I thought the white house is not open to public, surely not to foreign tourists/visitors. Now my org-friend said the opposite.

Can anyone who knows tell me the what is wrong/right?

I am just intrigued and feel stupid.

from www.whitehouse.gov

White House Tours
Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date. We encourage you to submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.

General Tour Information
All visitors should call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041 to determine if any last minute changes have been made in the tour schedule.

Prohibited Items
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following: handbags, book bags, backpacks, purses, food and beverages of any kind, strollers, cameras, video recorders or any type of recording device, tobacco products, personal grooming items (make-up, hair brush or comb, lip or hand lotions, etc.), any pointed objects (pens, knitting needles, etc.), aerosol containers, guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size. The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. Umbrellas, wallets, cell phones and car keys are permitted.

Here's the whole link: http://www.whitehouse.gov...ory/tours/

Although I wouldn't want to go there while G.W. douche and satan are in there.

Open! Something has to happen in that building!

Mars23 said:

thanks, what means in that case submit info to member of congress? Thats confusing.

Doesnt say if it is open to foreigners? Do you know?
[Edited 6/25/07 15:58pm]

OzlemUcucu said:

Congress are government representatives from each US State. And that's only necessary for tours of 10 or more, it looks like.
[Edited 6/25/07 16:00pm]

NDRU said:

yes, but i bet my ass with you that the white house is not open to foreigners..

OzlemUcucu said:

Each state has 2 Senators and a number of representatives based on population. Any of those people are considered a member of Congress. You might know names such as Nancy Pelosi, John McCain, John Kerry, or even Hillary Clinton.

The site does not come out and say it, but given the current state of pants shitting fear in the US, foreign visitors are probably out of the White House.

Mars23 said:

Well that each state has 2 senators is again a new thing to me, i was thinking only one. Why the hell does it have 2 senators?

OzlemUcucu said:

They're not on the list of Prohibited Items. Now how will you pay that bet?

NDRU said:

i am not sure yet, i mgiht have to check with the us embassy on that, but these guys react different to those questions, i only wonder why nobody here knows the answer to that question

OzlemUcucu said:

You just don't trust me! Foreigners can go to the white house, I promise

NDRU said:

thats a liberal thinkig, doesnt comply with policies of bush. Or do we get the wrong picture on this side of the globe?

OzlemUcucu said:

America prides itself on being open to foreign people (the "tired & poor huddled masses"). Even if it's not true I think they like to preserve that illusion in White House tours.

NDRU said:

Well no, that is the illusion you have on the continent, as u can see, my perception is different, so it is not open to foreign people, but i am biased. Seriously, why would a patriotic country as such open the white house to foreigners?

NDRU said:

No foreign nationals. Here's the criteria to get in:
If a tour request is accepted, security information must be submitted by our office no later than two weeks before the requested tour date. This includes the full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and city, state of birth and residence of EACH member of the group.

Mars23 said:

Thank you! Having no Social Security Number in a US sense would not necessarily mean you cant visit the bush house. But i promise you that foreigners arent allowed, and i bet my ass.

Who wants to bet?

Mars23 said:

But is that just for the tour of 10 or more?

That is the only tour. The WH is not open to the public. Only the visitor's center.

Mars23 said:

man i am so fucking bright, thansk for acknowledging. It just shows that some u guys live on that foreigner friendly illusion on that continent over there. My illusion might be more real, MAYBE
[Edited 6/25/07 16:43pm]

Mars23 said:

I thought the visitors center was in the White House, but I guess it's not.

NDRU said:

Is it or isnt it?

OzlemUcucu said:

No, it looks like the Visitor's Center is near the White House, not in it.

NDRU said:

yes the visitors centre is open to everybody, but the white house sightseeing is open to americans, who apply for that permission thats the dfiference i guess. I am ging crazy with this, and i really want to find out.

I've been in the WH.

Stax said:

Do u mean in the visitors centre?

OzlemUcucu said:

I think it was during his torrid affair with Barbara Bush.

NDRU said:

???

OzlemUcucu said:

i have been in the white house.

OzlemUcucu said:

I don't think it was always closed to non-citizens/non-residents. In the olden days (my dianosaur days) as a kid they used to allow student groups, etc.

What is the point of all this anyway...?