Thread by @ChrisFerris3

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada Consider a thought experiment about how to possibly solve this class of problems. Namely modifying countries' immigration systems to better accommodate the flow of university graduate students, post docs, and various levels of professors to conferences and events. 1/n

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada There is also another important group, namely practitioners in industry and government. They can be caught up with visa issues from time to time, but the first group may have enough of a different experience to think through separately. 2/n

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada So back to the issue of fixing the system to better accommodate the flow of graduate students, postdoc, and various levels of professors to academic conferences.

By being accepted as a graduate student and/or hired as some level of commitment to your field of study. ... 3/n

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada This definitely would improve the conditional probability that the person is a legitimate academic conference attendee. 4/n

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada Now, consider that the same person has now been asked by, or been accepted by the organizers of an academic conference to speak at, host a panel or otherwise play an important role at an academic conference. 5/n.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada This would then shift their conditional probability of being a legitimate conference attendee even higher. 6/n

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada So when a current graduate student, a post doc, or various level of professor is applying for a visa to attend an academic conference in their area of study (and demonstrates acceptable proof of that affiliation), ... 7/n

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada and furthermore has proof of their acceptance or invitation to speak at an academic conference (a letter from the event organizer stating this), this should significantly improve their probability of approval. 8/n.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada There will be other factors at play, but I suspect that a hypothetical review of the history of academic attendees of academic conferences who meet such criteria would show a reasonably low rate of people overstaying their visa limits 9/9.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada @threadreaderapp unroll

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada 2. For academic conference organizers as a group, when inviting or accepting speakers: Be aware that getting a VISA approval takes time, so get the invites and acceptances completed 3 to 6 months ahead of the event. This way timeouts will not be an issue. 1/M

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada Also, draft a letter saying that the speaker has been invited, or accepted to speak at the event (or something to that effect). Send the letter as part of the initial package of information to speakers who require a visa to come to your country. 2/M

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada Basically, make it easier for a speaker to send the proper signal to the authorities right from the beginning. 3/3.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada 3. For Universities Departments where grad students are attending, or with postDocs and various levels of profs. When people are looking to attend relevant academic conferences, have documentation that indicates that that person is affiliated with your institution. 1/L

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada If your organization is financially supporting the person to go, have standard documents that indicate that support. These kinds of things are done every year by many people, so having these things available (if not already available) is a great service to people. Uni: 2/2.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada 4 Speakers. Speakers typically have the most incentive to attend. They need support from the conferences and their academic institutions in order send strong and clear signals. If the visa application is clear on its requirements for academic conferences ... 1/K.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada [4 Speakers]: And the conferences and the speakers academic institution get them information and support in a timely manner. Then speakers will tend to have a much higher conditional probability of having their visas accepted. 2/K.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada Let's ensure speakers have the best possible support, with a clear visa application pathway. This should come very close to eliminating visa application rejections that are unwarranted . Speakers 3/3.

@AlanMackworth @kau_mad @JustinTrudeau @HonAhmedHussen @KirstyDuncanMP @NavdeepSBains @joycemurray @HedyFry @NeurIPSConf @Canada @threadreaderapp unroll