cables from us consulate in jeddah about visa issuance

8/14/2019 Cables from US Consulate in Jeddah about Visa Issuance

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Lasers :ACTION: CONSINFO: ADM CG 9/11Working-level Employee

D I S S E M I N A T I O N : CONS ....C H A R G E : P R O G ""- , . . . .A P P R O V E D : C O N S :S W B U C KD R A F T E D : C O NS : C S C O C K B U R N : C SC , iC L E A R E D : ADM:JPAIGE, R SO :A K E P C H A R , C O N S : K O G L E , C O N S JVZCZCJII651RR RUEHC RUEHZMDE RUEHJI #1212/01 3340740ZNR UUUUU ZZHR 300740Z NOV 98FM AMCONSUL JEDDAHTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1911INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVEBTUNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 001212OEPT FOR CA/EX, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, OIG/ISP, M/FSI/SPS,CA/VO, CA/FPP AND CA/OCSE.O. 12958: N/ATAGS: CMGT, CVIS, CASC, KFRD, ASIG, AFSISUBJECT: FY 1998 CONSULAR PACKAGE NARRATIVE- -JEDDAHREF: STATE 185914A) NAME OF THE CONSULAR SECTION CHIEF: CARL S. COCKBURNOFPTCR TELEPHONE OF THE CONSULAR SECTION CHIEF:| |EXT 4208 _Ak SEL"1TDN FAX NUMBER;] OR-:B ) DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES (STAFF, NON- UTOMATED'EQUIPMENT, SPACE) TO DO CONSULAR WORK AT YOUR POST THATMEET THE MISSION PROGRAM PLAN OBJECTIVES?- - S T A F F AND EQUIPMENT ARE GENERALLY ADEQUATE TO DOCONSULAR WORK. IN THE SUMMER PEAK PERIOD, AT LEAST TWOADDITIONAL PART .TIME EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO MEETNONIMMIGRANT VJSA WORKLOAD DEMANDS. THE SECTIONPERIODICALLY EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS IN COMPLETING TELEPHONECALLS OUTSIDE THE CONSULATE.THE PHYSICAL PLANT IS BARELY ADEQUATE. IN EARLY 1996,THE CONSULAR SECTION WAS TEMPORARILY RELOCATED TO APREFABRICATED METAL STRUCTURE BECAUSE OF SECURITY

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01212CONCERNS. THE STRUCTURE IS RAPIDLY SUCCUMBING TO THENATURAL AGING FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPORARYBUILDINGS.THERE ARE FIVE NARROW SERVICE WINDOWS IN THE SECTION FORINTERVIEWS AND FEE COLLECTIONS. THE WINDOWS PROVIDE NOPRIVACY FOR CLIENTS AND THE NOISE LEVELS RESULT IN POORCOMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN CLIENTS AND CONSULAR EMPLOYEES. SECTION OFFICES ARE INADEQUATE AND INACCESSIBLE FORMEETINGS WITH VISITORS AND CLIENTS.THE CONSULAR FACILITIES PROJECT AN UNFAVORABLE IMAGE. INADDITION, ACCESS BY CLIENTS TO THE SECTION IS A PUBLICRELATIONS ISSUE. CLIENTS MUST WALK SOME 215 YARDS FROMTHE CONSULATE ENTRANCE TO THE CONSULAR SECTION ON ANUNCOVERED WALKWAY IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 100F DEGREES.WHILE FBO AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THECONSULAR SECTION/USIS ANNEX IN JUNE 1998, THE CONTRACTORHAD DIFFICULTY POSTING A BONO, CAUSING A DELAY. IT ISNOW ANTICIPATED THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN EARLY IN1999.C) IS YOUR AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT (BOTH CA PROVIDED ANDPOST PROVIDED) ADEQUATE TO YOUR SECTION'S NEEDS? AREPOST PERSONNEL BOTH WITHIN THE CONSULAR. SECTION AND INADMIN/IM FULLY TRAINED ON THE OPERATION ANO SUPPORT OFCONSULAR SYSTEMS?--AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT IS GENERALLY ADEQUATE TO THECONSULAR SECTION'S NEEDS. THE INSTALLATION OF ANOTRAINING ON THE MODERNIZED CONSULAR SYSTEMS WILL BECOMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1998. ALL CONSULAR EMPLOYEES ANDSYSTEMS PERSONNEL ARE BEING TRAINED ON THE MODERNIZEDSYSTEMS.THE MODERNIZED ACS SYSTEM'S WARDEN/REGISTRATION PROGRAMPRESENTED UNEXPECTED CONVERSION PROBLEMS. THE MODERNIZEDSYSTEM IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE TO ACCOMMODATE THECONSULATE'S ORGANIZATION-BASED WARDEN/REGISTRATIONSYSTEM.D) IF YOU ANTICIPATE A WORKLOAD CHANGE OVER THE NEXT TWOYEARS, PLEASE DISCUSS THE UNDERLYING FACTORS ANORECOMMENDED PERSONNEL CHANGES.--POST'S CONSULAR WORKLOAD SHOULD REMAIN CONSTANT OVERTHE NEXT TWO YEARS. THE INTRODUCTION OF ADDITIONALCONSULAR AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT AT A POST WITH VERY LIMITEDADM/IM RESOURCES WILL REQUIRE ONE FSN CONSULAR EMPLOYEETO DEVOTE PART OF HIS TIME TO SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ANOTROUBLE SHOOTING.

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E) WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR ACS WORK ARE THE MOST DEMANDING?--SAUDI LAW AND CUSTOM ARE UNCOMPROMISING WITH RESPECT TOFAMILY AND GENDER ISSUES, MAKING THEIR EQUITABLERESOLUTION DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE.GENERALLY, PROTECTIVE SERVICES REQUIRE FREQUENT ANDEXTENSIVE CONTACTS WITH THE SAUDI BUREAUCRACY. FOREXAMPLE, A NUMBER OF SAUDI GOVERNMENT OFFICES MAY HAVE TOBE CONTACTED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER AN AMERICAN CITIZEN HASBEEN ARRESTED AND TO LOCATE THE INDIVIDUAL. A VISIT TO ADETAINED AMERICAN MAY BE DELAYED FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSEVISITS MUST BE REQUESTED BY DIPLOMATIC NOTE. CASESINVOLVING ASSISTANCE WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES POSE SIMILARPROBLEMS IN OEALING WITH THE SAUDI BUREAUCRACY.THE ANNUAL HAJJ PILGRIMAGE PLACES SPECIAL DEMANDS ON THECONSULAR SECTION. THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS, AMONG THE TWOMILLION MUSLIM FAITHFULS, MAKING THE PILGRIMAGE GROWSEACH YEAR (ESTIMATED 4500 FOR 1999).F) WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR NIV WORK ARE THE MOST DEMANDING?- - A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTSARE THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS. MOST TCN APPLICANTS AREINTERVIEWED. BECAUSE THERE IS NO LAWFUL PERMANENTRESIDENCE STATUS FOR NON-SAUOIS AND THE SAUOIGOVERNMENT'S POLICY IS TO REPLACE FOREIGN WORKERS WITHSAUOI NATIONALS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THENONIMMIGRANT BONA FIDES OF TCN APPLICANTS.G) WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR NIV APPLICANTS ARE NON-HOSTCOUNTRY (TCN) RESIDENTS?NIV: 45 PERCENTFROM WHICH COUNTRIES ARE THEY?--YEMEN, INDIA, PAKISTAN, JORDAN, EGYPT, THE PHILIPPINESH) IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN ANY BEST PRACTICES

THAT ARE NOT LISTED IN QUESTIONS 1-17 ON THE BPSCHEDULE PLEASE DESCRIBE THEM.--THE CONSULATE HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN ENCOURAGING CITIZENREGISTRATIONS. IN FY 1998, REGISTRATIONS INCREASED BY 20PERCENT. AMERICANS WHO ATTEND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS ON THECONSULATE COMPOUND ARE ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER. MEMBERS OFTHE CONSULATE'S EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION ARE ASKED TO INVITEONLY RESIDENT AMERICANS WHO ARE REGISTERED WITH THECONSULATE TO ASSOCIATION SPONSORED SOCIAL FUNCTIONS.

