But my latest experience made me look at the topic of it from completely new angle and perspective. How far is one able to go and what kind of information willing to provide to be able to enter another country?

 I am Czech. I am coming I still believe from a democratic country which is EU member state for almost 6 years. I have lived and worked in Brussels for almost 7. One day my family comes with this great idea. “Let’s go to visit some relatives in Canada.” Cool! Buy a ticket, pack few things, take som leave and … And apply for visa! Yes my friend, I come also from a country that has obligatory visa requirements for Canada.

According to the official Canadian pages there is a list of things you have to provide along with the form in order to have at least an eligible application. And still there is no guarantee you will be successful and get the visa, of course. Aside from the detail you have to pay quite a fee to be sure they will deal with your case you have to fill a form. Name, address, date of birth, purpose of visit. Ok, ok, ok, I have no problem with that. Your partner, his name and date of birth, your children, their names and dates of birth…Are they travelling with you? No. Never mind, just give us the details. Wait! Is this really necessary? In the additional side of the form it’s even funnier. You have to specify name, date of birth and address of all your relatives and parents, alive or even dead! You should mention even your dead children if you have any!

And you still haven’t seen the list of additional supporting documents yet. Invitation letter, itinerary, confirmation of employment, certificate of salary, bank or credit card statements, proof of property possession. Name it, it’s there. I am really surprised they don’t ask what size of bra I wear.

I am quite sure my data are safe in Canadian hands. At least until someone in a few years forgets to discard them properly and suddenly they appear on junkyard somewhere in India.

How much information required is too much? I don’t know. The European Parliament is discussing SWIFT, data protection and personal data. I am not afraid that someone will be too interested in my persona. There is nothing to be interested about. I am quite sure my data are safe in Canadian hands. At least until someone in a few years forgets to discard them properly and suddenly they appear on junkyard somewhere in India. Anyway, by the time we arrive on Canadian ground they will have body scanners installed. At least they can link my dossier to a very nice naked picture ;)

You may argue I don’t have to go there. And you might be right. If I have a chance to choose whether to go or not, I would really hesitate. There are so many nice countries where you can go without any obstructions. But sometimes you don’t have so much chance to choose and then you have to bend your head and provide what they ask for. So now the have my fascicle and we see in two weeks…

One little paper can change your life

Few weeks later I received a phone call from the personnel service of EP asking whether I want to come to work in Brussels for a WHOLE year! And I hesitated. My law studies were just at the halfway stage and I was having one of the best times of my student life. In the end I have decided to come for a “trial” year. A “stage” in the EP would always look good in my curriculum, n’est-ce pas?

I made this decision 6 years ago. Did those years bring me anything special? Hmm, let me think! I have settled my home in Belgium, got married and had a child, finished my studies. I worked in 3 different services within EP and always learned a lot and had a great boss. I met two presidents and a Pope. I have seen the Dalai Lama, the UN Secretary General, the Queen of the Netherlands and tens of other personalities from all over the globe. I have touched a Stanley Cup trophy. But most important I meet and talk literally daily to colleagues and friends from 27 different European countries. And doing this everyday for so many years just has to open your eyes, unlock your heart and enrich your soul.

I have touched a Stanley Cup trophy…

We posted on Tuesday an article on EP front page about Parliament’s traineeship programmes and how they influence the stagiaire’s life and career. The other day I met a guy who used to be a trainee in our unit few years ago. Well now he works as an expert in president Buzek’s cabinet. I always knew he is the bright and intelligent one, but this in not a bad start of career for a 30 years-old guy at all!

It’s time to make my point. What I am trying to say here. It’s always worth it to fill in some application for whatever you want or dream of. You never know how thing will end up and where a brave step on unknown paths might bring you.