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Tougher Rules On U.S. Visas Bring Fears of Long Waits
Washington Post ^
| May 24, 2003
| Dan Eggen
Posted on 05/24/2003 8:15:26 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
TOPICS: War on Terror
KEYWORDS: usvisas
1
posted on
05/24/2003 8:15:26 PM PDT
by
Terp
Comment #2 Removed by Moderator
To: Terp
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.
3
posted on
05/24/2003 8:19:50 PM PDT
by
Mind-numbed Robot
(Not all things that need to be done need to be done by the government.)
To: namgniklaw
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.
4
posted on
05/24/2003 8:20:59 PM PDT
by
Mind-numbed Robot
(Not all things that need to be done need to be done by the government.)
To: Terp
This will cause the poor vistor to have to pay a Mexican coyote to "vacation", (take up residence) in the USofA.
To: namgniklaw
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.
To: Terp
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.
To: Vigilanteman
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 !
8
posted on
05/24/2003 9:15:59 PM PDT
by
1066AD
To: namgniklaw
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 strugglingYou 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!
9
posted on
05/24/2003 9:20:51 PM PDT
by
danmar
("It is extremely hard to soar like an Eagle, when you are surrounded by Turkey's")
To: namgniklaw
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.
To: Terp
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.
11
posted on
05/25/2003 8:33:39 AM PDT
by
Valin
(Age and deceit beat youth and skill)
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