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01254Lasers :ACTION: CONSINFO : CGDISSEMINATION: CONSCHARGE: PROG

#73/9/11 Working-level Employee

APPROVED: CONS:CSCOCKBURNDRAFTED: CONSiSABAUAHJ..;'SAB 41CLEARED: CONSVZCZCJII196RR RUEHC RUEHRH RUQMDHDE RUEHJI #1254 3240738ZNR UUUUU ZZHR 200738Z NOV 99FM AMCONSUL JEDDAHTO RUEHC/ ECSTATE WASHDC 0441INFO RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0925RUQMDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 1239BTUNCLAS JEDDAH 001254STATE FOR CA/EXE.G. 12958: N/ATAGS: CMGT, CVIS, CASC, KFRD, ASIG, AFSI, SASUBJECT: FY-1999 CONSULAR PACKAGE.FY-1999 CONSULAR PACKAGE DISKETTE AND PRINTOUT WEREFORWARDED TO THE DEPARTMENT ON NOVEMBER 16 UNDER REGISTRYNUMBER 4303514 .BALTIMOREUNCLASSIFIED 1UNCLASSIFIED

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Lasers:ACTION: CONSINFO: ADM CGDISSEMINATION: CONSCHARGE: PROGAPPROVED: CONS:RLBALTIMOREDRAFTED: CONS:CSCOCKBURN:CSCCLEARED: ADM:WSHOLDEN, RCO:AJKEPCHAR, ADMC: RLGAIN, CONS:AHMILLS,VZCZCJII986RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHRH RUQMDHDE RUEHJI #1225/01 3130806ZNR UUUUU ZZHR 090806Z NOV 99FM AMCONSUL JEDDAHTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0407INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVERUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0897RUQMDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 1228BTUNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JEDDAH 001225DEPT FOR CA/EX, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, DIG/ISP, M/FSI/SPS,CA/VO, CA/FPP AND CA/OCSE.O. 12958: N/ATAGS: CMGT, CVIS, CASC, KFRD, ASIG, AFSISUBJECT: FY 1999 CONSULAR PACKAGE NARRATIVE--JEDDAHREF: STATE 177931A) NAME OF THE CONSULAR SECTION CHIEF: CARL S. COCKBURNOFFICE TELEPHONE OF THE CONSULAR SECTION CHIEF:I | EXT4208, (IVG: - I 1rONSTTT.AR S'm'TrON FAX NUMBER: \ OR

i ';B) DO YOU HAVE THE RESOUCES (STAFF, NON- UTOMATEDEQUIPMENT, SPACE) TO p0 CONSULAR WORK AT YOUR POST THATMEET THE MISSION PROGRAM PLAN OBJECTIVES? PLEASEDISCUSS. IF NOT, WHAT DO YOU NEED AND WHY? PLEASE BESPECIFIC. REPORT'"HERE ANY ONGOING OR PROJECTEDRENOVATION PROJECTS AND HIGHLIGHT ANY PROBLEM AREAS.STAFF AND EQUIPMENT ARE GENERALLY ADEQUATE TO DOCONSULAR WORK. IN THE SUMMER PEAK PERIOD AT LEAST TWOADDITIONAL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND TWENTY ADDITIONALMRV CASHIER HOURS PER WEEK ARE REQUIRED TO MEETNONIMMIGRANT VISA WORKLOAD DEMANDS. BECAUSE TOO MANY

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01225SECURITY GUARD HOURS ARE DEVOTED TO CONSULAR RECEPTIONDUTIES, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ARRANGE FOR DEDICATEDGUARD POSITIONS FOR THESE FUNCTIONS.MUCH NEEDED OFFICE FURNITURE WAS ORDERED IN FY 1999FOR DELIVERY TO THE SECTION IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.THE CONSULAR SECTION REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF ITSCOPIER, WHICH REQUIRES WEEKLY SERVICING. TO BEADEQUATELY PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, POSTWILL INSTALL WARDEN FAXNET ON LAP TOP COMPUTER. THISWILL ENHANCE CRISIS MANAGEMENT PREPAREDENESS. BECAUSEOF THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION LINE CAPACITY IN JEDDAH,WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE DEPARTMENT'S INTRANET ORINSTALL NEW APPLICATIONS.THE CONSULATE PERIODICALLY EXPERIENCES PROBLEMSCOMPLETING TELEPHONE CALLS OUTSIDE THE CONSULATE.CONSULAR OFFICERS WITHOUT PRIVATE PHONE LINES AT HOMEHAVE DIFFICULTIES MAKING LONG DISTANCE CALLS INEMERGENCIES. OFTEN, WE RELY ON CELLULAR TELEPHONES.THE SECTION REQUIRES TWO CELLULAR PHONES TO REPLACEAGING ONES PROVIDED BY ADM/IM.

OUR CURRENT PHYSICAL PLANT IS INADEQUATE. .SINCE1996,THE CONSULAR SECTION HAS BEEN LOCATED IN APREFABRICATED METAL STRUCTURE. THERE ARE FIVE NARROWSERVICE WINDOWS IN THE SECTION FOR INTERVIEWS AND FEECOLLECTIONS. THE WINDOWS PROVIDE NO PRIVACY FORCLIENTS AND THE NOISE LEVELS RESULT IN POORCOMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN CLIENTS AND CONSULAR EMPLOYEES.SECTION OFFICES ARE ALSO INADEQUATE AND INACCESSIBLEFOR MEETINGS WITH VISITORS AND CLIENTS.CLIENTS NOW WALK SOME 215 YARDS FROM THE CONSULATEENTRANCE TO THE CONSULAR SECTION ON AN UNCOVEREDWALKWAY IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 100F DEGREES.CONSTRUCTION OF THE CONSULAR SECTION/PUBLIC DIPLOMACYANNEX IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN DECEMBER 1999.THE SECTION SHOULD BE RELOCATED TO THE NEW FACILITIESBY MARCH 2000.C) HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR CONSULAR SECTION'SSATISFACTION WITH THE AUTOMATED CONSULAR SYSTEMS.(EXCELLENT, GOOD, AVERAGE, POOR)? ARE THERE ANYUNRESOLVED SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE ISSUES? HOW DO YOU RATETHE TRAINING OF POST PERSONNEL, BOTH WITHIN THE CONSULARSECTION AND IN ADMIN/IM ON THE USE AND SUPPORT OFCONSULAR SYSTEMS (EXCELLENT, GOOD, AVERAGE, POOR)? WHATTYPES OF ASSISTANCE WOULD YOU NEED FROM THE NEXT TRAININGAND REFRESHER TEAMS COMING FROM THE CONSULAR SYSTEMS

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01225DIVISION TO ASSIST CONSULAR SYSTEMS USERS.OUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH AUTOMATED CONSULARSYSTEMS IS GOOD.WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CA SUPPORT DESK FOR ITSHELPING US TO RESOLVE THE POST-MODERNIZEDINSTALLATION PROBLEMS WITH OUR REGISTRATION/WARDENSYSTEM. WHEN THE SECTION IS RELOCATED, WE WILL USEOUR BACKUP PC AND A DATA ENTRY PC FOR WINDOWADJUDICATIONS. WE NOW HAVE NO PCS AT WINDOWS, FOURPCS FOR DATA ENTRY AND ONE BACKUP PC. WE COULD MANAGEWITH ONE LESS DATA ENTRY PC BUT WILL HAVE TO REPLACETHE BACKUP UNIT.TRAINING OF POST PERSONNEL ON THE USE AND SUPPORT OFCONSULAR AUTOMATED SYSTEMS IS GOOD. POST'S FSNSYSTEMS MANAGER RECEIVED NFACT TRAINING ON CONSULARSYSTEMS IN SEPTEMBER 1999. HIS BACKUP, WHO IS ACONSULAR ASSISTANT, WOULD BENEFIT FROM SIMILARSTATESIDE TRAINING.

