Questions for GAO Interviews on U.S.

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

Name: Les Hickman

Date: July 1, 2002 Post: Amman

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 >-.-.>. ..:•£*$' •'.: "•: ' •' X
b. Instituted new or changed existing standards on how closely an X
applicant's name and date of birth must match the name and date
of birth returned by CLASS (before consular oflBcers submit
requests for a Security Advisory Opinion) :;- • * ^ .>
c. Reduced the availability of personal appearance waiver • X
programs ,. . '- " • *"•:*'"'•' •
d. Increased tiie percentage of NIV applicants who are'*" * X
interviewed -, _
e. Other (please specify) , X

f. Other (please specify) -

Please provide additional comments, if any. We modified the referral program to conform with
State 96111

Post will also initiate photo capture of NIV refusals (state 76869) when NIV version 3.04 is
fully operational (next week with Orkand visit)
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 85 %

b. Since September 11,2001 60%

Please provide additional comments, if any.

Our posts Sept 11 numbers are down by about 50%. There are far fewer applications from less
qualified applicant pool.
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.

Since the start of the 20 -day hold and Condor, only about 10 cases were held up for further
information. However, not one case has hit with the Dept or law enforcement agencies.
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.)

Vety Some-what Not .

helpful helpful helpful Not sure
a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants X
(Jf 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

check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate the
percentage 15 %) , "
d Fingerprint all applicants - X
e. Improve training for consular officers in identifying *^ X
suspected terrorists, 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 iBtfe should be- ** * ] f •
accomplished, e.g., shoidSth»faction remain^
within State or be moved to another agency) •-, , • "
h; Other (please specify) ', I
i. Other (please specify) ,- 5 -%

Please provide additional comments, if any.

Those who wish to get visas to do harm in the U.S. will try to pass themselves off as tourists,
students and businessmen and will get good advice on how to do so. Unless we have the names
in the system terrorists will be next to impossible to detect at the interview window
5) How feasible would it be for your post to implement the following proposed changes to the
NFV process? (Please check one box in each row.)

Very Some- NOT " Not

feasible what feasible feasible suns'"-"
,.
a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants (It X
you check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate
the percentage %J : •' . -
b. Interview afl applicants . X
c. Fingerprint a percentage of all applicants /#>ow X
check very or somewhat helpful, please indicate the
percentage IS %), :»<'
d. Fingerprint all applicants •:'.':£;,. 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 errfbrcement function X
g. Institute a secure travel document that incorporates a X
biometric such as fingerprints * • - ; - ,T : . .;'•'
h. Other (please specify) ,. • • v
, "' ' A-'i':-' ••' . '•"•,. • .-" - -
i. Other (please specify)

Please provide additional comments, if any. Because of space limitations we make more room
for first time applicants. Renewal cases are done through courier passback system which does
not require a personal interview unless there is a problem (suspicious visa, overstay, hit in
CLASS etc.)

We already interview a high percentage of applicants. Not sure if it would help to bring in
more.
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. Jordanians agree with us that a change was
necessary since Sept 11. We did a good public relations campaign to emphasize that the new
procedures are for the safety of everyone traveling to and residing in the U.S. However, further
restrictions (particularly since there has not been another terrorist incident) would appear to be
unnecessary from the Jordanian point of view. It will also shy away those who wish to seek U.S.
business partners to strengthen the local economy through trade.