Hi Sogintu, That's a pity. we have been bringing this to the attention of the Board multiple times. With some other community members we have drafted a document. If you could jot down your problem there we can inform the staff about it and hopefully make it less difficult for the future. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bKGEtdLkwAyPTcPtR9WqzH2wmW-pZmhhZfUWgejeKEU/edit?usp=sharing On 29 February 2016 at 18:29, Sonigitu Ekpe <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > How can ICANN address issues of Visa processing for participants that have > all required criteria for entry the host Country? > > I had a very ugly scenario and yet I ended up not submitting my visa > application, after I had spent one week in Abuja. The staff at the embassy > said they can not receive my application because my name has not being sent > from their foreign Affairs department. > > I did send in my application as advised before the deadline of 12/02/16 > online. > > For the airline to refund air ticket cost I have to lose some monies and > my travel insurance becomes a waste of hard earned resources. While the > time and resource spent in Abuja becomes a wasteful venture. > > I need this issues to be addressed in the future. > > Sonigitu Ekpe > > Mobile +234 805 0232 469 Office + 234 802 751 0179 > "LIFE is all about love and thanksgiving" > > > On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 6:01 PM, Kathy Kleiman <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > >> +1 Tapani. In the old days, ICANN used to post the fancy hotels and the >> not so fancy hotels (and I always stayed at the latter). And they >> negotiated some good and low rates that included breakfast and Internet. >> It's time for them to do that again... >> Best, >> Kathy >> >> >> On 2/29/2016 9:00 AM, Tapani Tarvainen wrote: >> >>> On Feb 29 08:46, DeeDee Halleck ([log in to unmask]) wrote: >>> >>> I agree with Klaus that “broad stakeholder engagement” is needed. I have >>>> attempted to discuss ICANN with my colleagues (independent/community >>>> media >>>> producers and communications academics) but hit a wall of glazed-over >>>> eyes >>>> when trying to explain the importance of DNS regulation. >>>> >>> Me too. :-( >>> >>> One obvious problem in “non-commercial” participation is the lack of >>>> adequate support for the cost of face to face participation. >>>> >>> That is a very good point in general. However: >>> >>> Even if I had the frequent flier miles to get to Marrakech, how >>>> could I afford the posh hotels available? >>>> >>> There are lots of cheap accommodation options in Marrakech even if >>> ICANN doesn't tell you about them, and taxis are also cheap so you >>> don't need to stay next door to the meeting site. >>> >>> One thing we could do for future meetings is to ask ICANN look up and >>> maybe negotiate rates for some cheap hotels for participants paying >>> their own way. >>> >>> > -- Farzaneh