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V

Questions for GAO Interviews on U.S. EmbassyNon-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 processsince September 11, 20 01 ? (Check al l that apply). ; . . , . , - - . . / : . " . - - * . , . .

a. Strengthened anti-fraud programs . '.'-':'., - ' ' * : < < > 1applicant's name and date of birth must match the name and date 4of birth returned by CLASS (before consular officeresubmrtS|requests for a Security Advisory Opinion) - ' ' " ' " -- ' " ' ' ,r ^

T jl iA tttM *l %fc*f**i. f' AMi*lHMi ' ' "' ilr- ' "*J* ' '^SM-''1C. tvcuUCcu Ure aVaUaullliy Ol pcfSOual appealoltCo WalVct: j,:j|i,jtis*i"programs ,- '- ; - - " ' / ' . * . t . ' ? _ " *;-,'. > ;d. Increased the percentage of NIV applicants jwho areV : -:" .-|interviewed > ' " ' ' ' ' . ; , ^ > - - ;e. Other (please specify) . . : / : "f.Otiier (please specify) : ;**

YesXX

X

No

X

N/A

Please provide additional comments, if any.b. Consular officers check every applicant before issuing. As a new procedure instituted afterSeptember 11, 2001, name checks must be done on-line; name checks from the locally storeddatabase (CDROM) are no longer permitted.d. Excluding seamen applying for Cl/D visas, the percentage of applicants interviewed hasincreased to 70%. See Question 2.

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2) About what percent of NIV applicants w ere interviewed at your post (a) in the 12 monthsprior to September 11, 2001, and (b) since September 11, 2001?a. 12 months prior to September 11,2001 66% interview edb. Since September 11, 2001 55% interviewed (70% excluding seamen)Please provide additional comments, if any.:Prior to August 2001, Post interview ed all seamen applying for a Cl/D transit visa who had notpreviously had a v isa.In August 2001, in conformity w ith Em bassy procedures Post adopted new D rop Box (interviewwaiver) procedures. The new procedures do not require Cl/D applicants to appear for aninterview if they have a valid employment letter. All other applicants must appear for aninterview unless they ha ve previously had a visa to the U.S.Excluding seaman, since September 11, 2001, 70% of NTV applicants were interviewed, anunusually high percentage of applicants interviewed.

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

a) Security AdvisoryOpinion for selectedindividuals from StatesSponsoring InternationalTerrorism (see State109933)b) Visas Viper Committeesc) CLASS name checksd) The 20-day waitingperiod for selectedapplicants (see State196355)e)Requirement thatapplicants provideinformation on the DS-157formf) The VisasCondorprocess (see State 015702)

Great extentX

XX

Some extent

X

X

X

No extent Not sure No basis to judge

Please provide additional comments, if any.

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

a. Interviewa greateKpercentage of all applicants( I f yo u checkvery or somewhat helpful, pleaseindicate the percentage % )b. Interview all applicantsc. Fingerprinta percentage of all applicants ( I f yo ucheckvery or somewhat helpful, please indicate thepercentage % )d. Fingerprint all applicants ;e. Improve training for consular officers in identifyingsuspected trarorists, cooperating with other agencies^ %international organizations, and cultural sensitivity> " ' < * 'g. Make the visaprocess a law enforcementfunction (Ifyou check yes, pleaseelaborate in thecomments section on how thisshould be , . ' , ;accomplished, e.g., should th e fwction remain ,within State or be moved to another agency)h. Other(please specify) - . . ' - , : ' ? i. Other (please specify) ; '$

Very . - ,helpful

X

Some-whathelpful Not ihelpfulX

XXX

X

-a*Not sure*

Please provide additional comments, if any. :a. - b. Surabaya interviews an unusually high percentage of applicants. The only applicants whocan be issued a visa without a personal interview are people who have previously had a visa andare applying to renew their visa. Interviewing a higher percentage of applicants would stretchour limited manpower resources and could divert time and attention away from applicants whoneed closer scrutiny.

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

a. Interview a greater percentage of all applicants ( I fyo u check very or somewhat helpful, please indicatet f i e percentage 9 6 )b. Interview all applicantsc. Fingerprint a percentage of allapplicants ( I f youcheck v e r y or somewhat h e l p f u l , please indicate thepercentage % ) ''-'".d. Fingerprint allapplicants , -, r . ,;e. Improve training forconsular officers in identifyingsuspected terrorists, cooperatingwith other agencies/international organizations, and cultural sensitivityf. Make the visa processa law enforcemejitfanc^^g. Institute a secure travel document that incorporates abiometric such as fingerprints : - '- \ ' ' " " * - -h. Other (please specify) r . - '< - -* - ' " . . ' - . * - ' - . ' . . - ' . . - , " . 'i. Other (please specify) ;

Veryfeasible

X

Some-what feasible Notfeasible

XXXX

XX

Net-sure- . '

Please provide additional comments, if any.Staffing shortages an d space limitations w ould mak e it difficult to implement the changes listed.a. - b. S urabaya interviews an unusually high percentage o f applicants.

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6) Would any of the following factors m ake it difficult fo r your post to fully implement th eproposed changes listed in questions 4 and 5? (Please check one box in each row.)

a Consular staffing shortagesb. Lack of space, facilitiesc. Anadverse effect on U.S. interestsin the host country (please elaboratein comments section)d Host country would require sameof U.S. citizens (reciprocity)e. Other (please specify)

Yes, to agreat extentXXX

Yes, to some extent

X

No Not sure

Please provide additional comments, if any.:The Indonesian gove rnmen t and Indonesian citizens would react negatively to new U.S. visaprocedures that could be interpreted as "profiling" Indonesians as potential terrorists. Furtherimpediments could also undermine U.S.-Indonesia trade and investment.