Bush May Tighten Visa Req's

[chinadave2001]

This was posted on MSNBC.Com today.....it certainly won't help improve processing times.....

 

Dave

 

 

U.S. may tighten visa procedures

 

More face-to-face interviews for applicants considered

 

By Dan Eggen

THE WASHINGTON POST

 

WASHINGTON, May 17 — The Bush administration is considering a plan that would require face-to-face interviews with most of the more than 8 million people who seek visas to enter the United States each year, officials said yesterday.

 

 

IF IMPLEMENTED, the plan would dramatically increase the workload for U.S. embassies and consulates that issue visas around the world and could cause significant delays for tourists and business travelers seeking to visit the United States, immigration and travel experts said.

The proposal, which has been under consideration in various forms since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has become the focus of a tug-of-war between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, which has been given some authority over immigration policies, sources familiar with the debate said. Many diplomats and foreign service officers at the State Department fear the plan would overwhelm the visa system and would accomplish little in the effort to catch potential terrorists, officials and experts said.

But many law enforcement officials and advocates of stricter U.S. immigration policies have criticized the State Department for failing to properly scrutinize visa applicants. A General Accounting Office study released in October found that at least 13 of the Sept. 11 hijackers were never interviewed by U.S. consular officers before they were granted U.S. visas and that none had filled in his application properly.

 

ONE OF SEVERAL PLANS

U.S. law currently requires all non-immigrant visa applicants to submit to in-person interviews, but gives consular officials broad leeway in granting exceptions. In addition, Canadians do not need visas to enter the United States in most cases and citizens from 27 other countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, are covered by a special program that waives visas for tourists and business travelers.

Kelly Shannon, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, said the proposal is one of several possible national security plans under consideration by the State Department. The department has implemented several other security measures since the Sept. 11 attacks, including new application forms and increased use of in-person interviews, Shannon said.

“What we could do is recommend even more interviews,” Shannon said. “That’s a possibility, but that hasn’t been determined.”

The Wall Street Journal first reported the plan in yesterday’s editions, saying it had been approved. Administration officials stressed that the plan is still being considered.

State Department officials said they do not keep track of the proportion of visa applicants required to submit to interviews. But outside immigration experts estimate that as little as 20 percent of those eligible are required to do so. Nearly 6 million non-immigrant visas were issued in fiscal 2002 out of more than 8 million total applications, officials said.

Face-to-face interviews would allow consular officials to obtain more information about the applicant’s background and plans that might help thwart potential acts of terrorism or other crimes, supporters of the effort said. Officials said such interviews are generally brief, usually less than half an hour.

 

TOURISM CONCERNS

Crystal Williams, liaison and information director at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said requiring interviews for nearly all visa applicants “would more or less shut down the visa issuance system, because they don’t have the facilities or resources to do this.”

‘We are concerned that the impact on travel to the United States could be significant.’

— EDWARD FLUHR

Travel Industry Association of America The proposal has also alarmed many business and tourism representatives, who already are coping with a travel slump caused by fears of terrorism and the SARS outbreak.

Edward Fluhr, manager of legislative affairs at the Travel Industry Association of America, estimated that the proposal would require the State Department to at least double the number of consular officers who administer visa applications in more than 200 offices worldwide.

“The problem is hiring enough people and making sure they have the space to conduct interviews with the proper security infrastructure,” Fluhr said. “We are concerned that the impact on travel to the United States could be significant.”

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies and an advocate of tougher immigration policies, said that even after the Sept. 11 attacks, the State Department has been too lax in granting visas to foreign nationals.

“Even if this particular push doesn’t succeed, at some point they’re going to have to increase their vigilance in issuing visas,” Krikorian said.

“If they don’t, and there’s another catastrophic event, Congress won’t hesitate to remove the visa process from them altogether.”

 

© 2003 The Washington Post Company

[skibum]

Good plan.

[sarah36]

Our kinds of visa' processing is strict enough. Maybe they are mainly meaning the travel or student visa processing or interview, which most of the terrorists held. When that happens, they should be sending more officials to do the work.

[Mick]

The impact could very well be that some IV staff will be reassigned to do NIV processing. DOS and BCIS have shown little or no forsight before implementing new policies and procedures. I agree with Ski that this is a good plan - my concern is how it will be implemented.

I, too, share the concerns about implementation. The system is already overwhelmed and understaffed. Further, I just read an article stating that most government agencies, including BCIS, are looking for ways to further trim staff due to budget restrictions subsequent to tax cuts. Increasing the workload and cutting staff does not make for increased efficiency I am afraid. I agree that it is good idea but must be part of an overall plan that is more than cosmetic.

[AngryTexan]

This is just another step in our president's plan to inflict as much damage to our economy as he possibly can during his term in office. He's off to an excellent start so far.

[Mick]

This is just another step in our president's plan to inflict as much damage to our economy as he possibly can during his term in office.  He's off to an excellent start so far.

Well-said Tex! Great to hear from you again!

[AZwolfman]

Maybe a good plan, but will the government provide sufficient staff to prevent further visa delays?

[Jerry]

Tex,

 

Assuming you are from the Lone Star state, GW's home state. This really shows what a spenlendid job on the economy he has done so far. But, why is his prove rating still so high?

 

Jerry

[dan321]

Tex,

why would a first term president wish to hurt the economy??? you mean that he doesnt want to get re-elected?

hah, looks like we have a democrat here hahaha!!!

But don't get me wrong, I am aware of the stupid things presidents have done that just in themselves sends the message that they want to hurt something... doesnt make any sense at all sometimes. look at the damage Clinton Did...

[tonado]

Please no political debate. Stay with topic.