Scottish independence

[MacUK 983]

Just a random thought but something crossed my mind last night.

If Scotland gains independence from the United Kingdom how will that effect travel between the US and Scotland?
Presumably as Scottish citizens they'll no longer be able to travel on British passports or enjoy the benefits of VWP.
There'll be a lot of very annoyed folks with their US vacation plans thrown into doubt.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Probably will allow Scotland into the VWP immediately and vice versa.

Do you really think Scottish independence is going to happen?

Edited April 21, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[MacUK 983]

Probably will allow Scotland into the VWP immediately and vice versa.

Do you really think Scottish independence is going to happen?

If the majority of Scots vote with their heart then there's a chance it'll happen.

If they vote with their heads then no.

There's too many ludicrous claims about how much better off Scotland will be without the yoke of Westminster.

But I've not seen any impartial sensible figures about how it'll happen.

[tim131 14]

Probably will allow Scotland into the VWP immediately and vice versa.

Do you really think Scottish independence is going to happen?

Wouldn't be so sure, the EU have already said they wont automatically take Scotland.

Maybe the US will be so afraid, that all the poor sods who voted no, and it was actually a yes vote, will flee to the US for a better life.

I don't think it will happen, I lived in Aberdeen, arguably one of the more patriotic cities, and most people agree, heart a yes vote, but head a no vote, they would be mad to do so, Oil will dry up, plus the argument about the oil assumes the rest of the UK will just relinquish their stake in the North Sea oil industry.. it will be complicated.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Just a random thought but something crossed my mind last night.

If Scotland gains independence from the United Kingdom how will that effect travel between the US and Scotland?

Presumably as Scottish citizens they'll no longer be able to travel on British passports or enjoy the benefits of VWP.

There'll be a lot of very annoyed Jocks with their US vacation plans thrown into doubt.

I remember as a child, we used to fly into Heathrow and then onto Edinburgh by train. With a horribly long taxi ride in between.

It may not be so easy to do it that way if Scotland was independent. Not that I would do it that way now anyway, but I'm sure it must have been cheaper, at least back then.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yeah, but joining an economic and legal entity is much different from allowing reciprocal visa-free passage to citizens.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Yeah, but joining an economic and legal entity is much different from allowing reciprocal visa-free passage to citizens.

Exactly this, the US doesn't need Scotland to be an EU member for it to join the VWP!!!

[MacUK 983]

Wouldn't be so sure, the EU have already said they wont automatically take Scotland.

Maybe the US will be so afraid, that all the poor sods who voted no, and it was actually a yes vote, will flee to the US for a better life.

I don't think it will happen, I lived in Aberdeen, arguably one of the more patriotic cities, and most people agree, heart a yes vote, but head a no vote, they would be mad to do so, Oil will dry up, plus the argument about the oil assumes the rest of the UK will just relinquish their stake in the North Sea oil industry.. it will be complicated.

And a lot of people out on the islands (Shetland, Orkney, Western Isles) are suggesting that if Scotland goes solo then they'll be wanting independence from Scotland!

[MacUK 983]

Yeah, but joining an economic and legal entity is much different from allowing reciprocal visa-free passage to citizens.

No, but as a brand new country would Scotland meet the criteria for VWP?

How can a country* join the VWP?

A country* must meet various requirements to be considered for designation in the Visa Waiver Program. Requirements include, but are not limited to:

enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States;issuing e-Passports;having a visitor (B) visa refusal rate of less than three percent;timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports; andmaintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

Designation as a VWP country* is at the discretion of the U.S. government. Meeting the objective requirements of the VWP does not guarantee a country* will receive VWP designation.

There probably will be VWP membership in a Scottish future but logically there would have to be a period where Scotland has to prove it meets the conditions of membership.

Edited April 22, 2014 by MacUK

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No, but as a brand new country would Scotland meet the criteria for VWP?

There probably will be VWP membership in a Scottish future but logically there would have to be a period where Scotland has to prove it meets the conditions of membership.

Yes, my feeling is that they would use data from the UK and apply it to Scotland pretty quick. They might even be able to extract Scottish only data by address or something. I am sure they would meet the criteria, and establishing diplomatic relations and tourism exchange quickly would be in the best interest of the US and Scotland. Americans want to visit Scotland too. The visa-free travel thing is usually reciprocal.

Do you want their VWP to be revoked?

Edited April 22, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[JohnR! 5,495]

Probably will allow Scotland into the VWP immediately and vice versa.

Do you really think Scottish independence is going to happen?

I am certain Scottish citizens will enjoy VWP from the onset - they already enjoy VWP now, so there would be no reason to change.

No, but as a brand new country would Scotland meet the criteria for VWP?

There probably will be VWP membership in a Scottish future but logically there would have to be a period where Scotland has to prove it meets the conditions of membership.

They already meet the criteria, otherwise the privilege would have been denied to all British passport holders.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Gegel

[MacUK 983]

Do you want their VWP to be revoked?

Not at all, just one of the hundreds of little things regarding the independence referendum that it seems nobody has considered.

And the random thoughts that come in to the head during a long night shift.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

I find it amusing that they think they can pick and choose the things they want to keep if they get independence like the pound and the EU. Pity the rest of the UK can't have a vote over whether we want them in or not!

[Gail83 21]

I for one hope that independence is granted. I'm not in any way saying it would be easy but let's face it it's not as if Scotland would be the first country in the history of the world to gain it's independence.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I find it amusing that they think they can pick and choose the things they want to keep if they get independence like the pound and the EU. Pity the rest of the UK can't have a vote over whether we want them in or not!

Of course they can pick. If they gain independence, then they get to make their own choices and do whatever the heck they want. They will also endure to consequences of their actions.

Your politicians decided to join the EU but keep the pound, what difference is there if Scotland does it?

Edited April 23, 2014 by Harpa Timsah