Last May, I was supposed to give a presentation on the role of popular media in Kurdistan at a gathering of the International Communication Association, or ICA. I’d been researching the topic for years and was excited to share my findings with a large international academic audience — but alas, I never got the chance. After a torturous, almost surreal vetting process that left me wondering whether I was really applying for a visa to a country that describes itself as “the land of the free,” US immigration authorities denied my visa and refused to let me enter the country at all.

The country I call home, the Federal Republic of Germany, welcomes American tourists for ninety days visa-free, no questions asked. Americans are encouraged to visit, travel, and experience the culture; if they really like it here, they can apply for a language school visa and extend their stay for another year or two. By the time that runs out, they can usually acquire a work visa without leaving the country or undergoing much scrutiny. I had heard that the United States was a bit stricter, but, given my German passport, I hoped that a brief trip to the country to speak at an established international conference wouldn’t be a problem.