those who do not get a visa and those who get it late, lets record both these scenarios because getting it late at times results in not being able to attend the meeting. 

best,

zakir

On 29 Feb 2016, at 22:44, farzaneh badii <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I also wanted to suggest that those who did not receive a visa because of embassy problems, please let me know. we can argue strongly for this if we have numbers to show how many from Africa and other regions were not able to receive a visa. 

On 29 February 2016 at 18:43, farzaneh badii <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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

--

Farzaneh