Update Website with Note about Flock Travel

[Brian Exelbierd]

In connection with Catholic Youth Day festivities. Poland will impose 
border controls at all of its national borders from July 4 to August 2, 
and visitors to Poland during this period should be prepared to show 
their passport and undergo stricter security screening throughout Poland.

This note is based on information provided by the US Department of 
State.  It will mostly impact travelers coming to Flock by ground 
transport.  EU Citizens should be able to use their ID instead of their 
passport.

regards,

bex

[Paul W. Frields]

On Fri, Jun 03, 2016 at 04:01:55PM +0200, Brian (bex) Exelbierd wrote:
>  In connection with Catholic Youth Day festivities. Poland will impose
> border
>  controls at all of its national borders from July 4 to August 2, and
>  visitors to Poland during this period should be prepared to show their
>  passport and undergo stricter security screening throughout Poland.
>  
>  This note is based on information provided by the US Department of State.
>  It will mostly impact travelers coming to Flock by ground transport.  EU
>  Citizens should be able to use their ID instead of their passport. 
Added info, thanks Bex.

https://pagure.io/fedora-websites/c/03bfae1fed7aa5fcbc348eb6df6ace74991fac5a

-- 
Paul W. Frields                                http://paul.frields.org/
  gpg fingerprint: 3DA6 A0AC 6D58 FEC4 0233  5906 ACDB C937 BD11 3717
  http://redhat.com/   -  -  -  -   http://pfrields.fedorapeople.org/
    The open source story continues to grow: http://opensource.com

[Brian Exelbierd]

Thank you!

I will try to do pagure requests in the future, I didn't realize this site had been
moved there.

regards,

bex

>  On Jun 3, 2016, at 10:43 PM, Paul W. Frields
> <stickster(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:
>  
>  On Fri, Jun 03, 2016 at 04:01:55PM +0200, Brian (bex) Exelbierd wrote:
> > In connection with Catholic Youth Day festivities. Poland will impose border
> > controls at all of its national borders from July 4 to August 2, and
> > visitors to Poland during this period should be prepared to show their
> > passport and undergo stricter security screening throughout Poland.
> > 
> > This note is based on information provided by the US Department of State.
> > It will mostly impact travelers coming to Flock by ground transport.  EU
> > Citizens should be able to use their ID instead of their passport.
>  
>  Added info, thanks Bex.
>  
>  https://pagure.io/fedora-websites/c/03bfae1fed7aa5fcbc348eb6df6ace74991fac5a
>  
>  -- 
>  Paul W. Frields                                http://paul.frields.org/
>   gpg fingerprint: 3DA6 A0AC 6D58 FEC4 0233  5906 ACDB C937 BD11 3717
>   http://redhat.com/   -  -  -  -   http://pfrields.fedorapeople.org/
>     The open source story continues to grow: http://opensource.com
>  _______________________________________________
>  flock-planning mailing list
>  flock-planning(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://lists.fedoraproject.org/admin/lists/[e-mail]...

[Rafal Luzynski]

3.06.2016 16:01 "Brian (bex) Exelbierd" <bex(a)pobox.com&gt; wrote:
>  In connection with Catholic Youth Day festivities. Poland will impose
>  border controls at all of its national borders from July 4 to August 2,
>  and visitors to Poland during this period should be prepared to show
>  their passport and undergo stricter security screening throughout Poland. 
Thank you, Brian, for providing this information. Yes, these are the
exact dates when Schengen acquis rules will be suspended and the
border controls will be imposed. To be more precise, WYD will not be
the only reason, the second one (or even the first one, in chronological
order) is NATO summit. Note that most of Flock attendees are probably
going to arrive on August 1 so they will not avoid these difficulties.
EU citizens must have their passports or ID cards (it's recommended
to have both). Non-EU citizens must have their passports and visas
if needed. See the list of countries whose citizens do not need visas:
http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/travel_to_poland/entering_poland/visa_free/
Note the citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia,
Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia: only holders of biometric passports
are allowed for visa-free travel. Shortly, everything like when
crossing non-EU country border.