D) IF YOU ANTICIPATE A WORKLOAD CHANGE OVER THE NEXT TWOYEARS, PLEASE DISCUSS THE UNDERLYING FACTORS ANDRECOMMENDED PERSONNEL CHANGES.WE ANTICIPATE A MODERATE INCREASE OF ABOUT 10 PERCENTIN OUR NIV ISSUANCES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS IF A NEWVISA FEE RECIPROCITY SCHEDULE IS FINALIZED AND IFPETROLEUM PRICES REMAIN STRONG. CURRENT NIVPERSONNEL LEVEL SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TO COPE WITH THEADDITIONAL VOLUME.BARRING A DOWNTURN IN THE U.S. ECONOMY AND SECURITYCONCERNS IN THE REGION, THE NUMBER OF AMERICANPILGRIMS TO THE ANNUAL HAJJ SHOULD REMAIN CLOSE TOTHE RECORD FIGURE OF 1999 (6,200). THE PRESENCE OFAN ADDITIONAL 5,000 TO 6,000 U.S. CITIZENS IN OURCONSULAR DISTRICT, AND AN ESTIMATED 5,000 LEGALPERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE U.S. WHO MAKE THEPILGRIMAGE WILL PLACE EXTRAORDINARY DEMANDS ON OURSECTION FOR ACS, LPR DOCUMENTARY SERVICES ANDINEVITABLE ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS. WE ANTICIPATE HAVINGTO DETAIL-IN EMPLOYEES FROM OTHER CONSULATE SECTIONSAND OBTAIN FUNDING FOR TRAVEL AND LODGING, TO SERVEOUR CITIZENS ON THE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE.E) WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR ACS WORK ARE THE MOST DEMANDING?SAUDI LAW AND CUSTOM ARE UNCOMPROMISING WITH RESPECTTO FAMILY AND GENDER ISSUES, MAKING THEIR EQUITABLERESOLUTION DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE.

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GENERALLY, PROTECTIVE SERVICES REQUIRE FREQUENT ANDEXTENSIVE CONTACTS WITH THE SAUDI BUREAUCRACY. FOREXAMPLE, A NUMBER OF SAUDI GOVERNMENT OFFICES MAYHAVE TO BE CONTACTED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER AN AMERICANCITIZEN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND TO LOCATE THEINDIVIDUAL. A VISIT TO A DETAINED AMERICAN MAY BEDELAYED FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE VISITS MUST BEREQUESTED BY DIPLOMATIC NOTE. OTHER SERVICES, SUCHAS DEATH CASES AND W/W REQUESTS, POSE SIMILARPROBLEMS IN DEALING WITH THE SAUDI BUREAUCRACY.THE ANNUAL HAJJ PILGRIMAGE PLACES SPECIAL DEMANDS ONTHE CONSULAR SECTION. THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS, AMONGTHE TWO MILLION MUSLIM FAITHFUL, WHO MAKE THEPILGRIMAGE GROWS EACH YEAR (ACTUAL 6200 IN 1999) .F) WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR NIV AND IV WORK ARE THE MOSTDEMANDING?NIVS: A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF NONIMMIGRANT VISAAPPLICANTS ARE THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS. MOST TCNAPPLICANTS ARE INTERVIEWED. BECAUSE THERE IS NOLAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE STATUS FOR NON-SAUDIS ANDTHE SAUDI GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IS TO REPLACE FOREIGNWORKERS WITH SAUDI NATIONALS, IT IS DIFFICULT TODETERMINE THE NONIMMIGRANT BONA FIDES OF TCNAPPLICANTS.IV: POST DOES NOT PROCESS IV APPLICATIONS.DVS: THERE IS GREAT DEMAND FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THEDV PROGRAM FROM THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS. THIS RESULTSIN SERIOUS PRESSURES AND A DRAIN ON POST'S RESOURCESSUCH AS PRINTING EXPENSES, TIME DEVOTED BY SECURITYGUARDS TO HAND OUT INFORMATION SHEETS, AND THE TIMESPENT BY CONSULAR PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES.G) WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR NIV APPLICANTS ARE NON-HOSTCOUNTRY (TCN) RESIDENTS?NIV: 40 PERCENT--FROM WHICH COUNTRIES ARE THEY?YEMEN, INDIA, PAKISTAN, JORDAN, EGYPT, THEPHILIPPINESH) UNDER A 1997AMENDMENT TO INA 245(1), MOST OUT OFSTATUS ALIENS WHOSE IV PETITIONS WERE FILED ON OR AFTERJANUARY 15, 1998, ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01225ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS IN THE US AND MUST TRAVEL ABROAD ANDAPPLY FOR AN IMMIGRANT VISA. WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OFTHIS AMENDMENT ON YOUR WORKLOAD?

NA.H) ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS: PLEASE COMMENT ON ANY OF THEFOLLOWING ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS IN PLACE AT YOUR POST:--FREQUENCY OF TRAINING CONDUCTED FOR CONSULAR OFFICERS,FSNS AND KEY CONTACTS:LOCAL PASSPORT AND IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS HAVEINDICATED THAT THEY WOULD WELCOME INS ANTI-FRAUDTRAINING. PREVIOUSLY PLANNED TRAINING WAS CANCELLEDDUE TO SCHEDULING PROBLEMS WITH OTHER POSTS. THELOCAL SAUDI PASSPORT OFFICE ALSO OFFERED TO PROVIDESOME TRAINING TO CONSULATE EMPLOYEES ON SAUDIDOCUMENTATION.--LIAISON WORK THAT HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE:POST'S COOPERATION WITH SAUDI PASSPORT AND SECURITYOFFICIALS RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF AT LEAST THREETHIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS WHO WERE ATTEMPTING TOPROCURE U.S. VISAS WITH PHOTOSUBSTITUTED SAUDIPASSPORTS AND ONE SAUDI NATIONAL WHO ALLEGEDLY SOLDHIS PASSPORT.--APPLICATIONS OF DATABASES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC SYSTEMSTO DEFEAT FRAUD. PLEASE DESCRIBE SPECIAL INNOVATIONS ANDTHEIR USEFULNESS:IN 1998, OUR NIV CHIEF COMPILED A DATABASE OF B-lISSUANCES TO DOMESTIC SERVANTS TO ENABLE OFFICERS TOPERFORM VISA VALIDATION SURVEYS ON A GROUP DEEMED TOBE HIGH RISK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TOOL PROVED TO BEOF LIMITED UTILITY SINCE MOST EMPLOYERS DID NOTCOOPERATE WITH CONSULATE SURVEY EFFORTS.J) BEST PRACTICES: IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN ANYBEST PRACTICES THAT ARE NOT LISTED IN QUESTIONS 1-22 ONTHE BEST PRACTICES SCHEDULE IN THE DATA PORTION, PLEASEDESCRIBE THEM.

NONE--IF YOU WISH TO CLARIFY OR ADD ANY ADDITIONALINFORMATION TO THAT ALREADY PROVIDED IN YOUR ANSWERS TOQUESTION 1-22 ON THE BEST PRACTICES SCHEDULE, PLEASE DOSO HERE. PLEASE ALSO ADVISE IF IN THE PAST YEAR POSTDISCONTINUED ANY BEST PRACTICES THAT IT HAD IMPLEMENTED

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01225EARLIER. IF SO, PLEASE GIVE REASONS FOR THE TERMINATION.

