An Impossible Situation
The Sky Polaris Project has been in contact with Captain Gordillo all day. As you know from reading the posts below, Michel has been denied entry to the USA as he does not have a Visa. We have asked the Sun-n-Fun organization in Lakeland, Florida, USA to write a letter to the U.S. Homeland Security and to the US Consulate as vouching for the project and Michel personally. They have acted immediately and we thank them for their help!
Unfortunately, the fact that this is an important project, that Michel has important business in the US, and is on an official record-breaking attempt has not changed the US governments mind that he be allowed entry to the US.
So Michel applied for a Visa at the US embassy in Mexico city. Their response was that the Visa application was rejected as Michel is not a resident of Mexico.
So Michel cannot enter the US from Mexico without a VISA, but the US will not give him a Visa because he is not a resident of Mexico. This is a situation that is impossible to overcome.
The plan now is for Michel to fly from his present position in Matamoros, MX to the Bahamas, and avoid landing in the US. He will then fly from the Bahamas to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. NON-STOP! He will not be able to attend the Sun-n-Fun International Fly-in and Expo in Lakeland, Florida where he was expected to give press conferences and interviews. This is such a shame as this was to be a major event for the project.
Please continue following the Sky Polaris flight! We will keep you informed of all the news and events in the days to come.
Don Pearsall, Sky Polaris Media Relations
9 Comments
Thank you so much for the information. Finally, Sky Polaris will find the way to go. Everybody all over the world will be pushing Michel, but not the US authorities. ¡Vamos, Michel!
‘The times they are changin’ sung Bob Dylan. Even coming from east Siberia, entry was much easier with Michels Kitfox. No further comment…
Good luck Michel!
How frustrating ! I am sure you will find a solution, good luck and keep up a good spirit anyway…
I could understand this issue happening in Vietnam not in the States, but looks like to me that this is a problem related to a single official not the Country’s rules. He was granted to enter initially but it is always in the top a grey individual hiding in an office, probably a fat one like myself, ready to break the Country’s reputation. You do not need problems like this one to make your adventure bigger but here they are. Go for it!
Podría entender que estas cosas pasaran en Vietnam no en Estados Unidos, pero me parece que este problema está relacionado con un solo funcionario y no con las reglas del País. Le concedieron la entrada al principio pero siempre hay un individuo gris escondido en una oficina, probablemente gordo como yo, listo para destruir la reputación de todo un país. No necesitas problemas como este para hacer tu aventura mas grande, pero aquí los tienes. !A por ello!
This is to Don Pearsall. Could you contact me through Private Mail? the “Cadena Ser”(the most important radio station in Spain), is willing to contact Michel to publish the information about this issue.
Si alguien se puede poner en contacto conmigo via E-mail privado, la Cadena Ser quiere dar la noticia. [email protected]
Thank you all for your words of support. Jordi, I sent you an email and forwarded your message to Michel. At this moment he is still in his hotel in Matamoros so may be able to talk today.
Don
Hi Michel, why do yo try to get the VISA in the Spanish embasy ¿
(Sily question perhaps)
Ánimo Michel! No te desanimes por la maldita burocracia. Desde España estamos pendientes de ti y de cada etapa. Orgullosos de ti. Saludos y felicitaciones por tu valentía
I can understand this happening in the States. It has nothing to do with security. It’s bureaucracy. Some idiot official is not willing to take a little bit of responsibility to allow this journey to continue. It’s safer for the petty official to say “no.”
On behalf of the United States of America, I apologize to Captain Gordillo and wish him all the best on his flight.
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