Any chance US embassies would utilize video conferencing to clear backlogs?

[JFH 12,190]

13 hours ago, James120383 said:

Finger prints every time the immigrant applies for a benefit is the most ridiculous thing that USCIS wastes their time and effort on.  Its not like finger prints change for a person Considering they maintain records for the life time of an A- Number its just Bureaucracy and time wasting process.  

It’s the best thing. It’s the only way to be certain that the right immigration benefit is given to the right person. You’d be devastated if your wife was issued an NTA and threatened with deportation because someone had stolen her A-number and managed to get a green card in her name and had committed crimes using her name here. 
 

We are all aware of immigration fraud. We see low levels of it on here from time to time (using B-2 to come here and adjust, marrying for immigration benefit, yesterday someone even suggested pretending that they had met earlier than they did and that they had had more visits than they really had), and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This morning I read that someone in Florida was arrested for assisting in forging documents that led to over 100 work visas being issued to people around the world who were not entitled to them. Immigration fraud is a big dirty business. 

[geowrian 22,337]

2 hours ago, ineedadisplayname said:

You would be surprised how many ppl try to cheat their way in at a simple job interview. I assume the number would be waaay higher for immigration.  It is still quite hard/ noticeable to fake your biometrics so I am not against that. 

We've had people who have tried this, and I work for a small company. I can only imagine how often it happens in larger businesses.

 

Luckily, they usually aren't even smart about it.

For example, less than a year ago, a well-qualified individual was on a video call. About 5 to 10 minutes into the interview, we noticed somebody called in from an unknown number. At the end of the last response, we asked that they identify themselves, went unheeded until it eventually just hung up. The "applicant" was asked about it and there was a very shaky answer about calling into the meeting twice by accident (it's a video call...we can clearly see that you were not calling in again, plus you said nothing the entire time the caller was being asked to identify themselves, and it was not the same phone number).

[Rick & Apple 233]

19 hours ago, JFH said:

I can’t see it happening. There’s no way to prove that the person on camera is the applicant. The whole point of the in-person interview is so that fingerprints can be taken and identity verified. I had my fingerprints taken twice at the embassy to make sure I hadn’t switched places with someone between handing in my documents and and being interviewed. 
 

We have been wondering if they would do this for N-400 naturalization interviews but the reasons against it were the same - no way to be certain that the person on camera is the applicant. 

 

[geowrian 22,337]

6 minutes ago, Rick & Apple said:

 

USCIS is not a consulate or embassy. There are multiple levels of security issues involved here that don't apply to domestic channels.

Also, it appears this was a pre-set room on-site to limit in-person contact, not a video call with somebody at their own facility or equipment.

 

Interesting idea, but it's at least a few stages apart from the OP's question.

(I understand this was likely in response to the naturalization remark above)

Edited June 24, 2020 by geowrian

[Rick & Apple 233]

20 minutes ago, geowrian said:

USCIS is not a consulate or embassy. There are multiple levels of security issues involved here that don't apply to domestic channels.

Also, it appears this was a pre-set room on-site to limit in-person contact, not a video call with somebody at their own facility or equipment.

 

Interesting idea, but it's at least a few stages apart from the OP's question.

(I understand this was likely in response to the naturalization remark above)

I was posting that in reply to the last sentence by @JFH.  "We have been wondering if they would do this for N-400 naturalization interviews but the reasons against it were the same - no way to be certain that the person on camera is the applicant. "

[JeanneAdil 6,509]

I would also point out that with the "term going postal" came out ,  the government does what it can to protect employees

that being said in the country i dealt with the people would record any online interview and pass the info on to others 

and a CO who denies visa would be noticed on the street and that is pretty dangerous to put them in harm's way.  a person getting an interview can describe the CO as white man or woman or Moroccan man or woman but they can't give a description good enough to inform people of what they really look like (few can do this)

 

There is a big reason you don't get to carry cell phones into interviews to record or take photos

 

There is good cause to protect all embassy and US office workers

think about it man,  they took out the Lybian embassy

Edited June 24, 2020 by JeanneAdil

[JeanneAdil 6,509]

57 minutes ago, JFH said:

It’s the best thing. It’s the only way to be certain that the right immigration benefit is given to the right person. You’d be devastated if your wife was issued an NTA and threatened with deportation because someone had stolen her A-number and managed to get a green card in her name and had committed crimes using her name here. 
 

We are all aware of immigration fraud. We see low levels of it on here from time to time (using B-2 to come here and adjust, marrying for immigration benefit, yesterday someone even suggested pretending that they had met earlier than they did and that they had had more visits than they really had), and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This morning I read that someone in Florida was arrested for assisting in forging documents that led to over 100 work visas being issued to people around the world who were not entitled to them. Immigration fraud is a big dirty business. 

To add to that ICE has been arresting people for visa fraud and fake universities  

Read this one about 250 getting arrested or any of the many posts online about this issue including some major colleges

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2019/11/27/ice-set-up-fake-university-then-arrested-people-it-gave-student-visas/

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

21 hours ago, My Mzuri said:

Hi. Does anyone have any news about US embassies potentially using video conferencing to clear backlogs on various Visa applications (e.g. K-1, spouse)? In light of the precautions necessary moving forward with COVID, this seems to be a strategy worth exploring to help clear backlogs. I am sure there are some instances of consular officers already knowing if they are going to approve or deny a case before the applicant appears in person. Many applicants only get asked a few questions and interviews lasting only a few minutes, but having to travel long distances for their consular interview. Cases that appear suspicious could be flagged for in-person interviews, while other clear legitimate cases be cleared remotely. Just thinking out loud.

No. I am assuming you are talking about Zoom videoconferencing which is banned by most parts of the Federal Government now due to the security issues in regards to it. They are working on a Federal Government Zoom but it is not out yet

[kris&me 572]

and with immigration saying they need a bail out do you really see them putting money into the equipment to do this for all the embassies and offices here? 

takes money to update equipment and change things 

don't think this will happen in near future if at all