Security Checks

[mybackpages 0]

I found this report by the Center for Immigration studies and what caught my eye was this passage about security checks at teh consulate interview level. While the report was dealing mainly with non-immigrant visas, i thought it was interesting and might still apply for the fiance visa. (I know fiance visas are non-immigrant visas, but so much of the process is handled like a immingrant visa).

I highlighted the part that was most interesting to me esp considering the MENA region......

From the report...

The final step before the issuance of the NIV is the name check. Every consular post is linked electronically to the Consular Lookout and Support System (CLASS), a database listing individuals who have been refused visas previously or who may not have applied yet, but who have been identified as presumably ineligible. Examples of the latter type would be known terrorists, drug smugglers, etc. It also contains information from the INS lookout system, NAILS. Information sharing with intelligence agencies and the INS has improved in the last year, resulting in a doubling in the size of the CLASS database to more than 15 million names. More detailed checks are required for individuals deemed to be a higher security risk.²⁵ The system is far from foolproof, however, as it depends on the officer's judgment as to whether the hits match the applicant, the quality of the translation of names from non-Roman alphabets, the quality and timeliness of the data from other agencies, and the reliability of the communications network supporting it.

The database does not contain the names of those who have applied for immigrant visas, as was the case in the system that was used before CLASS. This makes it easier now for prospective immigrants to obtain a NIV in order to bypass the green card waiting list. The existence of an IV application is a critical piece of information in evaluating an NIV applicant's intentions, and the decision not to include IV applicants in CLASS speaks volumes about the Bureau leadership's lack of interest in enforcing the law with respect to immigrant intent.

The visa itself is a machine-readable sticker containing the applicant's digital photo, the details of the visa (type, period of validity, date issued, etc.) and other security features. All applicants pay a fee of $100, regardless of whether the visa is issued. State is currently considering the possibility of levying a $10 surcharge on visas that will be placed in passports that are not machine-readable.

http://www.cis.org/articles/2003/back103.html

Edited January 16, 2007 by mybackpages

[maggieNomar 0]

Interesting read. Now I'm wondering what kind of judgement they are using at Casa.

[jordanianprincess 0]

Yeah I read another article about this that Bosco has sent to me when we first got on AP. It's a very interesting process to say the least.