Original link: https://leonson.me/2022/07/white-house
The morning of June 25, 2022 We paid an official goodwill visit to the White House at the invitation of US President Joe Biden. We visited the White House.
The idea of visiting the White House was born years ago. But last time we went to DC we were too late to get a chance to visit the White House. Earlier this year, the White House announced the resumption of public tours, so we immediately made a plan and put it into action.
Affected by the epidemic, public tours of the White House are only available on Friday and Saturday, and only from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 noon. An appointment with your own congressman is required to submit an application to the White House between ninety and twenty-one days before the date of the visit. There is a special system or process between the congressman’s office and the White House for processing appointments that is not open to the public. Our experience is to contact the congressman’s office more than ninety days before the visit date to register our name and number of people with us so that the congressman’s office can help us submit the application to the White House on the day the visit date opens for appointments. Of course, because many people who apply to visit the White House will suggest setting aside some more dates as backup.
We received an email titled “White House Tour RSVP REMINDER” shortly after submitting the request to the MP’s office. This email requires us to submit all accompanying traveler information before the deadline is one day. The email will also list “Preference Dates” which actually contain the date we finally made the trip. We filled in and submitted it within the time limit as required by the email. Afterwards we realized that receiving this email meant that we were in a stable position to buy air tickets and book hotels. Of course, it needs to be reminded that the UI of this tourist registration system is more interesting or creative and requires more patience, scrutiny, understanding and tolerance.
One month after the RSVP was completed we received another email titled “White House Tour – CONFIRMED”. The email confirmed the specific time of our visit, COVID-related precautions and a link to the pass. I will briefly talk about the relevant requirements for reference. Visits need to verify identity. Adult US citizens can use US driver’s license, passport or Military ID. Minor US citizens do not need documents. All non-citizens need to provide one of the following documents. Passport, green card, alien registration card This should be It is a temporary document during the green card application, and the diplomatic personnel ID non-citizen cannot use the driver’s license. These requirements are actually the same as the requirements during registration. Need to arrive 15 minutes early to be out of date. You can bring your mobile phone to mute. It can only be used for taking pictures and taking pictures. You cannot use the flash to record videos, make calls or other purposes. There are no public toilets inside the White House. The duration of the visit is approximately 45 minutes. The notes also include a list of permitted and prohibited items that are not listed one by one. The policy related to epidemic prevention is that if you test positive or have symptoms or have a secret reception within ten days before your visit, please stay home and “you will be required to review a symptom and exposure history screening” before entering the White House on the same day. Contact History White House will provide masks and hand sanitizer if needed.
It’s time to visit. We printed out our passes and packed light as instructed to arrive 15 minutes early to line up. But the secret service didn’t get to work until it was on time. The first level just looked at the printed pass and gave each of us a travel guide. The second level needed to check the ID and the secret service would look up some on a handheld device. The information is released quickly. The third level is also a special service. Check the ID and check it on a similar handheld device. It is also quickly released. The fourth level is the security check. After sanitizer, I didn’t see the fifth level, so I didn’t have any inspections. I just said hello to Secret Service and said hello. We entered the White House from the East Wing of the White House. We didn’t ask us any COVID-related questions during the whole process except asking us for ID. About half of our group of tourists wore masks and no one wore masks.
After entering the White House, I wandered around the designated area without a tour guide, but there were special agents everywhere. Of course they have the responsibility of security, but on the day of the visit, their main job is to explain, for example, “This room that everyone is visiting now is the favorite of the president of so-and-so or the first lady of so-and-so. He/she chose this painting/ That set of furniture.” and “If you have any questions, feel free to ask.” But there will also be “Uh, I don’t remember what year it was…” Turning around and asking “Dude, do you remember what year?” In addition, I was surprised There is also a gift shop on the first floor of the White House. Of course, tourists will inevitably buy some souvenirs to go back. The visit did take about 45 minutes. The route is to visit the library on the first floor, the gold-plated hall and the porcelain hall. On the second floor, visit the East Hall, the Green Hall, the Blue Hall, which are located directly above the Diplomatic Reception Hall, the Red Hall, and the Banquet Hall of the Head of State. . In addition to the special service explanation, these places also set up some information boards for tourists to read and understand. Of course, this route does not involve the president’s office area and the living area of the president’s family. Of course, we have not seen the president himself and his family.
Overall the reservation and tour of the White House went smoothly. If you have any questions or need any assistance from the start of the appointment to the official visit, you can contact the MP’s office. My communication with our congressman’s DC office via phone and email has been very smooth. You can also ask the Secret Service to help at any time on the scene. For example, if someone needs to use the barrier-free access that day, the Secret Service helped her walk an undisclosed road. It is estimated that she used the elevator.
I hope this small article can help friends who are interested in visiting the White House.
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