NONE--COMMENT ON STATISTICAL PORTION:PASSPORT SCHEDULE-AN INCREASE IN PASSPORT SERVICES IS .ANTICIPATED BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH IN NUMBER OF AMCITHAJJ PILGRIMS.BALTIMOREBT#1225NNNN

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UNCLASSIFIEDPROG: XX/XX/XXAPPRV:RLBALTIMOREDRFTD:AHMILLSLMEALEY ;DISTR: CG; ONS; ADM

R C O : T F U R E Y ; ADMC : L B LA CK BURN ; CON S :

9/11 Working-level EmployeeAMCONSUL JEDDAHSECSTATE WASHDCAMEMBASSY RIYADHINFO AMCONSUL DHAHRANGCC COLLECTIVEDEPT FOR CA/EX, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, OIG/ISP,\,CA/VO, CA/FPP, CA/OCS \. 12958: N / A

TAGS : CMGT, CVIS, CASC , KFRD , ASIG, AFS?, SASUB J ECT : FY 2000 CONSULAR PACKAGE NARRAT IVE J EDDAHR E F : 00 STATE 208065A) CONSULAR SECTION CHIEF:[TELEPHONE:]FAX:I I

B) DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES (STAFF, NON-AUTOMATEDEQUIPMENT, SPACE) TO DO CONSULAR WORK AT YOUR POST THATMEEETS THE MISSION PROGRAM PLAN OBJECTIVES?STAFF AND EQUIPMENT ARE ADEQUATE FOR OUR CURRENT WORKLOAD.IN THE SUMMER PEAK PERIOD (MAY-JULY) WE HAVE TRADITIONALLYTAKEN ON TWO ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND INCREASEDfHE MRV CASHIER TO FULL TIME TO MEET VISA DEMANDS. LAST/SUMMER IT PROVED DIFFICULT TO FIND SATISFACTORY TEMPORARYHELP AND WE INTEND TO IDENTIFY PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES MUCHEARLIER THIS YEAR.BEGINNING IN AUGUST 2000, JEDDAH CEASED ISSUING U.S.PASSPORTS. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AND APPROVED INJEDDAH, WITH MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORTS (MRP)SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED FROM RIYADH AND POUCHED FOR RETURN TOJEDDAH. THE PROGRAM HAS PROVED SUCCESSFUL, AND THE TIMESAVED IN PASSPORT BOOK PRODUCTION HAS ALLOWED JEDDAH'SPASSPORT AND CITIZENSHIP FSN TO ASSIST IN REVAMPING THE

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WARDEN SYSTEM AND IN CLOSER MONITORING OF INCREASINGLYCOMPLICATED CHILD CUSTODY CASES.IN APRIL 2000 THE CONSULAR SECTION MOVED TO A NEWBUILDING, TO BE SHARED WITH PUBLIC DIPLOMACY, ADJACENT TOTHE CHANCERY. THE DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN OUR PHYSICALPLANT HAS STRENGTHENED EMPLOYEE MORALE AS WELL AS CUSTOMERSERVICE. LARGE WINDOWS WITH FLAT SCREEN PCS MAKEIMMEDIATE OFFICER VISA ADJUDICATION SIMPLE. THE ADDITIONOF A PRIVACY BOOTH FOR SENSITIVE INTERVIEWS HAS ENHANCEDOUR ABILITY TO ASSIST BOTH VISA APPLICANTS AND AMERICANCITIZENS.HOWEVER, SOME DRAWBACKS REMAIN. LACK OF OFF-SITE FEECOLLECTION MAKES WAITING ROOM SPACE INADEQUATE DURING THEPEAK VISA SEASON. THERE ARE ISSUES OF SECURE ACCESS AND ANUNCOVERED OUTDOOR OVERFLOW WAITING AREA. IN CONJUNCTIONWITH EMBASSY RIYADH, WE ARE EXPLORING POSSIBLE SOLUTIONSTO PEAK SEASON TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, SUCH AS RESURRECTING OFF-SITE FEE COLLECTION PLANS AND OTHER NON-INTERVIEW OPTIONSFOR SAUDI NATIONALS. WE ANTICIPATE FBO ASSISTANCE INCOVERING THE WALKWAY AND OUTDOOR WAITING AREA ONCESECURITY ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED.C) HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR CONSULAR SECTION'S SATISFACTIONWITH THE AUTOMATED CONSULAR SYSTEMS? ARE THERE ANYUNRESOLVED HARDWARE ISSUES? HOW DO YOU RATE THE TRAININGOF POST PERSONNEL BOTH WITHIN THE CONSULAR SECTION AND INADMIN/IM ON THE USE AND SUPPORT OF CONSULAR SYSTEMS? WHATTYPES OF ASSISTANCE WOULD YOU NEED TO FROM THE NEXTTRAINING AND REFRESHER TEAMS COMING FROM THE CONSULARSYSTEMS DIVISION TO ASSIST CONSULAR SYSTEMS USERS?OUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH AUTOMATED CONSULAR SYSTEMSIS GOOD. ALL SUBSEQUENT UPGRADES HAVE BEEN INSTALLEDWITHOUT DIFFICULTIES, AND THE CA SUPPORT DESK HAS BEENPROMPT AND HELPFUL ON THOSE FEW OCCASIONS WHEN WE HAVECALLED WITH MINOR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS. WITH OUR NEWHARDWARE, WINDOW ADJUDICATION OF NIVS IS NOW NORMALPRACTICE. THE CONSULAR FSN WHO SERVES AS BACKUP SYSTEMSMANAGER RECECIVED NEEDED TRAINING IN BANGKOK IN 2000, ANDIS NOW FULLY COMPETENT TO DEAL WITH THE TECHNICAL ASPECTSOF CONSULAR SYSTEMS.D) IF YOU ANTICIPATE A WORKLOAD CHANGE OVER THE NEXT TWOYEARS, PLEASE DISCUSS THE UNDERLYING FACTORS ANDRECOMMENDED PERSONNEL CHANGES.


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IN LATE 1999 JEDDAH BEGAN ROUTINELY ISSUING TWO-YEARMULTIPLE ENTRY VISAS TO SAUDI NATIONALS. THIS WILL LIKELYGIVE RISE TO A SLIGHT "WAVE EFFECT" IN TWO YEARS, ASEXPIRED 2000 VISAS COME FOR RENEWAL. BUT AS MOST SAUDICASES ARE DROPBOX ELIGIBLE ALREADY, WE DO NOT ANTICIPATEANY NEED FOR ADDITIONAL NIV RESOURCES.IN MARKED CONTRAST TO LAST YEAR'S NARRATIVE, WE HAVE FEWCURRENT WORKLOAD CONCERNS ON THE IMPACT OF U.S. CITIZENSPARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL HAJJ PILGRIMAGE. NUMBERS OFU.S. PARTICIPANTS DECREASED IN 2000 (6200 IN 1999, 4500 in2000) AND THE EXCELLENT ORGANIZATION OF THE SAUDI HAJJMINISTRY INCREASES IN SOPHISTICATION EVERY YEAR, MAKINGROUTINE W/W INQUIRIES AND LOST DOCUMENT CASES MUCH EASIERTO DEAL WITH. ALTHOUGH ACS WORK FOR HAJJ SEASON ISUNPREDICTABLE, OUR CURRENT STAFFING IS ADEQUATE TO SEE USTHROUGH ALL BUT CATASTROPHIC OCCURENCES.

E) WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR ACS WORK ARE MOST DEMANDING?CHILD CUSTODY CASES, SPOUSAL ABUSE, AND OTHER FAMILYDISPUTES BETWEEN U.S. CITIZENS AND SAUDI NATIONALS ARE THEMOST DIFFICULT ISSUES FACING THE JEDDAH CONSULAR SECTION.THESE CASES, ROOTED AS THEY ARE IN SAUDI ISLAMIC LAW ANDCUSTOM, AND OFTEN DIRECTLY IN CONFLICT WITH U.S. LAW, AREINVARIABLY CONTENTIOUS AND EMOTIONAL. MORE OFTEN THANNOT, THE PROBLEM IS UNRESOLVABLE IN A SATISFACTORY MANNERFOR THE U.S. CITIZEN.

