T5 B65 Gao Visa Docs 5 Of 6 Fdr- 4-19-02 Gao Interview Of Kenneth Durkin- Casablanca Response 818

Questions for GAO Interviews on U.S. Embassy Non-Immigrant Visas (NIV) Policies and Procedures (as of 4/17/02)

09-

: Name: Kenneth Durkin Date: April 19, 2002

Post: Casablanca

1) Has your post made any of the following changes to the NIV application and approval process since September 11, 2001? (Check all that apply) .

Yes

a. Strengthened anti-fraud programs * ' v X b. Instituted new or changed existing standards on how closely an applicant's name and date of birth most match the name and date of birth returned by CLASS (before consular officers subiaifc^ii « requests for a Security Advisory Opinion) , c. Reduced the availability of personal appearance waiver programs . / .'-.. d. Increased the percentage of MV applicants who are interviewed - : e. Other (please specify)

No

N/A

X

X X

f. Other (please specify)

Please provide additional comments, if any. Post interviews virtually all applicants which is a problem for us. One of my priorities as a consular manager is to introduce some personal appearance waiver programs.

2) About what percent of NIV applicants were interviewed at your post (a) in the 12 months prior to September 11, 2001, and (b) since September 11, 2001? a. 12 months prior to September 11,2001 b. Since September 11, 2001 Please provide additional comments, if any. See answer number to number 1.

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

Some extent

a) Security Advisory Opinion for selected individuals from States Sponsoring International Terrorism (see State 109933) b) Visas Viper Committees

X

c) CLASS name check s

X

No extent

Not sure

No basis to judge

X

d) The 20-day waiting period for selected applicants (see State 196355) e) Requirement that applicants provide information on the DS-157 form f) The Visas Condor process (see State 015702)

X

X

X

Please provide additional comments, if any. We have yet to uncover a "potential terrorist" from any of the new procedures implemented after Sept. 11.

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

Some-what helpiul

Not helpftil

X a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants (If you check very or somewhat helpful, please ^ : indicate the percentage %) b. Interview all applicants X c. Fingerprint a percentage of all applicants (If you check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate the percentage %) d. Fingerprint all applicants e. Improve training for consular officers io identifying ; suspected terrorists, cooperating with other agencies/ VV international organizations, and cultural sensitivity i g. Make the visa process a law enforcement function (If you check yes, please elaborate in the > coms^^sec^ca':onhowth^'^fM€t^e;^^ :"f\ ,.\ e.g., should the function remain

within State or be moved to another agency) h. Other (please specify) L Other (please specify)

Please provide additional comments, if any.

. ,^« :.

••« "«t Not SOK'-J-

5) How feasible would it be for your post to implement the following proposed changes to the NIV process? (Please check one box in each row.) Very feasible a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants (If you check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate the percentage 96) b. Interview all applicants c. Fingerprint a percentage of all applicants (If you check very or somewhat helpful, please Indicate the percentage %) . , "? d. Fingerprint all applicants f; ^ e. Improve training for consular officers in identifying suspected terrorists, cooperating with other agencies/ international organizations, and cultural sensitivity

f. Make the visa process a law enforcement funetion g. Institute a secure travel document that incorporates a biometric such as fingerprints " , j* ? * h. Other (please specify) 4;

Somewhat feasible

Not ' ,'t feasible

Not } sure - <

X

X X X X X

i. Other (please specify)

Please provide additional comments, if any. We currently interview almost all applicants which we are trying to move away from. Fingerprinting applicants is labor intensive and will result in longer lines and further delays in visa issuance. And then there is the question of what purpose do the prints serve? Are we to send them to FBI for comparision, or or you talking about incorporating it at post in a biometric visa. If it's the latter, Department should prepare posts with necessary hardware, additional staffing positions, and adequate space to implement the procedure. We are already working in cramped quarters and despite OIG recommendations for more space and improved layout, we are not likely to see any physical improvements for three or four years. 6) Would any of the following factors make it difficult for your post to fully implement the proposed changes listed in questions 4 and 5? (Please check one box in each row.) Yes, to a great extent

a. Consular staffing shortages b. Lack of space, facilities c. An adverse effect on U.S. interests in the host country (please elaborate in comments section) d. Host country would require same of U.S. citizens (reciprocity)

Yes, to some extent

No

Not sure

X X X

X

e. Other (please specify)

Please provide additional comments, if any.