London on Friday night red-eye.

[hibernicus]

I just checked the current wait times (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4788.html?post=London&x=78&y=12) for London.

Typical Wait Time (Calendar Days*) for a Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Appointment

Visitors Visas: 18 Days
Student/Exchange Visitors Visas: 5 Days
All Other Nonimmigrant Visas*** (Excludes: A, G, K, and V): 5 Days

Typical Wait Time (Workdays**) for a Nonimmigrant Visa To Be Processed****: 5 Days

So, right now you can get an appointment in 5 days, then 1 week for processing. You could possibly turn it around in 2 weeks but it's very tight, and if you make the slightest mistake in your application you can forget about it.

[Eva Luna]

All of the above, plus a) his name could have popped up in a security database as a close match to someone on a lookout list; b) you'd be amazed how many people have criminal backgrounds, even minor things, that pop up at the most inconvenient times.

[kenobi 65]

he is a popular player on the tour and pretty sure he is friendly enough with peers who have played golf tournaments in the USA.

You're assuming that either (a) he would have thought to ask them about it, or (b) they would have thought to warn him about it.

It does strike me as strange that they would have a qualifying tournament in England 2 weeks before the U.S. Open, when it can apparently take longer than 2 weeks just to arrange a work visa. Given that, it may also be that Rock had started the process right away (i.e., after qualifying), but it wasn't complete yet when he wanted to depart for the States.

He has been journeyman golfer for many years so he should know that visas are time consuming.

But, he may have never applied to play in the U.S. You're assuming quite a bit.

Logically, I would imagine that paperwork in order to travel/play in China and Abu Dhabi and Qatar is more rigorous than ones to the USA.

Maybe, maybe not. It wouldn't surprise me if China is difficult; I have no idea about the others. But, bear in mind:
a) the U.S. rules were probably tightened considerably after 9/11
b) playing on a regularly-scheduled tour, you know where you'll be playing months in advance (and have the time to deal with lengthy bureaucratic delays). In this case, he only learned that he'd qualified to play in the U.S. Open 2 weeks ago.

[hibernicus]

Logically, I would imagine that paperwork in order to travel/play in China and Abu Dhabi and Qatar is more rigorous than ones to the USA.

Not Abu Dhabi. A UK citizen can just arrive in the UAE and get a visa free at the airport, which is valid for 60 days (work or leisure).

[Giles]

The rules for entering the U.S. are more complex than you can possibly think they are -- I know this from personal experience -- and they apply to a semi-famous person from a friendly country like the U.K. just as much as they do to poor unskilled Mexicans try to get through the border fence. Furthermore, people who have travelled extensively internationally, but have never travelled to the U.S., often do not realise this. So this guy and his handlers probably did not realise how long and difficult extracting a visa from the embassy in London was going to be.

[mlees]

All of the above, plus a) his name could have popped up in a security database as a close match to someone on a lookout list; b) you'd be amazed how many people have criminal backgrounds, even minor things, that pop up at the most inconvenient times.

The thought that crossed my mind was that he might have had a lot of middle east countries on his past travel list, and some computer flagged it. (As in terrorists who travel to see their bosses to get orders or money or inspiration or training.)

If the State Department is overworked, it may take an extra couple days before someone got around to looking over it.

[Jim's Son]

In baseball for decades you always hear about Latin America baseball players "having visa problems" and reporting late for spring training in February. I always suspect they actually want a few days extra vacation before returning to work.

[md2000]

Logically, I would imagine that paperwork in order to travel/play in China and Abu Dhabi and Qatar is more rigorous than ones to the USA.


China was easy (from Canada).
Mail away your passport(!!), a 2-page form, and a passport photo with a cheque for about $85 to a travel service in Ottawa that walks it over to the Chinese embassy. Back in a week with a nice pretty 1-page sticker and all the necessary stamps.

The only warning was don't be employed by a media organization, and don't say you are planning to visit Tibet. (Made that arrnagement after the visa arrived). Customs was very quick and informal, looked at passport/visa, no questions, no hassle.

OTOH, the USA Customs people ( http://www.travelweekly.com/blog.aspx?id=230430&blogid=422054 ) can act like the quintessential civil servant.

[notfrommensa]

Thanks everyone for the answers.

Just for clarification (and not being picky). Does Robert Rock really need a "work" visa? Technically, he is an independent contractor and not employed by anyone. I could see more of a problem if he was bringing his own caddie to the tournament. (he could be hiring a local caddie)

I guess he would have been better off if he were an amateur and not competing for money. and I guess his wife or girlfriend could have made the trip more routinely.