THE SAUDI BUREAUCRACY IS OFTEN UNRESPONSIVE IN THE INITIALSTAGE OF ACS CASES, SUCH AS ARREST NOTIFICATION OR DEATHOF A U.S. CITIZEN VISITING THE KINGDOM.CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES BETWEEN U.S. CITIZENS AND SAUDISPONSORS ARE FREQUENT. WHILE REDRESS THROUGH SAUDI LABORCOURTS IS POSSIBLE, THE PROCESS IS TIME-CONSUMING ANDOFTEN THE U.S. EMPLOYEE IS AT A DISADVANTAGE. U.S.EMPLOYEES ARE DISTRESSED TO DISCOVER THAT THE CONSULATE ISUNABLE TO INTERVENE EFFECTIVELY ON THEIR BEHALF IN THESEDISPUTES.F) WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR NIV AND IV WORK ARE MOSTDEMANDING?NIVS: APPROXIMATELY 35% OF NIV APPLICANTS ARE THIRDCOUNTRY NATIONALS (TCNS). MOST TCN APPLICANTS ARE


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INTERVIEWED. OUTSIDE OF EMPLOYMENT, THERE IS NO LAWFULPERMANENT RESIDENCE STATUS FOR NON-SAUDIS, AND BECAUSE THESAUDI GOVERNMENT'S STATED POLICY IS TO REPLACE FOREIGNWORKERS WITH SAUDI NATIONALS, IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TOESTABLISH THE NON-IMMIGRANT BONA FIDES OF TCN APPLICANTS.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF DOMESTIC SERVANTS, MANY OF WHOMARE RECENTLY ARRIVED IN THE KINGDOM WHEN THEIR SAUDISPONSORS MAKE APPLICATIONS FOR THEM. SAUDI SPONSORS, BOTHDIPLOMATIC AND PRIVATE, ARE NOT ADVERSE TO APPLYINGPRESSURE WHEN DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES ARE DENIED.

IV: POST DOES NOT PROCESS IV APPLICATIONS.DV: AS THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN THE DVPROGRAM AMONG TCNS, THERE ARE SERIOUS PRESSURES ONRESOURCES: PRINTING EXPENSES FOR DV INFORMATION SHEETS,SUPERVISING LOCAL SECURITY GUARDS IN HANDING OUTINFORMATION SHEETS, AND TIME SPENT BY CONSULAR PERSONNELRESPONDING TO INQUIRIES.G) WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR NIV AND IV APPLICANTS ARE NON-HOST COUNTRY (TCN) RESIDENTS?NIV: 35 PERCENT FROM WHICH COUNTRIES ARE THEY?YEMEN, PAKISTAN, INDONESIA, INDIA, SUDAN, THE PHILIPPINES,JORDAN, SYRIA, EGYPT, LEBANON, ERITREA, SOMALIA

H) WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF THE AMENDMENT TO INA 245(I) REGARDING OUT-OF-STATUS APPLICANTS FOR IVS?

NAI) ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS: JEDDAH IS A LOW FRAUD POST. IN THEPAST THERE HAVE BEEN ISOLATED CASES OF MISUSE OF SAUDIPASSPORTS BY EITHER PHOTOSUBBING OR USE BY IMPOSTERS TOGAIN U.S. VISAS. WHEN DISCOVERED, SAUDI AUTHORITIESQUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY HANDLED THESE ATTEMPTS. SAUDIAUTHORITIES ARE PROCEEDING WITH PLANS TO INTRODUCE AMACHINE-READABLE PASSPORT (MRP), BUT THE TIMEFRAME ISUNDETERMINED.FREQUENCY OF TRAINING CONDUCTED FOR CONSULAR OFFICERS,FSNS AND KEY CONTACTS:


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LOCAL PASSPORT AND IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS HAVE AGAININDICATED THAT THEY WOULD WELCOME INS DOCUMENT TRAINING.WE BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY USEFUL GIVEN THESECURITY FEATURES OF THE NEW LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTDOCUMENTS, AND THE NEW U.S. PASSPORT.

J) BEST PRACTICES: IN AUGUST 2000 JEDDAH DISCONTINUED THEISSUANCE OF OLD-STYLE HAND-PRODUCED PASSPORTS, INSTEADFORWARDING ALL APPLICATIONS TO RIYADH FOR ISSUANCE OFMACHINE-READABLE PASSPORTS (MRPS). TURNAROUND TIME HASINCREASED FROM NEXT DAY TO ONE WEEK DUE TO THE POUCHSCHEDULE FOR REURN OF PASSPORTS, BUT THE PRACTICE HAS BEENVERY SUCCESSFUL. CUSTOMERS ACCEPT THE NEED FOR A MORESECURE DOCUMENT, AND MANY HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC INWELCOMING THE CHANGE. WE HAVE ISSUED ONLY FOUR EMERGENCYPASSPORTS SINCE AUGUST.

K) CLARIFICATIONS TO THE CWSS SPREADSHEET:DETAIL OUT HOURS: HOURS REFLECT PREVIOUS CONSULAR CHIEF'SSERVING AS ACTING PRINCIPAL OFFICER FOR EXTENSIVE PERIODS.BALTIMOREXX


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#75UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185

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DISSEMINATION: CG/IC H A R G E : P R O G9/11 Working-levelEmployee

APPROVED: APPRV:RLBALTIMOREDRAFTED: DRFTD:MAORDONEZCLEARED: CLEAR:ADM:RACUFF; RCO:KSACKETT; CONS: LMEALEY;VZCZCJII952RR RUEHC RUEHRH RUEHZMDE RUEHJI #1185/01 3441343ZNR UUUUU ZZHR 101343Z DEC 01FM AMCONSUL JEDDAHTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 916RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 2518RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVEBTUNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 JEDDAH 001185RIYADH ALSO FOR DHAHRANDEPT FOR CA/EX, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, OIG/ISP, M/FSI/SPAS,CA/VO, CA/FPP, CA/OCSRIYADH FOR RCOE.O. 12958: N/ATAGS: CMGT, SASUBJECT: FY 2001CONSULAR PACKAGE NARRATIVE -- JEDDAHREF: STATE 199677A) Consular Section rh-jpf: Micmel OrdonezTelephone:1yFax: I /E-mail|B ck-up Consular Officer (ACS hief): Loren Mealev, ETD9/2003. Telephone! ~\ext. 4192. E-mail:"B) Do you have the resources (staff, equipment, space) todo consular work at your post that meets the MissionProgram Plan objectives? (If you believe you do not havethe necessary resources, please specify what it is yourpost needs in order to adequately meet its

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185responsibilities. If you believe you need more staff,please specify the number and type of personnel you need,the duties such personnel would perform and the level orgrade at which they would ideally function.)Staff and equipment and space are generally adequate forour current workload during most of the year. In thesummer peak period (May - mid August) we havetraditionally taken on two additional full-time temporaryemployees and increased the MRV cashier to full time tomeet visa demands. A full time PIT secretary to screenand answer calls and assist in clerical duties would helpthe consular section function more efficiently, especiallyduring the rush period. The changes caused by the eventsof September 11 (see paragraph M) have led to a decreasein the number of interviews by exception for Saudiapplicants, a higher rejection rate, and the concomitantneed for higher average time per Saudi case. Anadditional TOY, Arabic-speaking Foreign Service visaofficer will likely be needed during the summer rushperiod (May - mid-August) if Saudi visa applicationsreturn close to normal levels by summer 2002.C) Do you anticipate a workload change over the next threeyears (FY02, FY03, FY04). If so, please discuss theunderlying factors and recommend personnel changes.(Please specify the number and type of personnel you need,the duties such personnel would perform and the level orgrade at which they would ideally function.)Despite the June 2001 introduction of Visa Express, underwhich Saudi and later all TCN cases became drop-boxeligible, the additional paper screening and interviewingof TCN applications mandated by the new system created ahigher workload. After the September 11 terror attacks inthe U. S., and the subsequent discovery that the majorityof hijackers' visas were issued in Saudi Arabia, we haveexperienced a much higher rate of 221 (g) requests foradditional information and personal interviews, creatingan increase in workload per Saudi case. Assuming thereturn of the number of visa applications to pre-September11 levels, the summer peak period (May - mid-August) willlikely require a consular-coned TDY visa officer to handlethe overall work increase. New JOs, and TDY officers withArabic language skills would be most useful, as they couldhelp meet our increased demand for interviews conducted inArabic. Although Arabic speaking FSNs can assist with theinterviews, summer peak period has them working full timeto process the summer NIV rush.We have few current workload concerns on the impact of