Border control will not be obligatory, though. The border guard may
decide whether to screen or not to screen each traveler. Don't be
surprised if they just tell you to go free or if you don't see any
staff.

There will also be special regulations in Krakow. Regarding August 1
car traffic in large areas of the city center will be restricted,
only local citizens of the area, public transport, taxis etc. will
be allowed to drive. Note that it applies to August 1 only, the day
when most of you are supposed to arrive, and the restricted area
includes the main railway station and intercity bus station.
See the map here: http://krakow.pl/zalacznik/257903/3
This does not impact the hotel area, the airport, etc.
If you ask about previous days then almost whole area of the town
will be restricted from car traffic (except local citizens etc.)
The short message is: arrive at Flock as late as you can unless
you are also going to attend at WYD.

But there are also some good news. Public transport will be promoted,
there are 700 additional trains already announced plus many additional
bus connections. Noise pollution regulations will be suspended to allow
the airports operate 24h/day. There are plans to let the day city bus
lines in Krakow to operate until 1am. Several museums will be
open free of charge also in August.

>  This note is based on information provided by the US Department of
>  State. It will mostly impact travelers coming to Flock by ground
>  transport. 
As far as I know there are no different regulations for different
ways to cross the border. Brian, are you sure that air and sea travelers
will be less impacted than ground travelers? I suggest to verify
this information and remove this sentence from the web page if it
turns out to be false.

>  EU Citizens should be able to use their ID instead of their
>  passport. 
As I wrote above, this is true but I still suggest to have both.

Best regards,

Rafal

[Brian Exelbierd]

>  On Jun 11, 2016, at 2:39 AM, Rafal Luzynski
> <digitalfreak(a)lingonborough.com&gt; wrote:
>  
>  3.06.2016 16:01 "Brian (bex) Exelbierd" <bex(a)pobox.com&gt; wrote:
> > 
> > In connection with Catholic Youth Day festivities. Poland will impose
> > border controls at all of its national borders from July 4 to August 2,
> > and visitors to Poland during this period should be prepared to show
> > their passport and undergo stricter security screening throughout Poland.
>  
>  Thank you, Brian, for providing this information. Yes, these are the
>  exact dates when Schengen acquis rules will be suspended and the
>  border controls will be imposed. To be more precise, WYD will not be
>  the only reason, the second one (or even the first one, in chronological
>  order) is NATO summit. Note that most of Flock attendees are probably
>  going to arrive on August 1 so they will not avoid these difficulties.
>  EU citizens must have their passports or ID cards (it's recommended
>  to have both). 
As my source was a US Government communication, I don't have details for EU citizens
exactly.  If both are recommended the text should be amended.


>  Non-EU citizens must have their passports and visas
>  if needed. See the list of countries whose citizens do not need visas:
>  http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/travel_to_poland/entering_poland/visa_free/
>  Note the citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia,
>  Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia: only holders of biometric passports
>  are allowed for visa-free travel. Shortly, everything like when
>  crossing non-EU country border.
>  
>  Border control will not be obligatory, though. The border guard may
>  decide whether to screen or not to screen each traveler. Don't be
>  surprised if they just tell you to go free or if you don't see any
>  staff.
>  
>  There will also be special regulations in Krakow. Regarding August 1
>  car traffic in large areas of the city center will be restricted,
>  only local citizens of the area, public transport, taxis etc. will
>  be allowed to drive. Note that it applies to August 1 only, the day
>  when most of you are supposed to arrive, and the restricted area
>  includes the main railway station and intercity bus station.
>  See the map here: http://krakow.pl/zalacznik/257903/3
>  This does not impact the hotel area, the airport, etc.
>  If you ask about previous days then almost whole area of the town
>  will be restricted from car traffic (except local citizens etc.)
>  The short message is: arrive at Flock as late as you can unless
>  you are also going to attend at WYD.
>  
>  But there are also some good news. Public transport will be promoted,
>  there are 700 additional trains already announced plus many additional
>  bus connections. Noise pollution regulations will be suspended to allow
>  the airports operate 24h/day. There are plans to let the day city bus
>  lines in Krakow to operate until 1am. Several museums will be
>  open free of charge also in August.
>  
> > This note is based on information provided by the US Department of
> > State. It will mostly impact travelers coming to Flock by ground
> > transport.
>  
>  As far as I know there are no different regulations for different
>  ways to cross the border. Brian, are you sure that air and sea travelers
>  will be less impacted than ground travelers? I suggest to verify
>  this information and remove this sentence from the web page if it
>  turns out to be false. 
Again, this was written in the context of a US Government communication.  Therefore air
travelers would already automatically have their documents from inbound international
flights while those making trips from other points in Europe may not.

