Taiwan: An online protest against the American Institute in Taiwan · Global Voices
I-fan Lin

In September, Taiwanese artist Chen Chieh-jen started a website against the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) called, “I suspect that you intend to stow away to the U.S.”.
When he was invited to attend New Orleans Biennial, he went to the AIT to apply for a U.S. non-immigrant visa (business/tourist visa) at 12:45pm on September 23, 2008. When he delivered his application documents, he was told that there was an error in his document. He asked what the error was, but the officer yelled at him arrogantly, “Come here! Do you want to argue with me? I suspect that you intend to stow away to the U.S.”
After the accident, he left the AIT and claimed,
我當然要拒絕被這樣的羞辱，更不會再去申請美國簽證。
Moreover, he invited others to share their experience if they faced a similar situation. He said,
我相信這個世界總是被點點滴滴的緩慢改變，我誠摯地邀請有類似經驗的人，無論是親身經歷、身旁朋友的經驗，或是你曾目擊的過程，都希望你能在這個部落格上留下你的見證。當這許許多多的經驗聚集起來時，或許能幫助我們想：我們為什麼會被如此對待？我們可以如何改變它？
There are many people leaving message in his blog supporting his protest. “usa ng” is one of them.
我很好奇為什麼有人會認為：用粗暴的語言和態度對待一個文件沒有填妥的簽證申請人是合理態度。
“Anonymous” thought U.S. government needs to clarify what these official are empowered to do,
美國政府賦予簽證官員懷疑簽證者有偷渡嫌疑，卻沒有賦予官員有污辱人的權力。官員有權拒簽，卻不能口出惡言。
In his blog, some people shared their sad stories about the consequences of their failures applying for U.S. visas. “Juliet” talked about what the AIT official said when her visa application was rejected before her grandpa in the U.S. died.
爺爺在美國病危… 面試官只花了3分鐘看我的文件, 還是把我的資料退回. 我用”英文”說明這位親人已經是”美國公民” 只是想看我一面而已. 我當時在台灣有工作, 也不打算當個無業遊民. 面試官回了我一句話: Then you can ask airline company to send your grandfather back … 我只冷冷的回他一句話: You're heartless (你沒心干的) 就走了. 3天後我的爺爺去世, 我自從1997年就再也沒有再見過他.
“Luka‘s” mother did not get a visa to attend her wedding ceremony in the U.S., and “Luka” does not think AIT's reasons for rejecting her mother's application are convincing.
我剛和美國公民結婚. 一年當中,幫我媽媽申請了三次觀光簽證…第一次是AIT懷疑我會跳機,連帶拒絕我媽媽的觀光簽證申請, 面試時一個問題都沒問媽媽, 就被拒了…第三次,媽媽帶著我美國結婚證書正本,證明我在美合法性. AIT在不到三分鐘的面試當中, 說”你已經有被拒的紀錄,規定就是不行, 下一位!”…我老公以美國公民身份請美國參議員發函至AIT, 詢問到底要怎樣才能讓我媽來美國…AIT回覆美國參議員,說我媽媽無法提供跟台灣社會上, 經濟上, 家庭上足夠的聯繫(Tie), 所以無法通過. 可是AIT面試時完全乎略我媽媽在台灣有其他兒子, 女兒, 孫子的事實…只教條式認定, 喪偶的單身女子, 無工作, 無大存款, 等於”想偷渡”. 就這樣, 上星期六我們過了一個沒有女方家長的婚宴…
Some stories are less sad but full of angry. “Akemi” criticized that AIT officials misuse their power.
這位先生，他竟然告訴我，如果我不告訴他我要上班，他就不讓我過關…就這樣我就莫名其妙的在一個外人威脅下在一大堆陌生人面前宣示說，好啦我一定會快點找工作，來換取我的美國簽證。
“Anonymous” tried to analyze why applicants have so much psychological stress when going to AIT.
美國的資料顯示,台灣人辦美簽被拒絕的比例約是4-5%,但卻有那麼多人對美簽有那麼多“害怕辦不過“或是不滿的情緒,顯示這當中不只是refusal rate的問題,而是在過程中是否受到合理的對待? 是否在辦的過與半不過之間我們可以找到一套合理的標準,而不是主觀的,情緒性的判定。
On the other hand, some people, including “anonymous“, reflected on how the Taiwanese government issues visas for foreigners.
除了新聞播出的外籍配偶面談常被刁難與問一些隱私問題外…（在越南）當地人為了辦 來台簽證要花好幾天輾轉搭車到市區,然後在門外排好幾天的長龍,進去申辦也會被刁難,不見得一次拿得到簽證,所以仔細想想,我們跟美國其實也是5步笑百步.