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185U. S. citizens participating in the annual Hajj pilgrimagebecause the organization of the Saudi Hajj Ministry isexcellent, making routine w/w inquiries and lost documentcases easier to deal with. Although ACS work for Hajjseason is unpredictable, our current staffing is adequateto see us through all but catastrophic occurrences.D) How would you rate your consular section's satisfactionwith the automated consular systems (excellent, good,average, poor)? Are there any unresolved software orhardware issues? How do you rate the training of postpersonnel both within the consular section and in Admin/IMon the use and support of consular systems (excellent,good, average, poor)? What types of assistance would youneed from the next training and refresher teams comingfrom the Consular Systems Division to assist consularsystems users?Our level of satisfaction with automated consular systemsis good. All subsequent upgrades have been installedwithout difficulties, and the CA Support Desk has beenhelpful on those few occasions when we have called withminor technical problems. There is a problem with CROBAprinting, and there have been occasional problems withresponse time from CLASS, which affects both NIV and ACSwork. However, with the new flat screen hardware, windowadjudication of NIVs is now normal practice. Also, theconsular FSN who serves as backup systems manager receivedneeded training in Bangkok in 2000, and now effectivelydeals with technical aspects of consular systems.E) What aspects of your ACS work are most demanding?Child custody cases, spousal abuse, and other familydisputes between U. S. citizens and Saudi nationals arethe most difficult issues facing the Jeddah consularsection. These cases, which are impacted by Saudi Islamiclaw (Sharia) and custom, and often in conflict with U. S.law and court rulings, are usually contentious andemotional. Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the HagueConvention on Child Abduction. More often than not, theproblem cannot be resolved in a manner satisfactory forthe U. S. citizen parent. The SAG does not intervene infamily disputes, but expects immediate family members tointervene with a solution. In most cases, the U. S.citizen has few members of the extended family with themin Saudi Arabia, making this form of counseling and familysupport unsatisfactory to them. In some cases involving aU. S. citizen and a non-Saudi, the SAG will require thefamily to settle the problem or depart the Kingdom.The Saudi bureaucracy is sometimes unresponsive in the

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185initial stage of ACS cases, such as timely arrestnotification, or in the death of a U. S. citizen visitingthe Kingdom.Contractual disputes between U. S. citizens and Saudisponsors are frequent. While redress through Saudi laborcourts is possible, the process is time-consuming andoften the U. S. employee is at a pronounced disadvantagerelative to a Saudi sponsor. U. S. expatriate employeesare distressed to discover that, although the Consulatecan use its good offices, it has no legal authority tointervene on their behalf in these private business orcontractual disputes. In addition, the U. S. employeemust be present in the country to follow through in thelabor court process. During this time, the employer maywithhold salary payments, while in-country expensesremain.F) What aspects of your NIV work are most demanding?(Discussion should address any backlogs and theirunderlying causes.)Approximately 45% of NIV applicants are third countrynationals (TCNS). Most TCN applicants are interviewed.Outside of employment, there is no lawful permanentresidence status for non-Saudis, and because the SaudiGovernment's stated policy is to replace foreign workerswith Saudi nationals, it is often difficult to establishthe non-immigrant bona fides of TCN applicants.This is especially true of domestic servants, many of whomare recently arrived in the Kingdom when their Saudisponsors make applications for them. Saudi sponsors, bothdiplomatic and private, are not averse to trying to applypressure when domestic employees are denied.G) What aspects of your IV work are the most demanding?(Discussion should address any backlogs and theirunderlying causes. )Post does not finalize IV applications. We accept"applications, perform document checks, and provideinformation to applicants in the Jeddah District. We thenforward the applications to Riyadh for final processing.H) If applicable, please describe how the DV programhas affected the consular section.There is a great deal of interest in the DV program amongthe six million TCNs who have no chance of establishingpermanent residence in Saudi Arabia. We incur printing

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185expenses for DV information sheets, supervise localsecurity guards in distributing the information sheets,and utilize staff time responding to numerous inquiries.I) What percentage of your NIV and IV applicants are non-host country (TCN) residents?NIV: 45 percent.-- From which countries are they?Yemen, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Sudan, the Philippines,Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Eritrea, Somalia.- -Do they speak a different language than Post'sdesignated language. If so, how do you interact withthem?Many TCN applicants speak at least some Arabic, the linguafranca of Saudi Arabia, regardless of their mother tongue.Other TCNs can speak some English. Our consulate hasstaff who can speak Hindi, Urdu, Malay (Bahasa Indonesia),French, Spanish, and Thai. It is rare that we can find nocommon language with which to ask the basic interviewquestions.J) Are you satisfied with the level of fraud preventiontraining for officers and FSNs? If not, what do youbelieve you need to support your efforts in this area?Please also comment on any anti-fraud efforts in place atyour post (liaison work, applications of databases andother electronic systems to defeat fraud, etc.)Jeddah is a low fraud post. In the past there have beensome cases of misuse of Saudi passports by eitherphotosubbing or use by imposters to gain U. S. visas.When discovered, Saudi authorities quickly and efficientlyhandled these attempts. Saudi Arabia began theintroduction of a machine-readable passport (MRP) early inFY 2002.Local passport and immigration officials have indicatedthat they would welcome INS or FPP document training. Webelieve this would be especially useful given the securityfeatures of the new legal permanent resident documents,and the new U. S. passport. Liaison is also maintainedwith Western consulates (particularly the British) thatmaintain active anti-fraud programs.

K) Management Practices. Describe and comment onmanagement practices instituted at Post in order to better

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185serve the public, maximize the use of resources, andattain greater efficiency. If necessary, clarify or addadditional information to that already provided in youranswers to questions 1-22 on the best practices scheduleof the statistical portion of the consular package.Please advise if in the past year Post discontinued anybest practices it had implemented earlier. If so, pleasegive reasons for the termination.In June 2001, Saudi Arabia instituted "Visa Express"nationwide, a system in which 10 travel agencies collectpassports and fees and submit them along with the RDS tothe consulate.In the aftermath of September 11, post has tightened upits waiver of personal interviews for applicants of allnationalities, including Saudis, and now considers eachapplicant on a case-by-case basis.L) Please describe country conditions that affect yourability to provide consular services (infrastructure,fraud, political setting, etc.).The security situation in Saudi Arabia, although calm, hasbeen tense since the beginning of the Intifada in thePalestinian Authority areas last year. Tension increasedafter September 11, and there has been a decrease in thenumber of people traveling to the United States in thewake of local media reports exaggerating the risk ofdanger to Muslims and Arabs in the United States. Thesecurity situation was one factor that led to theexpansion of the Visa Express system to include allapplicants, in an effort to minimize traffic in consularwaiting rooms.M) Please describe any changes that may have occurred incountry following the tragic events of September 11, 2001and how they have affected your workload. Such discussionsshould not be limited to the end of the Fiscal Year butshould describe changes through the drafting date of theconsular narrative. (Please keep in mind that thenarrative portion of the consular package should remain anunclassified document.)The tragic events of September 11 affected the wholeworld, but the impact has been extensive in Jeddah, thesite of the Consulate General where 11 of the 19 allegedhijackers applied for and received visas. As 15 of the 19hijackers are alleged to have been Saudi passport holders,this has affected our workload in three main ways.First, the number of applications for NIVs, includingSaudis, has decreased since September 11. The true extent

