Tougher Rules On U.S. Visas Bring Fears of Long Waits

Washington Post ^ | May 24, 2003 | Dan Eggen

[Terp]

The State Department has ordered Foreign Service officers in many nations to begin face-to-face interviews with millions of visa applicants who previously have not merited such scrutiny, a step that will result in months-long backlogs, according to officials and documents.

The rules, formally issued in a cable sent to 221 embassies and consulates Wednesday, have prompted strong objections from business, education and tourism groups. The groups say that longer delays in obtaining visas will discourage foreign nationals from visiting the United States at a time when the economy is still struggling.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I am all for it. Make a visit to the U.S. mean something and make it more trouble that having your picture taken and clipping a coupon. In all likelihood it will not screen out many terrorists because of the bureaucratic nature of those doing the interviewing and processing, but I like it anyway.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

The money in the business of journalism is in entertainment, not truth. It is that imperative to entertain which produces the perspective of journalism.

LOL Nor to the AZ cross country squad.

[MissAmericanPie]

This will cause the poor vistor to have to pay a Mexican coyote to "vacation", (take up residence) in the USofA.

[Vigilanteman]

Excerpt from the article:
The rules will not affect citizens of Canada and 27 other countries -- most of them in Europe -- who are not required to obtain U.S. business or tourist visas, and who make up about half of the 35 million people who visit the United States each year.

In other words, we are sceening applicants mainly from countries who apply a higher degree of scrutiny to visiting American citizens. For instance, when I needed a visa to go to Saudi Arabia, I had to obtain an invitation letter from the business whom I was seeing there, fill out an intrusive application including divulging my religion (ethnic Jews are not welcome, so I had to write Christian), buy a 50 Riyal revenue stamp and wait for the Saudi embassy to grant the visa. Had we had the smae rules in place before 9-11, it is possible 15 of the 19 hijackers wouldn't have gotten in so easily.

[holyscroller]

Boy is this a move that's long overdue. I read that most Visas are approved by nationals who work at our consulates. In other words, it was not American consulate employees who were doling out permission to come here, it was foreigners who worked for our consulate. Talk about a system begging to be corrupted...which it was! No wonder we're crawling with shady characters and enemies who hate us.

[1066AD]

Technically, U.S. law already requires non-immigrant visa applicants to submit to in-person interviews, which generally last two to three minutes. But State Department rules have traditionally given consular officials broad leeway in granting exceptions.
So start applying the existing law(s) more strictly, that would be a good low cost start !

[danmar]

The groups say that longer delays in obtaining visas will discourage foreign nationals from visiting the United States at a time when the economy is still struggling

You know something,...I will take that bet any time of the day, just to make shure, we do not get any more building blowen up to to pieces, and/or any of our fine citizens killed for no aparent reasons, except they were mere americans.

If any of the tourists, can not comprehend the level of security we have to employ, at our ports of entry, that particular person can go back to his/her particular country, and request full refund for vacation price,...and good luck on collecting it!

[ETERNAL WARMING]

I assume this is NOT being applied to the Rio Grande swim team.

LOL When they do something about that I'll believe they really want to keep us safe. Until then I'll be wary.

[Valin]

Tougher Rules On U.S. Visas Bring Fears of Long Waits

Is this supposed to be a bad thing?
I'm waiting for CAIR to get up om it's hind legs and start braying.