Cell Phones Not Allowed In US Consulate

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
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A friend made an appoint for early this week to arrange for his Social Security check to be deposited in a bank in the DR. He got there an hour early and after spending an hour in the security lines he got to the door just at the appointed time, where he was patted down and told he could not take his cell phone inside. He asked the guard where he could leave it and was told there was no place.

Fortunately, he said, the woman he had the appointment with was there and took the phone, otherwise he would not have been let inside.
 

beeza

Silver
Nov 2, 2006
3,480
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Or memory sticks. I had a mini usb memory stick on my keyring. Luckily the guard was so dumb I managed to convince him it was an electronic key!
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
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Everyone knows this... Why didn't he check the rules before going?

Obviously "everyone" does not know this.

This was the first time he had a reason to go to the Consulate. Why he didn't check, I don't know. I assume he thought that as an American with an appointment that he could go to the embassy of his country to keep the appointment without being hassled.
 

wuarhat

I am a out of touch hippie.
Nov 13, 2006
1,378
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Obviously "everyone" does not know this.

This was the first time he had a reason to go to the Consulate. Why he didn't check, I don't know. I assume he thought that as an American with an appointment that he could go to the embassy of his country to keep the appointment without being hassled.

It must have been his first ever contact with government.
 

Jumbo

Bronze
Jul 8, 2005
1,514
98
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Everyone knows this... Why didn't he check the rules before going?

No, everyone does not know this. Now we do. It actually sounds like the most stupidest thing i ever heard. The US government gets dumber every day. Stupid, stupid, efing dumbass paper pushers.
 
Mar 2, 2008
2,902
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No, everyone does not know this. Now we do. It actually sounds like the most stupidest thing i ever heard. The US government gets dumber every day. Stupid, stupid, efing dumbass paper pushers.

I agree. I didn't know

I would have probably been in the same position as Ken's friend if I had something that needed the attention of my embassy. And it seems as though it just one more stupid meaningless rule being applied for no defensible reason.

Thank you, Ken, for making us aware of this foolishness. Your post probably saved a lot of people some needless aggravation.
 

wuarhat

I am a out of touch hippie.
Nov 13, 2006
1,378
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I had an appointment there once. They sent me a set of instructions for the appointment, and what I would not be permitted to enter with was included in the instructions.
 

expatsooner

Bronze
Aug 7, 2004
712
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The consulates and/or embassies of many countries follow this rule as a way to help prevent photo taking recon from people who wish to return with explosive devices or wish to determine strategic attack positions in the case of an attempted takeover. It is a little unusual that they don't have a bank of small locked boxes that you can place your phone in and take the key with you and then get your phone as you exit. Most of the ones I've been to have had this option - telling you of course that they are not liable if your phone is stolen. In some of the places I've been such as Pakistan you could take a phone inside as long as it didn't have a camera option.

Lesson to be learned is to never assume anything when dealing with any countries' (not just US) govermental agencies. I know the rule and have been to quite a few consulates but I would have assumed the DR office to have lockbox facilities to be available for use in securing your phone while inside.
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
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All the embassies/consulates (UK, Canada, Spain) I've visited in several countries (Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, DR) in recent years have this rule but there is always a facility for storing the offending items (cellphone, laptop, camera). It's hard to believe there isn't such a facility at the US consulate in SD.
 

Jumbo

Bronze
Jul 8, 2005
1,514
98
48
I get it now. The officials are afraid of photos or recordings of them taking bribes. Only joking. It make sense but is it no phones at all or no camera phones. I know years ago camera phones were not allowed in the court houses because the gang bangers were taking pictures of witnesses and jurors. Then posting the pictures on an internet snitch site.

There should be a sticky on the rules of all the Consulates.
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
83
but I would have assumed the DR office to have lockbox facilities to be available for use in securing your phone while inside.

