丹麥的 ELOQ 和 Zooey Wonder 黃玠瑋 一樣，在前往 SXSW 的途中發生 ESTA 遭到取消的狀況。（https://goo.gl/6oK6M2）
根據 ELOQ 的描述以及 SXSW 的網站的說明（https://goo.gl/hRMhQ0），適用免簽證國家的藝人是可以在沒有演出酬勞的 showcase 進行演出。不過當 ELOQ 抵達 LA 準備轉機時，卻發生 ESTA 在飛行途中遭到取消的狀況，海關也向他表示前往 SXSW 演出需要辦理工作簽證，比起在台灣就發現 ESTA 被取消的黃玠瑋，飛到美國被搜身檢查的 ELOQ 顯然更倒楣一些。
藝人前往 SXSW 遭到海關刁難已經不是新聞，近年文化部相當積極推選出色的台灣演出團體參與 SXSW 的「台灣之夜」，未來在相關事務安排上，恐怕還是得要更小心一些。
這個月黃玠瑋將帶著全新作品【Wonderland】（實體超美）在北、高兩地舉辦演出，將透過全新的音樂風格，展現繽紛的夢幻世界。
3 月 18 日 - 高雄 LIVE WAREHOUSE
3 月 22 日 - 台北 Legacy 傳 音樂展演空間
售票連結：http://www.zooeywonder.land/zion
#SXSW
** Official "ELOQ NOT GOING TO SXSW" Statement**
Hi !
So as some might know, im unfortunately not going to Austin, TX for SXSW.
This is because i got denied entry while transferring in LAX, Los Angeles.
A lot of you has asked me about the details of the issue so i thought i would bring you all a little official statement on what happened! :)
I was scheduled to go to SXSW to partake in their songwriting camp, SXSW Songs, participate as a speaker and also play two showcases! I took my travels from Denmark with all the right papers and my ESTA in check (Which i got informed by SXSW was a eligible visa to travel on for showcase purposes)
Then when i landed in LAX i got informed that my ESTA had been revoked mid-flight and i got sent in for an interview by the border cops.
Here he stripped me of all my belongings, even my laces and my earring, and asked me a bunch of questions about my stay and who i was and my intentions. He ended it all with saying that i was going to be denied entry today and that on any further similar trips, i would need a Performance Visa, NOT an ESTA.
Apparently, and unfortunately this border official did not know about SXSW and their unique rules about promo showcases, which can be performed on an ESTA.
What then happened was i got informed my next flight would leave in 23 hours and i had to stay in their detention until then. I was allowed a phonecall to the danish consulate, but i didn't know what to tell them since i guessed that this stuff was just pretty final and i just had to accept it and wait out the hours. So i quickly texted my girlfriend and my mgmt about the situation and gave them my phone, which they also held along all my stuff.
Then began the wait, with 5 hours in their airport detention room, which had pretty cool and comfy chairs and a TV that played Friends non-stop. Not the worst place to spend my time i thought. But then i had to be transferred to the place i had to stay overnight.
In order to be transferred here i had to have my hands and legs cuffed, which i found actually pretty fun since i NEVER would have dreamed i would be shackled by american cops!
Also i would like to add here that all the cops and immigration officers treated me very nice. I think they quickly understood that i had no intention to do anything unlawful, so we actually got to laugh a bit about this whole maximum security type of thing that the procedure apparently needs. Then i was transferred in a real homeland security prisoner van through the airstrip and over to their Immigrations center in LA. Also a pretty cool thing to tell my future children about. I told the officers i felt like a movie villain!
This cell though was very uncomfortable. Everything was made of steel, it was cold and the bright lights were on at ALL times, so sleeping was nearly impossible. I got a brown bag with some fruit, a sandwich and some juice. And there was a TV that played Meet The Fockers 3 times in a row i think. Everything timewise here was quite a blur, mostly because of total boredom and trying to get some sleep, but also because there were no clocks present anywhere..
Then they came and picked me up at a 6 in the morning, to transfer me back to the airport detention room for the last 12 hours. I thought to myself what a bliss it would be to come back to those big comfy chairs and watch tv.. Because anything would be better than that steel cell!
But unfortunately no, they didn't have enough staff to keep that room open so i had to be put in a tiny tiny room with three army beds, some chairs, and again EXTREMELY bright lights..! And here began the longest 12 hours of my life.. With absolutely nothing to do other than stare at a wall and trying to sleep, time went on slower than i've ever imagined it could.. ! I saw other people coming in and out of this room as well, probably with similar but most likely with worse convictions than mine, since they looked very sad! :((
I got to work out a bit here, which i found extremely cool and very movie like, and also they let me order food from 7/11 as long as i could pay for it. Which was really nice, i got a whole pepperoni pizza, which i enjoyed while thinking i at least got some american food on this trip.
And then the hours just passed on slowly until i finally got picked up to pack my things and leave for the gate, alongside two officers! They also let me buy some ice coffee in the terminal, and they gave me back my phone. Even though they said i couldn't use it they let me check my texts as long as I didn't call anyone, i also got to send some responses to all my worried folks back home who hadn’t heard a single peep since they got my first text about me being sent back 23 hours ago!
Then i was off to Gatwick, and at last to Copenhagen! :D
Now that its all over, I really only think of it as a crazy experience! My folks back home was worried i had been treated badly and that i would suffer from the experience. But actually apart from the EXTREME boredom of having nothing to do, not knowing the time, and not sleeping well, it was all in all just a cool story to tell now! Of course im really bummed I didn't get to go to SXSW and do all the cool stuff I was going to do there, but hey shit happens and i was unlucky that i got screened by an officer who didnt know i actually was eligible to go to SXSW. I know SXSW officials and lawyers tried to work my case for me, as well as the foreign ministry, ULTRA Records and loads of other people. So i would like to add that I wont put my blame anywhere but on an unfortunate unlucky incident.
Now that I'm back in Denmark, im gonna work my hardest to quickly get my work permit so that I without a hassle can come to the US and perform for the people there that wants to see me play!
So hopefully, see you anytime soon in the future USA, and to everyone else from outside the US trying to play SXSW, better get that performance visa in check just to be sure ;)
LOVE <3 <3 <3
- ELOQ
denmark immigration 在 New to Denmark 的相關結果
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