I support amending the text as suggested by Rafal.

regards,

bex


>  
> > EU Citizens should be able to use their ID instead of their
> > passport.
>  
>  As I wrote above, this is true but I still suggest to have both.
>  
>  Best regards,
>  
>  Rafal
>  _______________________________________________
>  flock-planning mailing list
>  flock-planning(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://lists.fedoraproject.org/admin/lists/[e-mail]...

[Paul W. Frields]

On Sun, Jun 12, 2016 at 12:48:33PM +0200, Brian (bex) Exelbierd wrote:
>  
>  > On Jun 11, 2016, at 2:39 AM, Rafal Luzynski <digitalfreak(a)lingonborough.com&gt;
> wrote:
>  > 
>  > 3.06.2016 16:01 "Brian (bex) Exelbierd" <bex(a)pobox.com&gt; wrote:
>  >> 
>  >> In connection with Catholic Youth Day festivities. Poland will impose
>  >> border controls at all of its national borders from July 4 to August 2,
>  >> and visitors to Poland during this period should be prepared to show
>  >> their passport and undergo stricter security screening throughout Poland.
>  > 
>  > Thank you, Brian, for providing this information. Yes, these are the
>  > exact dates when Schengen acquis rules will be suspended and the
>  > border controls will be imposed. To be more precise, WYD will not be
>  > the only reason, the second one (or even the first one, in chronological
>  > order) is NATO summit. Note that most of Flock attendees are probably
>  > going to arrive on August 1 so they will not avoid these difficulties.
>  > EU citizens must have their passports or ID cards (it's recommended
>  > to have both).
>  
>  As my source was a US Government communication, I don't have details for EU citizens
> exactly.  If both are recommended the text should be amended.
>  
>  
>  > Non-EU citizens must have their passports and visas
>  > if needed. See the list of countries whose citizens do not need visas:
>  > http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/travel_to_poland/entering_poland/visa_free/
>  > Note the citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia,
>  > Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia: only holders of biometric passports
>  > are allowed for visa-free travel. Shortly, everything like when
>  > crossing non-EU country border.
>  > 
>  > Border control will not be obligatory, though. The border guard may
>  > decide whether to screen or not to screen each traveler. Don't be
>  > surprised if they just tell you to go free or if you don't see any
>  > staff.
>  > 
>  > There will also be special regulations in Krakow. Regarding August 1
>  > car traffic in large areas of the city center will be restricted,
>  > only local citizens of the area, public transport, taxis etc. will
>  > be allowed to drive. Note that it applies to August 1 only, the day
>  > when most of you are supposed to arrive, and the restricted area
>  > includes the main railway station and intercity bus station.
>  > See the map here: http://krakow.pl/zalacznik/257903/3
>  > This does not impact the hotel area, the airport, etc.
>  > If you ask about previous days then almost whole area of the town
>  > will be restricted from car traffic (except local citizens etc.)
>  > The short message is: arrive at Flock as late as you can unless
>  > you are also going to attend at WYD.
>  > 
>  > But there are also some good news. Public transport will be promoted,
>  > there are 700 additional trains already announced plus many additional
>  > bus connections. Noise pollution regulations will be suspended to allow
>  > the airports operate 24h/day. There are plans to let the day city bus
>  > lines in Krakow to operate until 1am. Several museums will be
>  > open free of charge also in August.
>  > 
>  >> This note is based on information provided by the US Department of
>  >> State. It will mostly impact travelers coming to Flock by ground
>  >> transport.
>  > 
>  > As far as I know there are no different regulations for different
>  > ways to cross the border. Brian, are you sure that air and sea travelers
>  > will be less impacted than ground travelers? I suggest to verify
>  > this information and remove this sentence from the web page if it
>  > turns out to be false.
>  
>  Again, this was written in the context of a US Government communication.  Therefore air
> travelers would already automatically have their documents from inbound international
> flights while those making trips from other points in Europe may not.
>  
>  I support amending the text as suggested by Rafal.
>  
>  regards,
>  
>  bex
>  
>  
>  > 
>  >> EU Citizens should be able to use their ID instead of their
>  >> passport.
>  > 
>  > As I wrote above, this is true but I still suggest to have both. 
Changes made.