A lockbox or something like that would be the sensible way of dealing with this issue, as I am sure my friend is not the first person to innocently go to the Consulate with a prohibited article in the pocket and not have received any rules beforehand. Certainly makes more sense than patting the person down and telling him to leave the building, appointment unkept, because there was no place to leave the prohibited article.

The only reason I can think of to explain why this is not done is because it makes sense.
 

bienamor

Kansas redneck an proud of it
Apr 23, 2004
5,050
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The rules are posted outside the Consulate before you ever enter the building. The don't need a lock box due to the outside posting of what is not allowed inside!
 

RV429

Bronze
Apr 3, 2011
1,574
1
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No, everyone does not know this. Now we do. It actually sounds like the most stupidest thing i ever heard. The US government gets dumber every day. Stupid, stupid, efing dumbass paper pushers.

Not only does US Embassy and Consulate prohibit cells and cameras but many Police Stations here in the US prohibit same. The difference being that in the states they have lockers available. It's a security measure brought about by 9/11. Cells and cameras could theoritcally be used to compromise security.
 

belmont

Bronze
Oct 9, 2009
1,536
10
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The following is copy of info sent to friend concerning her visa interview. Note the area I highlighted concerning baby bottles.
The following are not permitted inside the visa sections:
1. All battery operated or electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, digital diaries, digital watches, pagers,
cameras, audio/video cassettes, audio/video playing or recording devices , calculators, torches, flashlights,
radios, compact discs (CDs), VCDs, DVDs, MP3's, digital audio players (such as i-Pod), floppies, laptops, palm
tops or portable music players (such as CD players), electronic items.
2. All ladies hand bags/purses. Only a small ladies pouch in hand will be permitted.
3. All bags such as travel bags, back packs, briefcases, suitcases, leather, jute or cloth bags and zip folders. Only an unsealed, transparent plastic bag containing your application-related papers will be permitted.
4. Any food item.
5. Sealed envelopes or packages. Do not push folders or sealed envelopes through any of the counter windows outside or inside the consulate. However, if you are an immigrant visa applicant and have a sealed medical report, you can enter the consulate. The medical report must remain sealed at all times.
6. Smoking items such as Cigarettes / cigars / matches / match boxes / lighters.
7. Any sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives or nail files.
8. Weapons or explosive material of any kind.
9. Bottles of any kind.
Bring only the items and documents that relate to your visa application.
Umbrellas are allowed. Therefore, if it is a rainy season, or if you think it may rain on the interview day, remember to carry umbrella with you.
Bottle for baby milk, diaper, a pair of cloths for baby etc. are allowed. If you are carrying any milk bottle, you will have to taste it in front of the security guard.
The list provided above is not finite. Other items may be prohibited based on security staff discretion. Due to security concerns, the Consulate does not permit interested parties such as friends, relatives or business contacts to accompany nonimmigrant visa applicants to their interviews. However, interpreters are allowed to accompany hearing-impaired applicants.
Please do not bring extra people to your visa interview, including your American citizen children. Food items and bottles of any kind are not permitted to be brought into the building. Consulate recommends that you find a baby sitter for your minor U.S. citizen children.
Due to security issues and limited space within the Consulate, only visa applicants are permitted entry. The consulate recommends that applicants keep to a minimum the number of persons escorting them, as the area around the consulate gets crowded. Friends and relatives of applicants are requested not to wait outside the visa gate where heavy vehicular traffic can present a danger to those who congregate on the streets. Family members are instead encouraged to meet visa applicants at nearby restaurants and alternate meeting spots.
There is no facility at the U.S. Embassy / Consulate to store prohibited items. You will have
to make alternate arrangements to keep the same before entering the facility.
 

Big Dan

New member
Feb 14, 2009
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The following is copy of info sent to friend concerning her visa interview. Note the area I highlighted concerning baby bottles.

Any electronic device can be rigged to explode from a remote location. Explosions are bad. Storage lockers for electronics devices on government premises are bad. Electronic devices can explode in there too.