I'd like to know the reasoning behind choosing Canada as an alternative interview location because from experience, it easier to get a US visitor visa than that of Canada.
Nigerians cannot even transit the Canadian airport without a visa which takes upward of 8 weeks to get AFTER approval vs days for the US. Requirements for Canada are more onerous.
2 suggestions.
1. A country of interview per continent. For instance, Dubai will cover Africans + Middle East + Europe
2. Shortlist some countries and let people select 2 options to interview at.
On paper, the passport index [1] looks like a good way to do it but doesn't take into account spread of countries that can visit
I also know several US citizens that have been denied entry into Canada because of a DUI in the United States. AFAIK It's not a hard fast rule, and you won't find out until you get there.
As a Canadian, I was surprised someone would be denied entry for a DUI. Since I looked this up I'll summarize:
Essentially Canada can prevent people who have committed what would be indictable crimes under Canadian law from entering. DUI is particularly strange because it can be either an indictable (serious) or summary (less serious) offence, and in Canada this depends on the circumstances and the way it's prosecuted. Coupled with the varying laws in different states regarding DUI/DWI/OUI/etc, and presumably to prevent the border guard having to act as a Canadian criminal court (to judge how it would be handled here) they just always treat it as if it was an indictable offence.
So even if you're not driving and not intending to drive, the fact it's a potentially indictable criminal offence is what prevents entry -- nothing at all to do with it being a DUI.
There appears to be a couple possible ways to be admitted despite a criminal record[1], by getting either a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) or being granted Criminal Rehabilitation. I'm not sure what's involved with either, or how likely it is to be approved, but they apparently issue around 10,000 TRPs a year.
Yes this has been a problem for several people I know. There is an arduous apology form process one can go through but most people just give up because it is so embarrassing. I've had more complications at the US-Canada border crossing than at any other crossing I've ever taken.
It's particularly interesting given that having a DUI on your record is not disqualifying for entry into the USA. The US denies entry for what it deems crimes of moral turpitude, a relatively nebulous concept, though one a DUI does not fall under.
I totally agree with you especially your suggestion that Dubai be considered for the interview. In fact Dubai should be considered as a site for the 3 month program.
I applied to YC for the 2017 batch and I'd rather get into the program than not. But if I have to jump through needless hoops to do so, and put up with the bullshit of a narcissistic circus-performer politician while at it, I'll bootstrap my business for longer or seek investment from someplace else.
If YC is committed to 'discovering world-wide talent' it had better do something more drastic in pursuit of this goal in the light of recent events and challenges.
I'd like to know the reasoning behind choosing Canada as an alternative interview location because from experience, it easier to get a US visitor visa than that of Canada.
Nigerians cannot even transit the Canadian airport without a visa which takes upward of 8 weeks to get AFTER approval vs days for the US. Requirements for Canada are more onerous.
2 suggestions.
1. A country of interview per continent. For instance, Dubai will cover Africans + Middle East + Europe
2. Shortlist some countries and let people select 2 options to interview at.
On paper, the passport index [1] looks like a good way to do it but doesn't take into account spread of countries that can visit
[1] www.passportindex.org/byWelcomingRank.php