-- 
Paul W. Frields                                http://paul.frields.org/
  gpg fingerprint: 3DA6 A0AC 6D58 FEC4 0233  5906 ACDB C937 BD11 3717
  http://redhat.com/   -  -  -  -   http://pfrields.fedorapeople.org/
    The open source story continues to grow: http://opensource.com

[Rafal Luzynski]

12.06.2016 12:48 "Brian (bex) Exelbierd" <bex(a)pobox.com&gt; wrote:
>  > On Jun 11, 2016, at 2:39 AM, Rafal Luzynski <digitalfreak(a)lingonborough.com&gt;
>  > wrote:
>  >
>  > 3.06.2016 16:01 "Brian (bex) Exelbierd" <bex(a)pobox.com&gt; wrote:
>  > [...]
>  > EU citizens must have their passports or ID cards (it's recommended
>  > to have both).
>
>  As my source was a US Government communication, I don't have details for EU
>  citizens exactly. If both are recommended the text should be amended. 
Your info is correct: for EU citizens it's enough to have either
a passport or an ID card. This is my private opinion and recommendation
to have both. That's because I guess the local authorities sometimes may
not be able to read the ID card in a language of another European country
while passports are usually multilingual with English translation included.
If you guys agree with me then you can amend the website with the info
that EU citizens are obliged to have their ID card _or_ a passport
although _we_ recommend to have both. If you don't agree feel free to
mention only and ID card _or_ a passport which is officially required.

>  > [...]
>  > As far as I know there are no different regulations for different
>  > ways to cross the border. Brian, are you sure that air and sea travelers
>  > will be less impacted than ground travelers? I suggest to verify
>  > this information and remove this sentence from the web page if it
>  > turns out to be false.
>
>  Again, this was written in the context of a US Government communication.
>  Therefore air travelers would already automatically have their documents from
>  inbound international flights while those making trips from other points in
>  Europe may not. 
OK, I understand what you mean: that screening is usual while
entering a plane. But the difference this summer will be that
passengers will also be screened when leaving a plane and entering
the country. OTOH, I don't mean anything unusual and different than
most countries around the world do so nobody should feel scared.

I think you meant this page as the source of your information:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/europe-trave...
Either it has been updated or it never mentioned that the special
rules apply to ground travelers more than the air travelers.
By the way, this page contains some more useful information so
it's worth reading.

While at this I'd like to mention that all travelers may be required
to show their passport and other document on a demand from police,
Border Guard and also Railroad Guard at random places and random
time, not only while crossing border. Police (until 31 August) and
Railroad Guard (until 2 August) will be allowed to search the
travelers' baggage. I'm sorry if it sounds scary, I hope nobody
will be hurt or offended due to these regulations.

Best regards,

Rafal

PS. Thank you Paul for having amended the website already.