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185of the decrease will only become apparent in severalmonths time, because the post-September 11, 2001 slowdownoccurred at the confluence of three currents: one, thenormal summer rush (May - mid-August) had just ended;two, the reciprocity schedule was changed in October, 1999to allow two-year rather than one-year multiple entryvisas for Saudi nationals. (Note - as many Saudispreviously applied every year for a visa, those customerswere now required to apply only every other year and thiseffect on applications was expected to begin in October2001); and three, the general slowdown in world travelpost-September 11 was exacerbated by local media reportswhich highlighted incidents of harassment on Arabs andMuslims in the United States and the Western world. FewerSaudis are going to the United States for vacation thisfall and winter and are instead traveling to Egypt,Lebanon, and the UAE.Second, investigations into the events of September 11,2001 have consumed great amounts of time by consular staffin obtaining information for criminal and congressionalinvestigations. Media inquiries, rumor control, andpreparation of press releases have also been timeconsuming, as rumors swept Saudi Arabia about visapolicies, and elements of the local press proved willingto print articles without verification with the Embassy.Third, individual time-per-applicant has greatly increasedas fewer visas are issued without interview. Sometimesapplications are returned two or more times to be filledin completely and to provide photographs which meetrequired standards. Interviews take more time as dodiscussions about documentary requirements for 221 (g)refusals, the meaning of 214 (b), and avenues of recourseand appeal for those refused. A large percentage of ourcustomers requires further processing under new policiesenacted November 14, 2001. Each step of this newprocedural maze requires a notification to be given to,and explained to, current and potential customers.Therefore, although the numbers are down, the workload hasremained fairly constant.It is not certain what the next summer rush will bring interms of applicant numbers, but the dramatic increase inthe average amount of time spent per Saudi applicant willlikely become a long-term effect on visa operations inJeddah.BALTIMOREBT#1185

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UNCLAS JEDDAH 01185NNNN

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# 7 6UNCLASSIFIED

Miguel Ordonez 02/05/2003 04:03:23 PM From DB/lnbox: Miguel OrdonezCable Text:____

NCLAS SENSITIVE J E D D A H 0 0 2 9 0CXJED D AH :

A C T I O N : CGINFO: ADM CONSLasers :ACTION: CGINFO: ADM CONSLaser2:ACTION : CGINFO: ADM CONSDISSEMINATION: CG /ICHARGE: PROGAPPROVED: APPRV: GABERCROMBIE-WDRAFTED: DRFTD : MAORDONEZCLEARED: CLEAR : ADM : RACUFF RCOrKSACKETT CONS: LMEALEY CONS: RLYONS SO:LDARVZCZCJII378RR RUEHC RUEHRH RUEHZMDE RUEHJI #0290/01 0361223ZNR UUUUU ZZHR 051223Z FEE 03FM AMCONSUL JEDDAHTO RUEHC SECSTATE WASHDC 6871RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 3358RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVEBTUNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 JEDDAH 000290RIYADH ALSO FOR DHAHRANDEPT FOR CA/EX, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, OIG/ISP, M/FSI/SPAS,CA/VO, CA/FPP, CA/OCSRIYADH FOR RCOSENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIEDE.O. 12958:N/ATAGS:CMGT SASUBJECT: FY 2002 CONSULAR PACKAGE NARRATIVE -- JEDDAHREF: STATE 2597381. (U) In answering reftel, all alphabetically designatedparagraphs are unclassified, except for "0" which is SBU.A) Consular Section Chief: Miguel Ordonez. KTD R/2004.Telephone: / ...\.| I, . . . . -OTa-iT-T - .... - . . . . . - - - - - - - - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deputy (lonsuji^:---- - ^ " ' " " ' ' ' 9/11 Personal PrivacySection Chief (ACS Chief): Loren Mgaley>--ETp:-::9:/2004 . .Telephone I ....... - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "'" [ . . . . . .E-inai1 :B) Do you have the resources (staff, equipment, space) todo consular work at your post that meets the MissionnProgram Plan objectives? (If you believe you do not havethe necessary resources, please specify what it is yourpost needs in order to adequately meet itsresponsibilities. If you believe you need more staff,

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please specify the number and type of personnel you need,the duties such personnel would perform and the level orgrade at which they would ideally function. In respondingto this question, please keep in mind recent changes inconsular roles and NIV processing.)Response: Staff, equipment and space are generallyadequate for our current workload during most of the year.In the summer peak period (May through mid-August) we havetraditionally taken on two additional full-time temporaryemployees and increased the MRV cashier to full time tomeet visa demands. Since September 11, 2001 major changeshave included the termination of the Visa Express programand the consequent elimination of remote data entry.Virtually all applicants are now interviewed, and there isa higher overall refusal rate, with a concomitant need forhigher average time per case. An additional NIV FSN beganwork in September 2002 and an additional Arabic-speakingForeign Service visa officer arrived in late October 2002to supplement the Visa Section's workforce. This has beensufficient under the present circumstances, although itmay need supplementation during the traditional summerrush. This Consulate's management has made clear thatconsular-qualified staff from other sections (serving inJORP assignments) will be temporarily detailed during peakworkload times to meet Consular Section needs. Withcurrent and projected staffing, consular section needsshould be met through early 2005.C) Give detailed assessment of how post's workload isexpected to change in post-specific ways over the next twoyears, with a discussion of underlying factors, andrecommended personnel and physical plant requirements.(Please specify the number and type of personnel you need,the duties such personnel would perform and the level orgrade at which they would ideally function. Discuss howchanges in consular roles will affect the types ofpersonnel required. Discuss physical plant needs such aswaiting room and working space, number of interviewwindows, and flow of public into consular section.)Response: The September 11 terror attacks in the U. S.,and the subsequent discovery that the majority ofhijackers visas were issued in Saudi Arabia, has led tothe complete transformation of visa operations in Jeddah.All applicants of all nationalities between the ages of12-70 are now interviewed. We also currently have a highrate of 221 (g) requests for additional information,because previous passport documentation is requested inorder to verify travel patterns on applicants subject toCondor security advisory opinions.The new version of NIV software will require about twiceas much data entry time per applicant, and.futurebiometric scanning will also slow down the process.Congress also recently enacted legislation mandating aDepartment of Homeland Security presence in Saudi Arabiato review all applications before adjudication. All thesechanges have or will have major impacts on the NIVworkflow, with the net effect that it takes more staff toprocess fewer visas. Therefore new JOs and TDY officerswith Arabic language skills (Arabic 2/2), would be mostuseful for NIV work in Jeddah, as they could help meet theneed for interviews conducted in Arabic. Although Arabicspeaking FSNs can assist with interviews, summer peak

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period requires them to work full time to process the NIVrush.On the ACS side, increased Congressional, Departmental,and media attention to child custody issues has led to alarge increase in the amount time the ACS Officer spendson this aspect of her job. Also an increasing terrorismthreat has led to numerous warden messages (along withregular and special wardens meetings, outreach, and phonecalls) in the past two years, which we anticipate willcontinue into the foreseeable future. Numerous visitspost-September 11, such as Codels, GAO, DIG, FBI,Department of Homeland Security, and CA also have requiredlarge amounts of time to prepare and manage. Blueprintsfor reconfiguring the Consular work area are currentlywith OBO and await finalization pending a finaldetermination of the Department of Homeland Securitypresence in Saudi Arabia.D) How would you rate your consular section's satisfactionwith the automated consular systems (excellent, good,average, poor)? Are there any unresolved software orhardware issues? How do you rate the training of postpersonnel both within the consular section and in Admin/IMon the use and support of consular systems (excellent,good, average, poor)? What types of assistance would youneed from the next training and refresher teams comingfrom the Consular Systems Division to assist consularsystems users?Response: Our level of satisfaction with automatedconsular systems is good. We had several complete systemsfailures due to defective Fujitsu drives in the CompaqDeskpro ENs installed in August 2002, but have sincereceived replacement units and hard drives. There is aproblem with CROBA printing, and there have beenoccasional problems with response time from CLASS, whichaffects both NIV and ACS work. There is also a problemaccessing the PIERS system on some computers. A dedicatedconsular FSN and the Consulate's IM section noweffectively deal with all technical aspects of consularsystems. Training has been good, but more systemstraining would be welcome, as the last Orkand visit(August 2002) took place at an inopportune time andtraining was not completed on the new software.E) What aspects of your ACS work are most demanding?Response: Child custody cases, spousal abuse, and otherfamily disputes between U. S. citizens and Saudi nationalsare the most difficult issues facing the Jeddah consularsection. These cases, which are impacted by Saudi Islamiclaw (Sharia) and custom, are often contentious andemotional. Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the HagueConvention on Child Abduction. More often than not, theproblem cannot be resolved in a manner satisfactory forthe U. S. citizen parent. The SAG and CA are currentlyworking on formal understandings to help ameliorateproblems of separation and access to children, butprogress remains slow.The Saudi Government is sometimes unresponsive in theinitial stage of ACS cases, such as timely arrestnotification, or in the death of a U. S. citizen visitingthe Kingdom.

