T5 B65 Gao Visa Docs 5 Of 6 Fdr- 4-21-02 Gao Interview Of Roberto Powers- Damascus Response 820

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

4/21/02

Post: Damascus

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) •:••',:' -

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-

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a. Strengthened anti-fraud programs b. Instituted new or changed existing standards off bow closely an applicant's name and date of birth must match tine name and date of birth returned by CLASS (before consular officers submit requests fora Security Advisory Opinion) c. Reduced the availability of personal appearance waiver • programs -.,»„ .-; d. Increased the percentage of NIV applicants who are interviewed e. Other (please specify) f. Other (please specify) ....

Yes X X

No

N/A

X X

"

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

2) About what percent of NTV 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

slightly less than 75%

b. Since September 11, 2001

slightly more than 75%

Please provide additional comments, if any. Applicants 60 years and older are able to use a dropbox, along with applicants who have traveled to the USA within the past ten years and who have proof of having done so. An increasing number of applicants able to use the dropbox now prefer to have an interview since this reduces the period of uncertainty as to whether they are going to get the visa or not.

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 a) Security Advisory X Opinion for selected individuals from States Sponsoring International Terrorism (see State 109933) b) Visas Viper Committees c) CLASS name check s X

Some extent

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

No extent

Not sure

No basis to judge

X

X

X

Please provide additional comments, if any. To my knowledge, we have had no applicants identified during the 20-day waiting period, nor any derogatory information following Visas Condor submissions.

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.) Very - - « Some-what helpful helpful

a Interview a greater percentage of all applicants (If you check very or somewhat helpful, please;indicate the percentage 96) b. Interview all applicants , '„y 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 in identifying s X suspected terrorists, cooperating with other agencies/ international organizations, and cultural sensitivity g. Make the visa process a law enforcement . function (If you check yes, please elaborate Jta flie ,r ' comments section on how this should be accomplished, e.g., should the function remain within State or be moved to another agency) h. Other (please specify) i. Other (please specify)

Please provide additional comments, if any.

>T*

Not helpftiKX

Not sure

X

X X

X

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

Very feasible «

Somewhat feasible

Not , feasible

'_, . Not'; •_ '• sure ,-»i

.

a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants (If you check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate the percentage 100 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 r ;;?-- , » 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 function g. Institute a secure travel document that incorporates a biometric such as fingerprints 'z , i*9:. h. Other (please specify)

X X X X X X X

./y*v-*'"'.

i. Other (please specify)

;

^,

Please provide additional comments, if any. Although this would create an additional challenge for post, it would not be impossible for us to simply interview all applicants. Those that currently qualify for use of the dropbox would simply remain fairly quick issuances. Consequently, there is nothing to gain by interviewing all applicants. Most of our applications are either quick issuances or quick refusals.

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) e. Other (please specify)

Yes, to some extent

No

Not sure

X X X

X

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

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