Tips for international visitors to the SGF this year

[JuanS_OCS]

Hi there,

many thanks Chris. I already helps a lot just your point of view, because that means than in general colleagues should not be much concerned. Whilst it is a good idea and common sense to check with the local authorities the expected situation, I would have only a couple of sub-questions left:

• any information from the conference team would be much apreciated;
• you mentioned no expected problems for most of the visitors, I guess the remainin doubt is about the part that is not "the most", and problably those colleagues would need some guidance

Thanks!

Juan

[AndrewHowell]

Ok, my ESTA has finally been approved, although I was disappointed by the "Optional"(!) section in the application process to list all my social media identities..

See what happens on the trip over - I've had one Aussie friend pass through without issue, another Aussie friend coming from the UK was held up a immigration in Chicago for six hours..

Wait'n'see... Hopefully catch-up with everyone in a couple of weeks..

[JuanS_OCS]

Hello @AndrewHowell,

thank you for your experience. I feel curious: you and your colleagues: did you filled the optional fields for the social media part?

See you in Orlando 🙂

[AndrewHowell]

Hey @JuanS_OCS - since it's a work trip, I did choose to fill in the LinkedIn profile, but chose to leave the remainder. Who I am on FB is irrelevant to my work or the reason for my trip to the SGF.

[__KiSi__]

@AndrewHowell,
@JuanS_OCS

The question about the social media part is interesting but please have a look on this:

passengers will have to check any electronic items larger than a cell phone

[BBO]

It sounds like our international visitors are having to work especially hard to come to SAS GF this year. Those of us based stateside should work to make them feel especially welcome.

[AndrewHowell]

Without passing a personal opinion on the ban, its fairness & its potential effectiveness, the ban appears to apply to particular airlines & airports (particularly of Middle Eastern & African origin), and only applies to carry-on devices; other devices (laptops, etc) can travel, but must be in checked luggage..

[DonH]

Requiring laptops to be in checked baggage may require some folks to either not attend or not bring their laptops. I know of a number of companies that have very explicit rules that laptops are never to be checked. And quite often those rules go further and state that unless the laptop is secured (e.g., with a Kensington lock) the employee has to always have it in their possession. I spent 4 years working for a company that had rules like that and they made it very clear that violating the rule was grounds for immediate termination.

[ChrisHemedinger]

Hi @DonH and others -- I did drill into the news/details about these potential restrictions, and they (currently) seem to apply only to a handful of airports/airlines in a few countries.  I encourage ALL travelers to research the rules based on their own itineraries -- be sure to investigate beyond what you read in the headlines.  Social media has a way of amplifying the news about processes that might affect only a relatively small number of travelers.