V

Questions for GAO Interviews on U.S. Embassy

Non-Immigrant Visas (NIV) Policies and Procedures (as of 4/17/02)

, Name: Craig L. Hall

Date: 04/22/02 Post: Surabaya 32W&1-

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 No N/A

a. Strengthened anti-fraud programs . •'.'-':'., -'«'*:< <>1 X
X
applicant's name and date of birth must match the name and date 4
of birth returned by CLASS (before consular officeresubmrtS|«
requests for a Security Advisory Opinion) - •'•'"'" -- '« "• '•'• ,r^« ^
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X
programs • ,-• •'- ;•-- " •'/•'. *.t.•'?•_" *;-,'. >;
d. Increased the percentage of NIV applicants'jwho are V: - : " .-| X
interviewed • • •>•' "•''''••. ;,^>--;
e. Other (please specify) . «. : / : "

f.Otiier (please specify) : ;**

Please provide additional comments, if any.

b. Consular officers check every applicant before issuing. As a new procedure instituted after
September 11, 2001, name checks must be done on-line; name checks from the locally stored
database (CDROM) are no longer permitted.

d. Excluding seamen applying for Cl/D visas, the percentage of applicants interviewed has
increased to 70%. See Question 2.
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 66% interviewed

b. Since September 11, 2001 55% interviewed (70% excluding seamen)

Please provide additional comments, if any.:

Prior to August 2001, Post interviewed all seamen applying for a Cl/D transit visa who had not
previously had a visa.

In August 2001, in conformity with Embassy procedures Post adopted new Drop Box (interview
waiver) procedures. The new procedures do not require Cl/D applicants to appear for an
interview if they have a valid employment letter. All other applicants must appear for an
interview unless they have previously had a visa to the U.S.

Excluding seaman, since September 11, 2001, 70% of NTV applicants were interviewed, an
unusually high percentage of applicants interviewed.
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 No extent Not sure No basis to judge

a) Security Advisory X
Opinion for selected
individuals from States
Sponsoring International
Terrorism (see State
109933)
b) Visas Viper Committees X
c) CLASS name check s X
d) The 20-day waiting X
period for selected
applicants (see State
196355)
e) Requirement that X
applicants provide
information on the DS-157
form
f) The Visas Condor X
process (see State 015702)

Please provide additional comments, if any.

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

Very .-, Some-what Not i •-a*

helpful helpful helpful Not sure*
a. Interview a greateKpercentage of all applicants X
(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 X
checkvery or somewhat helpful, please indicate the
percentage %)
d. Fingerprint all applicants ; X
e. Improve training for consular officers in identifying X
suspected trarorists, cooperating with other agencies^ %
international organizations, and cultural sensitivity > "•'<*'
g. Make the visa process a law enforcement X
function (If you check yes, please elaborate in the
comments section on how this should be ,.', ;
accomplished, e.g., should the fwction remain ,
within State or be moved to another agency)
h. Other (please specify) -».. '-,:'?•

i. Other (please specify) ; •'$

Please provide additional comments, if any. :

a. - b. Surabaya interviews an unusually high percentage of applicants. The only applicants who
can be issued a visa without a personal interview are people who have previously had a visa and
are applying to renew their visa. Interviewing a higher percentage of applicants would stretch
our limited manpower resources and could divert time and attention away from applicants who
need closer scrutiny.
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 Some- Not Net-

feasible what feasible feasible sure- .•'

a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants (If X

you check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate
tfie percentage 96)
b. Interview all applicants X
c. Fingerprint a percentage of all applicants (If you X
check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate the
percentage %) ''-'".
d. Fingerprint all applicants , -, r . ,; X
e. Improve training for consular officers in identifying X
suspected terrorists, cooperating with other agencies/
international organizations, and cultural sensitivity
f. Make the visa process a law enforcemejitfanc^^ X
g. Institute a secure travel document that incorporates a X
biometric such as fingerprints : - '-\ • ' "•" * - -
h. Other (please specify) r .-•'<•- -
*-'". •.'-.*- •'-. ' ..-'.. -," . '
i. Other (please specify) ;

Please provide additional comments, if any.

Staffing shortages and space limitations would make it difficult to implement the changes listed.

a. - b. Surabaya interviews an unusually high percentage of applicants.

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 Yes, to some extent No Not sure

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

Please provide additional comments, if any.:

The Indonesian government and Indonesian citizens would react negatively to new U.S. visa
procedures that could be interpreted as "profiling" Indonesians as potential terrorists. Further
impediments could also undermine U.S.-Indonesia trade and investment.