[fiddlesticks]

Yes, he absolutely needs a visa to compete as a professional, the fact he's not a member of a sports team doesn't matter. Not sure if it'd be different if he was an amateur, but since he's a pro, he can't just say he's a amateur for this weekend. It is classified as a P visa which applies to both athletes and entertainers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P_visa

[md2000]

Thanks everyone for the answers.

Just for clarification (and not being picky). Does Robert Rock really need a "work" visa? Technically, he is an independent contractor and not employed by anyone. I could see more of a problem if he was bringing his own caddie to the tournament. (he could be hiring a local caddie)

I guess he would have been better off if he were an amateur and not competing for money. and I guess his wife or girlfriend could have made the trip more routinely.

Indeed, I make it a point not to bring my work laptop into the USA on vacation; not that I ever was a contractor, I have a regular employer, but the risk that you end up facing some dick at the border who decides to give you the 3rd degree just because he can. And... if he arbitrarily decides not to let you in, then it's months of paperwork back and forth with the embassy in Ottawa to get it straightened out.

I knew some not too swift kids about 19yo, tried to go snowboarding in the States. The border guard asked "ever been arrested?" and one kid said yes. (As a juvenile). The border guard asked what for, and he laughed, pointed at the other kid and replied "breaking into his dad's cottage." The border guard decided crime was not a laughing matter, told them to turn around, and warned them if they tried to use a different crossing they would be arrested. At least most countries have an explicit rule, not arbitrary decisions. (IIRC, New Zealand's was something like "Spent 2 years or more in jail in the last 10 years")

[notfrommensa]

Watching ESPN and Golf Channel this morning apparently Robert got into Newark at 11:30 pm last night. And he is was going to drive from Newark to Washington DC. (either overnight or this morning).

And according to Golf Channel, he spent 15,000 pounds in legal Fees. Geez.

I'll be rooting for him to make the cut. He will be exhausted (and frazzled) today and I hope we get the rest of story after his round this afternoon. Hope he can put it together and have a good tournament.

[Eva Luna]

And according to Golf Channel, he spent 15,000 pounds in legal Fees. Geez.



Not that surprising, considering what it takes to put together a rush P visa petition, get it approved, and get an expedited visa appointment in London. That's a lot of work, much of it highly specialized.

[bordelond]

How does this kind of thing affect UK/Irish citizens who regularly travel back and forth from the United States on business? Or touring European rock bands? Do Coldplay and U2 regularly get grief from U.S. officials when coming to America to perform?

Was this difficult for Robert Rock because he wasn't a regular "commuter" to the U.S.? Are visas easier/quicker if you've got a solid history of Europe-to-U.S. travel?

[kenobi 65]

Yes, he absolutely needs a visa to compete as a professional, the fact he's not a member of a sports team doesn't matter. Not sure if it'd be different if he was an amateur, but since he's a pro, he can't just say he's a amateur for this weekend. It is classified as a P visa which applies to both athletes and entertainers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P_visa

Interesting...there's nothing in that Wikipedia description to suggest that it'd make a difference if he were an amateur versus a professional golfer.

[Eva Luna]

How does this kind of thing affect UK/Irish citizens who regularly travel back and forth from the United States on business? Or touring European rock bands? Do Coldplay and U2 regularly get grief from U.S. officials when coming to America to perform?

Was this difficult for Robert Rock because he wasn't a regular "commuter" to the U.S.? Are visas easier/quicker if you've got a solid history of Europe-to-U.S. travel?

P visas are work visas, and every time you come to the U.S. to perform/compete professionally, you need a new one. Yes, that includes Coldplay and U2, who presumably know enough to plan ahead at this point, which makes the whole process much easier (and cheaper). Of course, it's much less work (and therefore cheaper) to simply update a previous P visa petition than to create a new one from scratch. First the petition has to be filed with USCIS, and once it's approved (which can take 15 days or longer even if you pay an extra fee to expedite it), then and only then can you apply for a visa. It's a process, and it takes time.

There's a huge gray area regarding what constitutes "work" vs. a business visit for meetings, etc. The former requires a work visa appropriate for the type of work; the latter may not - you could just come on the visa waiver.

Eva Luna, Immigration Paralegal

[notfrommensa]

Robert Rock hired a cab for $1000 for a cab from Newark to Bethesda, MD. Got to the Hotel at 3:30 am. Got to the course at 11 am. Has started his round Par-Par. There is a potential MasterCard Priceless commercial brewing.

[kenobi 65]

At this rate, this guy is going to need to win the Open just to break even on the week.

[notfrommensa]

I am getting some 2nd and 3rd hand information from a friend in the media that US Golf Association had a rep from the US Embassy to help with SNAFUs at the qualifying site. Apparently Rock thought he had all his paperwork in order. Anyways he had a very incredible round today, he shot 1 under par and is currently T10th. Inserting obligatory quote:

Can you smell what the Rock has cooking?

[notfrommensa]

Well, apparently there was something slightly nefarious in Robert Rock's past. There was an issue with Drinking while a college student (http://www.golfweek.com/news/2011/jun/16/visa-issues-put-rock-hard-place-open/) at Georgia State University in Atlanta at age 18. Not sure if it is just underaged drinking or there is DUI implication

[Dr. Drake]

This sentence states that only needed a visa because of his past: Rock needed a visa due to drinking incident he had when he was in the U.S. as a 18-year-old at Georgia State University.That can't be true, though, can it? I can see where a criminal charge in the U.S. would make it more difficult to get a visa, but that's not what it says.

[Eva Luna]

This sentence states that only needed a visa because of his past: That can't be true, though, can it? I can see where a criminal charge in the U.S. would make it more difficult to get a visa, but that's not what it says.

If he has a conviction on his record, even a minor one, he may well need a special waiver (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/ineligibilities/ineligibilities_1364.html)to get a visa. Those take longer to be adjudicated than visas do.

[Eva Luna]

If he has a conviction on his record, even a minor one, he may well need a special waiver (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/ineligibilities/ineligibilities_1364.html)to get a visa. Those take longer to be adjudicated than visas do.

Also, people from Visa Waiver-eligible countries still need visas for brief business/personal trips that would otherwise be covered under the Visa Waiver Program if they have criminal convictions: (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#national)

"A visa must be requested if the traveler...Has a criminal record or other condition making them ineligible for a visa."

[notfrommensa]

I missed some words (stupid laptop) in that post, Should have been "He had trouble getting a visa..."

[AK84]

People are surprised that it is difficult getting a US Visa? It is rather more difficult to get a US Visa than it is to apply for clemacy from Genghis Khan. And certainly more stressful.

[bordelond]

People are surprised that it is difficult getting a US Visa?
To be honest: kinda surprised, yeah. Lots of people from all over travel to the U.S. all the time. Is it specifically work visas that are tough to get? I can understand it being situationally difficult, but really can't understand that the default would be "difficult".

Also, I assumed there were at least two tiers of processing: one for the hoi polloi, and another for people like Bono, Russell Crowe, Richard Branson, Prince Charles, etc. I also wonder how it works for diplomats and such.

I mean, everytime I see Australian Keith Urban at a charity event in the States ... he had to get a one-time special visa for that? He probably lives in the U.S. now, though ... might not be the best example.

[bordelond]

LATE EDIT: I skipped over the posts about the drinking-underage conviction, and Eva Luna's clarifications. So Rock's situation isn't typical, and it's not quite impossible to get a work visa quickly, especially with folks in high places helping out. Situation normal :D

[wmfellows]

To be honest: kinda surprised, yeah. Lots of people from all over travel to the U.S. all the time. Is it specifically work visas that are tough to get? I can understand it being situationally difficult, but really can't understand that the default would be "difficult".

No, US visas generally have become staggeringly fucking difficult, so much so we for our corporate purposes avoid sending people to the US for meetings if it's not clear they can fly on that waiver program. Real pain.

Also, I assumed there were at least two tiers of processing: one for the hoi polloi, and another for people like Bono, Russell Crowe, Richard Branson, Prince Charles, etc. I also wonder how it works for diplomats and such.

I have heard that this is not the case.

[bordelond]

I have heard that this is not the case.
I posted in haste -- I should have specified unofficially. When you're dealing with fallible human beings, no protocol is ever followed 100% of the time. Harsh penalties or not.

...

How do state visits work? When the Obamas receive a visiting head of state ... what kind of hoops did that head of state and -- especially -- his/her staff have to jump through? Or is that covered under a separate set of rules, since it's diplomacy?

Another way to approach this is reductio ad absurdum: how does getting a work visa into the U.S. compare to, say, getting one for North Korea? There's a difference between byzantine and impossible.

I realize I'm being snotty here, but people do travel to the U.S. all time. It's not like it's bizarre to see travelers from another country. There have been people from all over the world at most of my jobs. I guess appearance belies reality. I do realize we have direct expert testimony in this thread with the prsence of Eva Luna, and I do appreciate her contributions here. I am beginning to understand, but I am flummoxed -- [nonGQeditorial comment] the U.S. shouldn't be running this scared. Not of a guy like Robert Rock, anyway. [/nonGQeditorial comment]

[wmfellows]

Another way to approach this is reductio ad absurdum: how does getting a work visa into the U.S. compare to, say, getting one for North Korea? There's a difference between byzantine and impossible.
We've found it harder than the 3rd world places you or someone else mentioned. Although that is subjective anecdote.

I realize I'm being snotty here, but people do travel to the U.S. all time. It's not like it's bizarre to see travelers from another country.

That says not very much in my opinion, USA is a big destination, volume effects. And of course visa waivers, that is people who don't need visas for short term trips.

[Neptunian Slug]

DUIs can also be a bitch getting into Canada. I think there is a 10-year waiting period after a conviction to enter, unless you go through some waiver process after five years. So I am sure this sort of thing isn't uncommon in some countries. Once they put a flag on your record for anything, it's probably too much of a pain in the ass to bother applying.

[Ravenman]

How do state visits work? When the Obamas receive a visiting head of state ... what kind of hoops did that head of state and -- especially -- his/her staff have to jump through? Or is that covered under a separate set of rules, since it's diplomacy?heads of state, diplomats, and foreign government officials all require visas to visit the United States on official business. They will have either official or diplomatic passports which are distinct from their own personal passports that they may use for vacation or whatnot.

Same thing with US government officials -- they will travel on passports that are not the same as personal passports. Official visas are required to travel to countries that participate in the visa waiver program -- for example, if a US official wants to visit Japan, he must get a visa from the Japanese government.

[Giles]

... I do realize we have direct expert testimony in this thread with the prsence of Eva Luna, and I do appreciate her contributions here. I am beginning to understand, but I am flummoxed -- [nonGQeditorial comment] the U.S. shouldn't be running this scared. Not of a guy like Robert Rock, anyway. [/nonGQeditorial comment]
I also have had experience of the system, from a different perspective than that of Eva Luna. Back before 9/11 I applied for and got a job in the U.S., and my employer was responsible for arranging my work visa. They used specialist immigration lawyers to do it, and it took nearly a year to get the visa, even though it was a kind of visa that doesn't have any annual quota. So, even then before intensified security, the process was slow and difficult even for specialists in the field.

My other story illustrates how the process is so byzantine that even the bureaucrats administering it have trouble. A couple of years after I got my work visa, I won the Green Card Lottery, so I could change from a temporary status to being a permanent resident. While you are going from the visa to a green card, you are in "adjustment of status", and normally cannot leave the U.S. However, I needed to go to conferences in Australia and Canada while I was in adjustment of status, so I obtained an "advance parole" to allow me to leave the U.S. and re-enter the country. Re-entering from Australia at LAX wasn't a problem -- they've probably seen advance paroles often enough there -- but re-entering from Canada by road at Buffalo I was held up for about an hour. From where I was told to wait, I could see into the back office, and saw several immigration officials consulting for a long time over my documentation. This was, of course, at one of the busiest entry points into the United States: it seems that no one on the evening shift had come across this kind of issue before. If the bureaucrats don't understand the system, what hope have ordinary people?

[AK84]

Another way to approach this is reductio ad absurdum: how does getting a work visa into the U.S. compare to, say, getting one for North Korea? There's a difference between byzantine and impossible.

I realize I'm being snotty here, but people do travel to the U.S. all time. It's not like it's bizarre to see travelers from another country. There have been people from all over the world at most of my jobs. I guess appearance belies reality. I do realize we have direct expert testimony in this thread with the prsence of Eva Luna, and I do appreciate her contributions here. I am beginning to understand, but I am flummoxed -- [nonGQeditorial comment] the U.S. shouldn't be running this scared. Not of a guy like Robert Rock, anyway. [/nonGQeditorial comment]

Getting a US Visa is without question the most difficult of all the major countries. It is so much that many corporate entities avoid US travel unless absolotly necessary, indeed video conferencing and Telepresence are now being employed (despite the inconvenience of time difference) where for other markets they are business trips.

Furthermore its not just the visa, it is the whole immigration process, you are treated like a criminal till about the time you reach the taxi to the airport.

You can jump on a plane to get to London if needed, no problem. Not so NYC.

[Eva Luna]

Getting a US Visa is without question the most difficult of all the major countries. It is so much that many corporate entities avoid US travel unless absolotly necessary, indeed video conferencing and Telepresence are now being employed (despite the inconvenience of time difference) where for other markets they are business trips.

Furthermore its not just the visa, it is the whole immigration process, you are treated like a criminal till about the time you reach the taxi to the airport.

You can jump on a plane to get to London if needed, no problem. Not so NYC.

To be fair, I spoke to a Mexican client yesterday who was telling me it's now a huge PITA for Mexicans to apply for Canadian visitor visas (his brother had just done it); some Mexicans started applying for asylum in Canada, and so instead of jumping on the plane, Mexicans now have to apply for Canadian visas using some horrendous, long form.

[Dr. Drake]

I also have had experience of the system, from a different perspective than that of Eva Luna. Back before 9/11 I applied for and got a job in the U.S., and my employer was responsible for arranging my work visa. They used specialist immigration lawyers to do it, and it took nearly a year to get the visa, even though it was a kind of visa that doesn't have any annual quota. So, even then before intensified security, the process was slow and difficult even for specialists in the field.We had almost exactly this experience in 2006. The visa was initially denied in error (they had misread something), but approved on appeal. Note that the appeal was a non-refundable $1000 or thereabouts even though it was clearly their error.

This visa (O-visa) did not allow for permanent immigration, but did have unlimited renewals. So we knew that at some point it would be denied, but no idea when or what criteria were used. We applied for a three-year extension, but the individual at the London embassy who interviewed the employee didn't understand our business model (so he said, anyway) and gave us a one-year extension instead. We used that year to shut down the business and leave the US: we just couldn't keep going in the face of constant uncertainty in this economy. (Immigration, both lawyer and government fees, was averaging $400 / month, and we were too small to absorb that.)

[Tranquilis]

On the other hand, I work for a large multi-national Pharma, and we have folks shuttling in and out to the UK, Sweden, and India all the time - To hear English, Swedish, Indian, and sometimes German accents in the hallways is so common as to be effectively unnoticable. Many of these are long-term secundments, so are almost certainly on a P-Visas. I've not seen any noticable angst in getting folks from one country to another, coming or going. Most trips aren't 'drop of the hat,' but are generally planned about one to two month(s) in advance. However, some are very short-fused indeed (days of planning, not weeks).

Of course, we also have a very large legal department, and I suspect a fair number of them are employed entirely in greasing the immigration skids.

[Dr. Drake]

Everyone told us that most of the delays and errors we encountered were due to the fact that our application was unusual. (I think even Eva Luna told us our application was a bad idea, though she did it in a very nice way.) I think routine applications, particularly from stable organizations that have submitted before, go much more smoothly.

I have one-off experience with visas in three countries (UK, Canada, US) and all were similar processes. I suspect the U.S. is worse merely as a matter of scale, both population and economy.

[Eva Luna]

On the other hand, I work for a large multi-national Pharma, and we have folks shuttling in and out to the UK, Sweden, and India all the time - To hear English, Swedish, Indian, and sometimes German accents in the hallways is so common as to be effectively unnoticable. Many of these are long-term secundments, so are almost certainly on a P-Visas. I've not seen any noticable angst in getting folks from one country to another, coming or going. Most trips aren't 'drop of the hat,' but are generally planned about one to two month(s) in advance. However, some are very short-fused indeed (days of planning, not weeks).

Of course, we also have a very large legal department, and I suspect a fair number of them are employed entirely in greasing the immigration skids.

I dount they are P visas; those are for performers. The more typical in that situation would be H-1B (for jobs requirirng at least a bachelor's degree) or L-1 (for intracompany transferees). Both are long-term work visas.

[Tranquilis]

Ah. I learn something.

OK, yes - Jobs requiring a certain level of education, or equavalent experience and / or medium-term transfers (relatively few perminant transfers here - mostly at the executive level).

[ctnguy]

To be honest: kinda surprised, yeah. Lots of people from all over travel to the U.S. all the time. Is it specifically work visas that are tough to get? I can understand it being situationally difficult, but really can't understand that the default would be "difficult".

Oh, the default is definitely "difficult", even for tourist visas. I attended a conference in the US, and since I'm a South African citizen I had to get a B-1/B-2 visa (that is the regular visitor's visa). The process went like this (and there was absolutely nothing unusual about my case):

Fill in an immense multi-page visa application form on the State Department website. No problem with this in principle, except that the website was really badly designed: it would time out if you didn't move from one page to the next for 15 minutes, and you couldn't either move pages or save the application if the current page was incomplete. So if you have to go away and look for some documentation, you can't save the application and you can't avoid the timeout. :smack:
Make an appointment for an interview. The waiting list was actually quite short; I got one only ten days away.
Deposit the $160 application fee (non-refundable if your application is rejected). And this has to be deposited at one specific bank, and only cash is accepted - no cheques, no credit card, no electronic transfer.
Collect all the documentation to prove that (a) you have enough money to support your self when you're in the US; and (b) that you have enough connections to your home that you're not likely to overstay in the US. (So in my case: bank statements, payslip from my student job, proof that I owned my flat, proof of registration at my university, letter from my thesis supervisor to say that I was halfway through my degree, etc.)
Find a photo shop that will take passport-type photos in the specific size and layout required. The difficulty here was not the State Department's fault, though; it was the fault of the inability of photo shop technicians to follow plain instructions. ;)
Get to the consulate on the day of the appointment. In Cape Town, the consulate is located in an area with no public transport, and has no parking on the grounds. So you have to park at a shopping mall that's fifteen minutes walk away. (This is a location-specific problem, though; I hear the Johannesburg consulate is much more accessible, for example.)
Queue up in a line outside to clear security. The security folks (locals, not Americans) were ridiculously slow - I had an "appointment" for 9am; I arrived there at 8:45 as instructed, and only got into the building at about 9:30. Oh, and you have to leave absolutely everything except your paperwork in a locker at security, you can't take a phone or a book or an MP3 player with you. Though I suppose I can't fault them for being careful about security, given the history of attacks on US diplomatic missions.
Queue up to speak to the local employee who checks that you've paid your fee and that your paperwork is in order, and scans your fingerprints; I waited about half an hour in this queue.
Sit in the waiting room to wait for your interview with the consular official. Remember, you can't bring anything with you, so you can only entertain yourself with the TV showing CNN (at least it wasn't Fox News :p) or the old copies of Newsweek left there. I waited about one and a half hours for my interview - so with my "appointment" at 9 I finally got seen at 11:30.
Speak to the consular officer who makes the decision on your visa. In my case he was quite friendly and only asked about the purpose of my visit and to see my previous US visa in an old passport (which I had luckily brought along). To be honest, while I was waiting, the only people I saw who had trouble with the interviews - there is no privacy, by the way; the officials sit behind glassed-in counters in the waiting-room - were people whose stories did seem kind of sketchy.
If your visa is approved, hand over your passport and pay another fee (equivalent to about $30 IIRC) for the courier who will return it to you three days later.

In their favour, I can say that all the US officials I dealt with - both at the consulate and at immigration at LAX - were very friendly; certainly much more so than the South African officials at the passport office or at Joburg Airport when I returned.

tl;dr: A US tourist visa application is difficult because it is fraught with bureaucracy and involves a lot of waiting around, and potentially collecting a lot of documentation. And the fee is a bit exorbitant, given that you don't get it back if your application is refused.

[notfrommensa]

Wow, I didn't think this thread would have much traction. Thanks for all the responses, very educational.

An update on Robert Rock in the US Open.

He shot an even par 71 today, 1 under par for the tournament, and currently T10. he is going to be around for the weekend and in position to make a great check. Unfortunately, for him, he is 10 shots behind the leader who is making the tournament a runaway. Rock is only 2 shots out of the 2nd place player, halfway through Day 2.

Apparently, after his win in Italy, and knowing his predicament, some of the Euro players had chartered a plane to take them from Italy to Washington DC for the US Open. His Caddie and his clubs arrived earlier in the week on the charter. So not only did Rock not have any practice rounds in Washington DC, he didn't even have his clubs with him in England to practice.

And I did get 2nd hand confirmation that he was a DUI incident in Atlanta when he was underaged. IIRC, DUI's have different rules if the offender is underage so I don't know if he would have been legally drunk if it was 21 (or over).

[notfrommensa]

Robert Rock finished 70-71-76-68=285 and finished T23. Earned approximately $76,000. and a lot of US Fans. Probably made about $10,000-$20,000 considering legal expenses, air travel expenses, caddy expenses, hotel etc.