SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of Inspector General

Memorandum of Conversation

Nordic Inspection Bureau of Consular September 26. 2002

Affairs
Subject Office Date
DAS Catherine Barry Larry Colbert
OfficialDAS Inspector
CA/FPP Tom Rainy CA/OCS S Senna
VO/F William Howe

Ms. Barry asked that we review theimplications on personnel and workspace, given the greater percentage of NTV
applicants being interviewed. Do the individual posts have a,finn handle on this issue^She said CA wished
assurance that posts' consular management also had a firm handle on the resource implications, should the Visa
Waiver program be curtailed.

Ms. