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Visa News
Passport Alert System To Be Developed by U.S., Australia, Chile The United States, Australia and Chile will work together to develop "passport alert" systems for sharing information on lost or stolen passports, according to a joint statement by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Chilean Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza. Keeping America's Doors Open and Our Nation Secure What is US-VISIT? US-VISIT is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security because it enhances security for our citizens and visitors while facilitating legitimate travel and trade across our borders. US-VISIT helps to secure our borders, facilitate the entry and exit process, and enhance the integrity of our immigration system while respecting the privacy of our visitors. Department of Homeland Security Launches Prototype Phase of New Biometric ID Card for Transportation Workers The Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today began testing the technology and business processes involved in the Transportation Worker Identity Credential (TWIC) Program at the Port of Long Beach Container Terminal. The Prototype will expand to 34 sites in six states and will last seven months. U.S. Deported Record Number of Criminal, Illegal Aliens in 2004 Separate program targeting sexual predators arrests 4,300 people The United States has removed a record number of 157,281 criminal and other illegal aliens from the United States in fiscal year 2004, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) largest investigative arm. Passport Alert System To Be Developed by U.S., Australia, Chile Sharing data on lost, stolen passports will combat terrorism The United States, Australia and Chile will work together to develop "passport alert" systems for sharing information on lost or stolen passports, according to a joint statement by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Chilean Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza. US-VISIT Implementation Dates at Land Border Crossings Announced Official says processing visitors will not significantly affect wait times Washington -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced dates on which the US-VISIT program will be implemented at the 50 busiest land ports along U.S. borders, according to a DHS notice published in the Federal Register. Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Begins The U.S. Department of State is launching the 2006 Diversity Visa Lottery with assurances of its capability to meet demand and warnings about the risks of fraud in the process. Requirements for more secure visas, passports now in place? U.S. Adopts Biometric Facial Recognition Standard Homeland Security says biometric consistent with international standards INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2006 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2006) The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants known as "diversity immigrants" (DV immigrants). The Act makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Media Note The Department of State is collecting digital index fingerscans from visa applicants at visa-adjudicating embassies and consulates worldwide, in compliance with Section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002. Fact Sheet The U.S. Department of State has invested in systems, staffing and worked with partners within the U.S. Government to increase the transparency, efficiency and predictability of the nonimmigrant visa process. Foreign Visitors to United States Need Machine-Readable Passports But noncompliant visitors will not be denied entry, Homeland Security says DHS Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson speaks at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, DC, October 22, 2004 (DoS photo by Janine Sides) Citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries entering the United States must have either machine-readable passports (MRPs) or visas in their non-MRPs starting October 26. Machine-Readable Passport Procedures for Visa Waiver Travelers Announced by the Department of Homeland Security Beginning October 26, 2004, officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security?s (DHS) Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin enforcing requirements that travelers applying for admission under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must be in possession of a machine-readable passport. Following procedures announced today, if, after October 26, 2004, a Visa Waiver Program national presents him or herself for admission to the United States without a machine-readable passport or non-immigrant visa, a CBP officer is permitted to grant a one-time exemption to admit the traveler to the United States. The traveler will be issued a letter explaining the U.S. entry requirements and his or her passport will be annotated that a one-time exemption has been granted. Fact Sheet: Machine-Readable Passport Requirement Effective October 26, 2004, travelers applying for admission under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) pursuant to section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) must be in possession of a machine-readable passport (MRP). As an alternative, travelers may obtain a non-immigrant visa in their current (non-machine-readable) passport. Is Your Destination the U.S. This brief video explains new visa policies and procedures for visitors to the United States--a nation with secure borders and open doors. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces Staggering Arrest Numbers Using New Anti-Terror Technology Washington D.C. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today announced that biometric identification technology is fully operational within all 136 Border Patrol stations. CBP's current objective is to have IAFIS technology fully deployed to all Ports of Entry by the end of 2005. The technology, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, or IAFIS, enables CBP officers and Border Patrol agents to search fingerprint databases simultaneously using the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the FBI fingerprint database. It provides rapid identification of individuals with outstanding criminal warrants by electronically comparing a live-scanned fingerprint against a huge nationwide database of previously captured fingerprints Land Ports of Entry in to Test US-VISIT Entry Procedures Starting Mid-November US-VISIT will begin a test of entry procedures at land ports of entry in the secondary inspection area starting in mid-November. Initial testing will begin at land ports of entry in Douglas, Arizona, Port Huron, Michigan, and Laredo, Texas. State Dept.: We Don't Want to Lose Even One Student By MAURA HARTY 2006 U.S. Visa Lottery Opens in November Program offers 50,000 permanent visas for immigrants to the United States The U.S. Department of State will issue 50,000 permanent residency visas to the winners of a lottery that opens for registration November 6. Applications from would-be immigrants in eligible countries will be accepted from November 5, 2004, through January 7, 2005, the State Department announced September 29. The program is formally known as the Diversity Visa Lottery because it offers visas to citizens of nations that have a traditionally low level of immigration to the United States. In so doing, it is designed to bring greater racial and ethnic diversity to the nation. New Procedures Await Visa-Waiver Visitors to United States Additional entry, exit requirements begin September 30 Visitors eligible to travel to the United States without a visa will encounter new procedures at U.S. ports of entry starting September 30, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson says the changes will make travel safer and enhance security for U.S. citizens at the same time. Media Note: Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC September 29, 2004 2006 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Registration Applications for the 2006 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will be accepted between November 5, 2004 and January 7, 2005. Persons seeking to apply must register electronically, online through the designated Internet website, www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period. The 2006 Diversity Visa Lottery marks the second year that electronic registration is required. Paper entries and mail-in requests for Diversity Visa Lottery registration are not accepted. Daily Press Briefing Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC September 30, 2004 DEPARTMENT: Additional Stops for Secretary Powell's Western Hemisphere Trip 2006 Diversity Lottery / Internet Application Process / Number of Applicants / Number of North Korean Applicants U.S. Immigration Application Backlog Decreasing, Official Says Agency says it Strives for Reform, Better Customer Service Washington -- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) has made significant progress in reforming an "old, embattled" bureaucracy and is making solid inroads in reducing a longstanding backlog in immigration applications, according to CIS Director Eduardo Aguirre. Biometric Identification Technology Operational, U.S. Says Deployment of Technology Deemed Critical to Homeland Security The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced September 21 that integrated 10-point biometric identification technology is operating in each U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol station in the United States. Machine-Readable Passport Requirement The State Department is continuing its efforts to notify visitors of the new guidelines for entry into the United States. As the October 26 deadline for Visa Waiver Program travelers to possess machine-readable passports approaches, our embassies and consulates have engaged in extensive outreach to make certain that eligible individuals are aware of this requirement. We are confident that Visa Waiver travelers will not be deterred or inconvenienced by this change. Celebrate Citizenship, Celebrate America From coast to coast, the USCIS welcomes more than 20,000 new citizens to the United States during Citizenship Day events. USCIS commemorates Citizenship Day on September 17 with a special ceremony on Ellis Island, where Director Aguirre addresses candidates for citizenship before taking their Oath of Allegiance. This event kicks-off Constitution Week, which will be celebrated by USCIS in communities from New York City to Honolulu. U.S. and Poland Sign Agreement to Begin Screening Program at Warsaw Airport Today an agreement was signed between the United States and the Republic of Poland that is designed to facilitate and promote safe travel between the two nations, specifically the travel of bona fide passengers on direct flights from Warsaw’s F. Chopin International Airport to the U.S. CBP holds events across the country to present new DHS badges On August 6, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner and senior Homeland Security executives presided over ceremonies in Newark, Detroit, and San Ysidro, in which CBP Officers, CBP Agriculture Specialists, and CBP Border Patrol Agents received the first Department of Homeland Security law enforcement badges. These ceremonies celebrate our efforts to achieve "One Face at the Border,” one unified frontline border agency at and between our Nation's ports of entry to manage and secure America’s borders -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection. DHS SEVIS Program Ramps Up For Fall Semester The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today marked the start of the second year of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a nationwide registration program for international visitors, with a welcoming event today at Dulles International Airport for some of the 220,000 foreign students and exchange visitors expected to arrive in the United States this fall. Statement of Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Press Conference at Dulles Airport America is a welcoming country. It always has been. And still is. Extension of Requirement for Biometric Passport Issuance by Visa Waiver Program Countries On August 9, 2004, President Bush signed H.R. 4417 to extend by one year, the requirement for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to include biometrics in passports. The passage of this legislation and the signing by the President extends for one year, to October 26, 2005, the deadline by which new passports issued for use in the Visa Waiver Program must be biometrically enabled. This extension was necessary to avoid potential disruption of international travel and provide the international community adequate time to develop viable programs for producing a more secure, biometrically enabled passport. Visa Waiver Program travelers will still have to present a Machine-Readable passport for visa free travel as of October 26,2004. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Broadens Authority, Directs More Leeway for Admitting No Risk Visitors to the United States Washington, D.C. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announced today new discretion for CBP officers to grant no-risk travelers who overstayed under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) on a prior visit a one-time parole. The use of discretion by CBP supervisors will avoid the detention and handcuffing which Commissioner Bonner said was "inappropriate" for minor violations of the Visa Waiver Program. Department of Homeland Security to Begin Biometric Exit Pilot as Part of US-VISIT Program Under Secretary for Border & Transportation Security: Asa Hutchinson speaks at Chicago O’Hare Press Conference, together with US-VISIT Director: Jim Williams and Chicago Dept of Aviation Commissioner: John A. Robertson. Journalists Entering the United States Required to Have "I" Class Visas Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, members of the press that travel to the United States in the capacity of representative of foreign press, radio, film, or other foreign information media, coming to engage in journalism, must have an "I" visa, even if they are nationals of a visa waiver country. Holding an "I" visa allows a working journalist to enter the United States for as long as needed to work on an assignment and will avoid a port of entry turnaround. The Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(1)(15)(B) specifically excludes such persons from the use of a "B" visa or visa waiver entry. U.S. Modifies Visa Rules for Foreign Reporters Foreign journalists will be able to enter the United States even if they hold a wrong visa, says the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bureau in the Department of Homeland Security. In a May 21 news release, CBP said it gave its border agents discretionary authority to admit foreign media representatives with visas other than the "I" visa required for working journalists. But journalists who benefit from the new rule once will be required to have the proper visa for subsequent trips to the United States, it said. U.S. Must Remain Welcoming to Foreign Visitors, Powell Says The United States must continue to be a "welcoming" country even as it takes steps to secure its borders, Secretary of State Colin Powell says. Speaking May 12 to U.S. travel industry representatives in Washington, Powell said that openness, which has enriched U.S. democracy, culture and economy, is a "vital" part of U.S. foreign policy and will become even more important as globalization progresses. New U.S. Entry Procedures Required for Foreign Visitors Starting January 5, foreign visitors entering the United States with a visa are subject to new requirements under a program designed to both enhance U.S. border security and ease travel. Travelers entering at 115 airports and 14 seaports are now required to present fingerprints and pose for a digital photograph employing biometric methods -- physical characteristics unique to each individual -- to establish identity. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is implementing the new procedures known as US-VISIT. "US-VISIT is actually a continuum of security measures that begin overseas, at the U.S. consular offices issuing visas, where biometrics will be collected to determine if the applicant is on a database of known or suspected criminals or terrorists," said DHS Under Secretary of Border and Transportation Security Asa Hutchinson in a January 5 press release. "When the visitor gets to our border, we use the same biometrics -- these digital 'fingerscans' -- to verify that the person at our port is the same person who received the visa or to see if we have learned new information about any involvement in terrorism or crime." Since November 17, US-VISIT has been in place on a trial basis at the Atlanta, Georgia, airport where officials report that the new requirements add only 15 seconds to the entry process. The program is also to be phased in at land ports -- highways entering the United States from Mexico and Canada -- by the end of 2005. U.S. to Launch New Program to Facilitate Foreign Visitors The Bush administration will launch a new security program January 5, 2004, that will serve the dual purpose of speeding the entry of legal foreign visitors into the United States while keeping out potential security threats. In a December 10 interview in Miami, Asa Hutchinson, under secretary for borders and transportation in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said the program, called US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology), is an example of the how the Bush administration seeks to apply the latest in high technology to increase security at U.S. ports of entry. The new procedures will require most visitors traveling on visas to the United States to have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at U.S. air and seaports. The program, Hutchinson said, will minimize the possibility of document fraud and identify individuals who are on a terrorist watch list with the goal of preventing them from entering the country. U.S. Terminates Re-registration Requirements for Visitors Effective December 2 the Bush administration terminated its mandatory re-registration requirements under the National Security Entry/Exit Registration System (NSEERS), says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Spokespersons for Arab-American groups welcomed the announcement. A new more inclusive system will focus on individuals instead of on "broad categories" of people, Department of Homeland Security's Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security Asa Hutchinson told reporters. Hutchinson called the phasing out of the NSEERS domestic interview requirement "another important step forward ... to maintain the integrity and security of our nation's immigration systems." Federal Trade Commission Alleges Fraud by Visa Services Company The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has obtained a court order to shut down a business concern that the agency alleges was defrauding consumers attempting to participate in the diversity immigrant visa program. In a November 10 press release, the FTC reported that a firm known as USA Immigration was attempting to charge fees for services provided for free by the U.S. Department of State. The diversity visa program is administered annually by the State Department under congressional mandate, issuing resident visas to individuals selected by lottery from a pool of qualified applicants. The FTC alleges that USA Immigration and its operators misled consumers into believing their company was affiliated with the U.S. government. The application process is free, but the FTC reports that USA Immigration charged customers fees to apply for the opportunity to receive a visa. A U.S. court has issued a temporary restraining order, prohibiting the company from making further misrepresentations and freezing the firm's assets. The two operators were arrested in October and face charges of mail and wire fraud. New Entry-Exit System for Visitors to U.S. Will Be Fast and Effective The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demonstrated new procedures that will require most visitors traveling on visas to the United States to have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at U.S. air and seaports starting January 5, 2004. The procedures, developed in response to a congressional mandate, are part of the US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) -- an automated entry/exit system -- and will be in place at 115 airports and 14 major seaports in early 2004. The enhancements to the immigration process will be phased in at U.S. land borders throughout 2005 and 2006. Departments of State, Homeland Security Share Visa Oversight The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have devised a new system for the two agencies to work together to maintain a visa process that protects the nation at the same time it keeps U.S. borders open to legitimate travel and commerce. The new agreement, required by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, was announced September 29 by the Department of State. The agreement calls for the State Department to continue to manage the visa process while DHS "will establish and review visa policy and ensure that homeland security requirements are fully reflected in the visa process," according to the statement for J. Adam Ereli, the deputy spokesman for the State Department. Machine-Readable Passports for Visa Waiver Program Travel Postponed The Secretary of State has granted a postponement until October 26, 2004, as the date by which Visa Waiver Program travelers from 21 countries must present a machine-readable passport at a U.S. port of entry to be admitted to the country without a visa. The Department of State consulted with the Department of Homeland Security before making this decision. The countries for which the postponement has been granted are: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. U.S. Issues 20,000 Immigrant Visas to Cubans in 2003 Under the auspices of the Migration Accords with Cuba, the United States issued more than 20,000 immigrant visas to Cuban nationals in Fiscal Year 2003, according to a September 22 press statement issued by the State Department. The State Department indicated that the burden is now on the Cuban government to grant exit permits to those Cubans who have received U.S. travel documents. The State Department also called upon the Cuban government to cease denying permits to doctors, information technology professionals, and family members of Cubans who have sought freedom in the United States. Diversity Visa Program Registration Turns Electronic Effective this year, all applicants who register to participate in the Diversity Visa lottery program must do so electronically through a designated Internet website, www.dvlottery.state.gov. Applicants may access the website between Saturday, November 1, 2003, and Tuesday, December 30, 2003, to fill out the electronic diversity visa entry form. Paper entries and mail-in requests for diversity visa registration will no longer be accepted. The Department of State is implementing the new electronic system in order to improve efficiency and make the diversity visa petition process less prone to fraud, thus making it less vulnerable to use by persons who may pose a threat to the security interests of the United States. Homeland Security and Department of State take immediate steps to make air travel even safer WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State have suspended two programs that allow certain international air passengers to travel through the United States for transit purposes without first obtaining a visa. The programs, known as the Transit Without Visa program (TWOV) and the International-to-International transit program (ITI), have been suspended. The action takes effect at 11:00 a.m., Saturday August 2, 2003. (Note: All times are U.S. EDT). This action does not affect U.S. citizens or citizens from visa waiver countries. Homeland Security issued instructions to all airlines to no longer allow passengers to utilize these transit programs. Homeland Security agencies are also taking additional steps to increase security at airports and on airplanes that normally transport and process passengers under these programs. These new measures are in addition to significant increases in aviation security implemented since September 11 such as reinforced cockpit doors, deployment of federal air marshals, enhanced federalized baggage and passenger screening and armed Federal Flight Deck Officers piloting some jetliners. It is the intention of both Departments to reinstate the TWOV and ITI programs as soon as additional security measures can be implemented to safeguard the programs from terrorists who wish to gain access to the U.S. or U.S. airspace without going through the consular screening process. Officials have already begun this process of identifying possible steps that could be taken to further secure the transit programs. Homeland Security and the Department of State are soliciting comments from the public about the action and will reassess the suspension over the next 60 days after reviewing the responses. Current intelligence will also be a factor considered when deciding to re-implement the program. Required Use of Machine-Readable Passport for Visa Waiver Program Travel Starting October 1, 2003, travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must have a machine-readable passport. Any traveler without a machine-readable passport will be required to obtain a visa before coming to the United States. This requirement is mandated by the USA Patriot Act of 2001. Immigration inspectors may deny entry to any traveler attempting to enter on a visa-waiver basis without a machine-readable passport after October 1, 2003. Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program have long been required to have a program for the issuance of machine-readable passports, but the October 1, 2003, requirement makes the use of such a passport mandatory for visa-free entry. It applies to both adults and children. Citizens of Belgium have been required to present a machine-readable passport for visa-waiver entry since May 15, 2003. Diversity Visa Lottery 2004 (DV-2004) Results The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky, has registered and notified the winners of the DV-2004 diversity lottery. The diversity lottery was conducted under the terms of section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and makes available *50,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Approximately 111,000 applicants have been registered and notified and may now make an application for an immigrant visa. Since it is likely that some of the first *50,000 persons registered will not pursue their cases to visa issuance, this larger figure should insure that all DV-2004 numbers will be used during fiscal year 2004 (October 1, 2003 until September 30, 2004). Applicants registered for the DV-2004 program were selected at random from the approximately 7.3 million qualified entries received during the one-month application period that ran from Noon on October 7, 2002 through Noon on November 6, 2002. An additional 2.9 million applications were either received outside of the mail-in period or were disqualified for failing to properly follow directions. The visas have been apportioned among six geographic regions, with a maximum of seven percent available to persons born in any single country. During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of a high school education or its equivalent or show two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years. Those selected will need to act on their immigrant visa applications quickly. Applicants should follow the instructions in their notification letter and must fully complete the information requested. First 100 Days of The BCIS On March 1, services formerly provided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) transitioned into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS). In support of the DHS overall mission, the immediate priorities of the new BCIS are to implement solutions for improving immigration customer services, continue to eliminate immigration adjudications backlogs and promote national security. The BCIS will continue efforts to fundamentally transform and improve the delivery of immigration and citizenship services. This new Bureau includes approximately 15,000 employees and contractors, and is headed by the Director of BCIS, Eduardo Aguirre Jr., who reports directly to the Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security. Greater scrutiny for Visa applications Visa applications are now subject to greater scrutiny than in the past. For more applicants than previously, a personal appearance will be a required as a standard part of visa processing. Additionally, applicants who are affected by security review procedures are informed, when they submit their applications, of the need for additional screening and to expect delays. US VISIT Electronic Entry-Exit System The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is setting up a new electronic entry-exit system, called US VISIT, that will collect and share information, including biometric identifiers, on visitors to the United States, according to a department fact sheet released May 19. U.S. Making Progress on Foreign Student Data System Problems associated with the implementation of a new data system for monitoring foreign students in the United States are being addressed immediately, aggressively and accurately, say U.S. immigration officials. Speaking before Congress and numerous educational associations in recent months, officials say the Student Exchange and Visitor Information Program (SEVIS) will enhance homeland security by combating fraud and ensuring that international students comply with the terms of the visas through which they entered the United States. But they say the system has also faced technical challenges. The $36 million Internet-based student registration system enables U.S. academic institutions to maintain accurate and timely data on foreign students, exchange visitors and their dependents, and communicate this information to the departments of Homeland Security and State in real time. U.S. Committed to Achieving Both "Secure Borders" and "Open Doors" "Secure borders" and "open doors" -- two goals of U.S. visa policy -- are not mutually exclusive, according to Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Speaking April 16 at a forum on "Sustaining Exchanges While Securing Borders" in Washington, Harty said the United States values visitors from overseas, and she outlined government efforts taken to achieve both security and openness. "We are an open society. We welcome the diversity and richness of experience that attends international exchange. We must not, as Secretary [of State Colin Powell] Powell has said so eloquently, become a gated America," Harty told an audience of international educators gathered at George Washington University. Remarks by Secretary Ridge to the Association of American Universities Speaking to the members of the Association of American Universities on April 14, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge called for a partnership with American universities in protecting America's security without hindering the free flow of commerce and the free exchange of ideas. Secretary Ridge described steps his Department is taking together with universities to strengthen homeland security while fostering the universities' mission to "educate your students and further our understanding of the world." Those steps include streamlining new systems designed to manage and monitor the cases of foreign students and exchange visitors (SEVIS), strengthen and expedite the visa clearance process, and consult with the scientific community to speed visa approvals for qualified scientists and researchers (IPASS). Immigration Interior Enforcement Chief Says SEVIS a Powerful Tool for Enhancing Homeland Security Johnny Williams, Interim Director for Immigration Interior Enforcement in DHS's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) testified before the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims on April 2 that the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a new Internet-based system to manage and monitor the cases of foreign students and exchange visitors and their dependents during their stay in the United States, has been up and running since January 1. Despite some minor problems, which the Bureau is addressing, the system has proven to be an effective tool for combating fraud and for ensuring that individuals comply with the terms of their visas. Academic Leaders Concerned About Backlog of Student Visas and Problems with Tracking of Foreign Students WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2003 - A backlog of visas for foreign students and scholars and problems with a new tracking system for foreign students are hampering work at U.S. universities and potentially harming U.S. security, two academic leaders told the House Science Committee at a hearing today. A witness from the State Department acknowledged the problems, but said they were in the process of being worked out. The Committee heard from Janice Jacobs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services at the State Department; Dr. Shirley Tilghman, president of Princeton University; and Dr. David Ward, president of the American Council on Education, a group that represents many U.S. universities. The hearing focused on issues related to foreign students and scholars in science, mathematics and engineering, particularly graduate students. State Department Strives for Balance Between Security and Intl. Exchange The Department of State is working with other U.S. government agencies to improve security in the processing of visas for international students and visitors, at the same time it supports the national interest in promoting scientific and academic exchange. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services Janice Jacobs told the House Science Committee March 26 that improving systems to exchange information with law enforcement agencies was one of the key steps toward enhanced security. "We've made enormous progress in identifying individuals who may represent a threat to our nation through enhanced interagency data sharing," said Jacobs. New nonimmigrant Visas Photo requirement The photograph format for nonimmigrant visa applications has changed. The new format is similar to that required for U.S. passport processing. New Rules Require Visas and Passports for Certain Permanent Residents of Canada and Bermuda Washington, DC – Under interim rules published earlier this year, nationals of British Commonwealth countries and Ireland who are residents of Canada and Bermuda, and were not previously required to present a passport and non-immigrant visa to enter the United States will now be required to present these documents for entry into the United States. The rules published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2003, will affect nationals of approximately 54 countries. However, these rules do not affect the documentary requirements for citizens of Canada or the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. These new requirements are among a series of measures that have been implemented to ensure the safety of the American people by strengthening visa screening procedures and monitoring. U.S. Campuses Remain Welcoming Environment for International Students International student advisors at U.S. colleges and universities say changes in U.S. visa regulations, and media portrayal of the United States as an unwelcome environment for foreign students, have affected student enrollments from Middle Eastern countries. Yet they say U.S. campuses continue to value the many contributions that international students make to their educational institutions and they continue their efforts to create a welcoming environment for them. |
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