t5 b65 gao visa docs 5 of 6 fdr- 4-21-02 gao interview of roberto powers- damascus response 820

8/14/2019 T5 B65 GAO Visa Docs 5 of 6 Fdr- 4-21-02 GAO Interview of Roberto Powers- Damascus Response 820

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Questions for GAO Interviews on U.S.EmbassyNon-Imm igrant V isas (NIV) P olicies and Procedures (as of 4/17/02)

Name: Roberto PowersDate: 4/21/02 Post: Damascus

1) Has your post made any of the following changes to the NIV application and approval processsince September 11, 2001? (Check al l that apply) : ' , : ' - -;r'"..-.^ - '.'a. Strengthened anti-fraud programs

b. Instituted new or changed existing standards off bow closely anapplicant's name and date of birth must match tine name and dateof birth returned by CLASS (before consular officers submitrequests fora Security Advisory Opinion)c. Reduced the availability of personal appearance waiver programs - . , .- ;d. Increased the percentage of NIV applicants who areinterviewede. Other (please specify)f. Other (pleasespecify) .... "

YesXX

XX

No N/A

Please provide additional comments, if any.hi view of Condor requirements, we are now much more insistent upon full and completeapplications. This often means that applicants must have a personal interview, for many of themfail to answer thoroughly all questions on the supplemental form.


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2) Abo ut what percent of N TV applicants were interviewed at your post (a) in the 12 monthsprior to September 11, 2001, and (b) since September 11, 2001?a. 12 months prior to September 11 ,2001b. Since September 11, 2001Please prov ide additional comments, if any.

slightly less than 75 %

slightly more than 75 %

Applicants 60 years and older are able to use a dropbox, along w ith applicants w ho have traveledto the USA within th e past ten years and who have proof of having done so. An increasingnumber of applicants able to use the dropbox now prefer to have an interview since this reducesthe period of uncertainty as to whether they are going to get the visa or not.


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3) In your opinion, to what extent, if any, do the following security procedures an d requirementshelp your post's consular officers identify potential terrorists?(Please check one box in each row.)

a) Security AdvisoryOpinion for selectedindividuals from StatesSponsoring InternationalTerrorism (see State109933)b) Visas Viper Committeesc) CLASS name check sd) The 20-day waitingperiod for selectedapplicants (see State196355)e) Requirement thatapplicants provideinformation on the DS-157formf) Th e Visas Condorprocess (see State 015702)

Great extentX

X

Some extent

XX

X

X

N o extent Not sure No basis to judge

Please provide additional comments, if any.To m y knowledg e, we have had no applicants identified during the 20-day waiting period, noran y derogatory information following Visas Condor subm issions.


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4) For your post, to what extent, if any, would the following proposed changes to the NIVapplication process help identify potential terrorists? (Please check one box in each row.)

a Interview a greater percentage ofall applicants(Ifyo u check very or somewhat helpful, please -indicate th e percentage 96)b. Interview all applicants , 'yc. Fingerprint a percentage of all applicants ( If yo u check very or somewh at h e l p f u l , please indicate thepercentage % )d. Fingerprint all applicants .e. Improve training for consular officers in identifying ssuspected terrorists, cooperating with other agencies/international organizations, and cultural sensitivityg. Make the visa processa lawenforcement .function ( I f you checkyes, please elaborate J ta flie ,r 'comm ents section on how thisshould beaccomplished, e.g., should the fu nction remainwithin State or be moved to another agency)h. Other (please specify)i. Other (please specify) > T *

Very - - helpful

X

Some-whathelpful NothelpftiK-X

X

Not sure

XX

X

Please provide additional comments, if any.


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5) How feasible wo uld it be for your post to implement the following proposed changes to theN TV process? (Please check one box in each row.)

.a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants ( I fyou check very or somewhat h e l p f u l , please indicatethe percentage 100 96)b. Interview all applicantsc. Fingerprint a percentage of allapplicants (I f youcheck very or somewhat h e l p f u l , please indicate thepercentage % } . - , " ' * - , " '* , : ' d. Fingerprint all applicants r ;?-- ,e. Improve training for consular officers in identifyingsuspected terrorists, cooperating with other agencies/international organizations^ and cultural sensitivityf. Make the visa processa law enforcement functiong. Institute a secure travel document that incorporates abiometric such as fingerprints 'z , i*9:.h. Other (please specify) ./y*v-*'"'.i.Other (please specify) ; ,

Veryfeasible Some-what feasible

X

X

N ot , ' _ , .feasible

XXX

Not'; _ 'sure , - i

XX

Please provide additional comments, if any.Although this wo uld create an additional challenge fo r post, it would not be impossible for us tosimply interview al l applicants. T hose that curren tly qualify for use of the dropbox wouldsimply remain fairly qu ick issuances. Co nseq uently, there is nothing to gain by interviewing allapplicants. M o s t of our applications are either qu ick issuances or quick refusals.


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6) Would any of the following factors make it difficult for your post to fully implement th eproposed changes listed in questions 4 and 5? (Please check one box in ea ch row.)

a. Consular staffing shortagesb. Lack of space, facilitiesc. An adverse effect on U.S. interestsin the host country (please elaboratein comments section)d. Host country would require sameof U.S. citizens (reciprocity)e. Other (please specify)

Yes, to a great extentXX

Yes, to some extent

X

N o

X

Not sure

Please provide additional comments, if any.Space is our major impediment. We do not have adequate space to interview all applicants.

t5 b65 gao visa docs 5 of 6 fdr- 4-21-02 gao interview of roberto powers- damascus response 820

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