Aussie bar mat mum Annice Smoel denied US visa

[NM]

Well, nobody who regularly reads this site should be surprised.

From news.com.au:

BAR mat mum Annice Smoel's dream family trip to Disneyland is in tatters after she was denied a US visa because of her conviction in Thailand.

 

[Dave Noble]

Can she really have been surprised to have been denied a visa

Reading the comments about the article, there is v v sympathy for her it seems

Dave

 

[simongr]

Wow - for once the comments on news.com.au actually make sense

 

[Slats7]

If she did the right thing in the first place she wouldn't be in this position!

 

[Mal]

Not surprising at all that she has had a visa denied. At least the U.S has some sense in keeping her out.

The barmats and mickey mouse hats will be safe for another day.

Although ... are they seeking Australian Govt assistance now to get her visa?

 

[NM]

She must have known there was going to be an issue to be applying for a Visa in the first place. She knew she did not qualify under the Visa Waiver Program and therefore had to apply for a Visa. US Visa rules are strict. However, it does strike me as inconsistent when high-profile people like football players with known drug additions are able to get a Visa (to attend drug rehab programs). Perhaps she needs to tell them she is wanting to go the USA to attend a rehab program?

 

[Mal]

She must have known there was going to be an issue to be applying for a Visa in the first place.

Maybe her travel agent told her, maybe she applied for the ESTA and answered the questions correctly.

I agree with your other points which makes me think she'll be over there in no time...

 

[garyjohn951]

There is always Hong Kong Disneyland, not the real thing but no visa problems

 

[opusman]

Maybe someone should tell her there are also Disneylands in France, Japan and Hong Kong

 

[Skyring]

Maybe someone should tell her there are also Disneylands in France, Japan and Hong Kong

Yeah, but there's only one Mickey, right?

 

[Flying Fox]

Perhaps she needs to tell them she is wanting to go the USA to attend a rehab program?

Bar mats anonymous???

 

[AlphaVictor]

Doing stupid things means you face the consequences. This isn't news, its someone extending their 15 seconds of fame so New Idea willl pay them to do a sad faced picture spread of upset kids and family.

There's a Disney in Hong Kong, its closer.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Can I play devils advocate and ask why this is being discussed at all?
There must be thousands of people denied US visas because they did something stupid and got arrested but they don't end up in the media.
And there are also far more important issues that the newspaper in question could have devoted the space to.
As the saying goes-She should build a bridge and get over it.
And go to Disneyland in France !

 

[Travel Guru]

I'm so over this woman and her sob stories...you do the crime, you pay the time, simple as that.

Her and her friends were stupid, ignorant and arrogant and she's getting exactly what she deserves in my opinion.

What's it going to teach people, especially her kids and other young people if she manages to get someone of authority to step in and get it waived.

I say suck it up princess and stop trying to extend out your 15 mins to milk the press for every cent you can.

TG

 

[docjames]

I say suck it up princess and stop trying to extend out your 15 mins to milk the press for every cent you can.

TG

You certainly do wonder if that was the intention of applying for the visa in the first place.

What a dill.

 

[Travel Guru]

You certainly do wonder if that was the intention of applying for the visa in the first place.

What a dill.

You're such a cynic doc :mrgreen::mrgreen: lol

TG

 

[samh004]

No surprises there.

Interesting to note in the article that she says she wanted to treat her daughters to get their minds off what happened, and then says it had originally been planned for May.

Can't say the Australian government would be too impressed with a mum taking 4 kids out of school to see Disneyland, a month or 2 before the actual holidays. However that didn't happen.

So I presume she's paid for the tickets and now can't change them to anywhere else, so any other Disneyland is out of the question.

 

[Travel Guru]

So I presume she's paid for the tickets and now can't change them to anywhere else, so any other Disneyland is out of the question.

Oh well, too bad so sad, she'll get no sympathy from me.

TG

 

[oz_mark]

She might have a struggle on the distinction between a felony and a misdemeanour as she was charged with theft at night. It is the 'at night' bit that increased the potential length of sentence, and this may have lifted it out of being a misdemeanour, as far as the Thai's are concerned.

(This whole story still does not add up)

 

[Flying Fox]

I'm surprised that she is going O/S again so soon after her last bad experience.