Call for a global Immigration Reform

Immigration controls are not designed for us -- they exist to appease people's irrational fear of migrants ("stealing our jobs", "the country's full", etc.). That's why here in the UK we reject the idea of detention without charge for terrorism suspects, but are perfectly happy to lock up asylum seekers for years at a time. It's outrageous.

Schengen Agreement, at least kind of sorted this problem for the lucky ones to be a citizen of a member state. For the rest of us, we'll continue to be dogged by this for a long time to come. Immigration laws world wide run on the premise that once we hit our 30's, we want to settle and have a career, a degree and/or a family. Nomads are not majority. Tax laws are also equally as draconian, in reality.<p>I've found starting a business in my "home" country, and moving between countries with favorable working holiday schemes and long duration tourist permits is the most effective but won't be sustainable past 30 unless I set up another business in a country friendly towards foreign investment (I'm looking at you, Singapore).

How on earth does showing you're an open source Python programmer prove you're not planning to seek random low paid employment of the type immigration controls generally seek to stop?

I think what the author is calling for is somewhat impractical (if, say, Thailand issues such a stamp, why should Canada or the USA have to respect it)?<p>On the other hand, I don't really understand why countries like the US, Canada, and Japan don't enter into agreements with EU/EEA countries to allow for visa-free travel, work, and residence agreements.

So by just being a digital nomad that makes money online you get access to a country that spent billions and maybe trillions of dollars building its infrastructure?<p>My opinion is that you are going to benefit from that, so here is what I think is a fair deal for digital nomads seeking to browse the USA:<p>Duration: 0.5-2 years. renewable after 5 years.<p>Cost: $5,000 for the visa + $600/month.<p>Work: No. But you can do consulting for accredited companies.<p>For that cost, I get access to a great infrastructure, culture, people, universities... I don't have to pay taxes, I just pay a monthly fee which is the equivalent of what I get.<p>Once I finish my tour, I just leave the country.

I'm sorry to write that, but I think that you're being a little bit douchy. You have a way of thinking parallel to these celebrities demanding exclusive access to shops and shit.<p>I am a genius Ukulele player, and if you ever read Ukulele Monthly you would know me and that I have no problem with attendance at my super-expensive concerts. But I don't expect border officers to read Ukulele Monthly, or even to know what Ukulele is.

Borders are imaginary lines. But unfortunately border control officers are not and usually have little time for philosophy on the nature of socially constructed boundaries.<p>Perhaps you could just tell them that you decided to retire early and go on a continuous global tour while you were still young enough to enjoy it.