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Contract disputes between U. S. citizens and Saudisponsors are common. While redress through Saudi laborcourts is possible, the process is time-consuming and theU. S. employee is usually at a disadvantage relative tothe Saudi sponsor. U. S. expatriate employees are oftendistressed to discover that, although the Consulateutilizes its good offices, it has no legal authority tointervene on their behalf in private business disputes.In addition, the U. S. employee must be present in thecountry to follow through in the labor court process.During this time, the employer may withhold salarypayments, while in-country expenses remain.F) What aspects of your NIV work are most demanding?(Discussion should address any backlogs and theirunderlying causes, including recent changes to NIVregulations, personnel role and system access changes, newmanagement practices, etc.)Response: Virtually all applicants are now interviewed(since July 20, 2002) and many are subject to lengthyclearance processes. Many applicants call frequently tocheck on the status of their applications. Tracking thelarge backlog of applications that were submitted betweenApril and August 2002 and which have not been cleared hasalso been a cause of frustration for many applicants,particularly students.Nearly half of NIV applicants are third country nationals(TCNS). Outside of employment, there is no lawfulpermanent residence status for non-Saudis, and because theSaudi Government's stated policy is to replace foreignworkers with Saudi nationals, it is often difficult toestablish the non-immigrant bona fides of TCN applicants.This is especially true of domestic servants, many of whomare recently arrived in the Kingdom when their Saudisponsors make applications for them.G) What aspects of your IV work are the most demanding?(Discussion should address any backlogs and their causes.)Response: Post does not finalize IV petitions. We acceptpetitions, perform document checks, and provideinformation to applicants in the Jeddah District. We thenforward the petitions to Riyadh for final processing.H) If applicable, please describe how the DV programhas affected the consular section.Response: There is a great deal of interest in the DVprogram among the six million plus TCNs who have no chanceof establishing permanent residence in Saudi Arabia. Weincur printing expenses for DV information sheets,instruct local security guards in distributing theinformation sheets, and utilize staff time responding toinquiries.I) What percentage of your NIV and IV applicants are non-host country (TCN) residents?Response: NIV: 46 percent.-- From what countries are they?

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81 countries, with the largest numbers from Pakistan, thePhilippines, India, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria,Morocco, Indonesia, Yemen, and Ethiopia.--Do they speak a different language than Postsdesignated language? If so, how do you interact withthem?Many TCN applicants speak at least some Arabic, the linguafranca of Saudi Arabia, regardless of their mother tongue.Other TCNs can speak some English. Our consular sectionhas staff who can speak Hindi, Urdu, Malay (BahasaIndonesia), French, Spanish, Farsi, Turkmen, Uzbek andThai. It is rare that we can find no common language withwhich to ask the basic interview questions.J) Discuss how the changes in passport applicationprocedures during FY 02 affected post's workload andstaffing if at all.Response: There was minimal change in our workload andnone in staffing as Jeddah had been sending passportapplications to Riyadh and now sends them to NewHampshire. Turnaround time has remained about the samewith the new procedures.K) Are you satisfied with the level of fraud preventiontraining for officers and FSNs? If not, what do youbelieve you need to support your efforts in this area?Please also comment on any anti-fraud efforts in place atyour post (liaison work, applications of databases andother electronic systems to defeat fraud, etc.)Response: Jeddah is a low fraud post. In the past therewere cases of misuse of Saudi passports by eitherphotosubbing or use by imposters to gain U. S. visas.Saudi Arabia began the introduction of a machine-readablepassport (MRP) early in FY 2002 and has tightened up itsissuance of passports to those who reported losing theirpassports, requiring a waiting period.Local passport and immigration officials have indicatedthat they would welcome INS or FPP document training. Webelieve this would be especially useful given the securityfeatures of the new legal permanent resident documents,and the new U. S. passport. Liaison is also maintainedwith Western consulates (particularly the British) thatmaintain active anti-fraud programs.L) Management Practices. Describe and comment onmanagement practices instituted at Post in order toaddress post-9/11 security concerns and increasedworkload. If necessary, clarify or add additionalinformation to that already provided in your answers toquestions 1-22 on the "management practices" schedule ofthe statistical portion of the consular package. Pleaseadvise if in the past year Post discontinued any"management practices" it had implemented earlier. If so,please give reasons for the termination.Response: In June 2001, Saudi Arabia instituted VisaExpress nationwide, a system in which 10 travel agenciescollected passports and fees and submitted them to theConsulate. This program, which incorporated RDS,interview by exception, and a modified Travel AgencyProgram, was terminated after consultations between the

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Embassy and CA on July 20, 2002 because the program drewintense press criticism in the United States.In the aftermath of September 11, post has tightened upits waiver of personal interviews for applicants of allnationalities, including Saudis, and now interviewsvirtually all applicants, male and female, Saudi and non-Saudi aged 12-70. All NIV issuances (as well as refusals)are reviewed to ensure conformity with the ever-changingregulations.M) Describe country conditions that affect your abilityyto provide consular services (infrastructure, fraud,political setting, etc.).Response: The security situation in Saudi Arabia becamemore tense in FY 2002 and early FY 2003, with the firstreported attempted car bombing in Jeddah along withreports of harassment and assaults on Westerners. (Note -voluntary departure was authorized for Saudi Arabia onJanuary 30, 2003 noting the heightened risk from terroristgroups.) Bilateral tensions surfaced after September 11,2001 and there has been a decrease in the number of peopletravelling to the United States, with local media reportsexaggerating problems Saudis and Muslims experience intravelling to and studying in the United States.N) Please describe continued changes that may haveoccurred in the host country following the tragic events ofSeptember 11, 2001 and how they have affected your workloador your ability to provide consular services. (Inresponding to this question, address outside factors suchas tighter immigration controls, reduced access to airportsor hospitals, rather than in-house factors such as changesin personnel roles. Please also keep in mind that thenarrative portion of the consular package should remain anunclassified document.)Response: The tragic events of September 11 have causedextensive impact in Jeddah, the site of the ConsulateGeneral where 11 of the 19 September 11 hijackers appliedfor and received visas.The number of applications for NIVs, including Saudis, hasdecreased since September 11, 2001, as many Saudis andothers prefer travel to Malaysia, Egypt, or Lebanoninstead of Disney World or Europe. However, workload perapplicant has greatly increased with the Visas Condorprocess and repeated inquiries by applicants trying todetermine when their visa might be ready, or comparingtimelines for visa issuance with friends who applied atthe same time.O) Describe any other issue not raised in the precedingquestions that you believe to be significant to theconsular section's effectiveness in handling itsresponsibilities.(SBU - this paragraph only) Response: Scrutiny has beenintense on consular operations in Saudi Arabia sinceSeptember 11, 2001 from both Congress and the U. S. media.This scrutiny has been on both visa issuance (NIV) andchild custody (ACS). In addition, Jeddah remains acritical threat post for trans-national terrorism, which

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requires a lot of "care and feeding" of the Amcitpopulation during the many times of tension in the region,when Amcits need reassurance. Saudi Arabia has received alarge number of consular-related and other high levelvisitors (including Secretary of Treasury and VicePresident) despite limited staff. This combination hassorely taxed the human resources of the consular sectionseveral times during the year. The provision by CA ofadditional staffing resources to Jeddah's Consular Sectionduring FY 2002 and FY 2003 is greatly appreciated andallows us to do the high-quality work expected of us inthese trying times.

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Miguel Ordonez 02/05/2003 04:03:29 PM From DB/lnbox: Miguel Ordonez

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cables from us consulate in jeddah about visa issuance

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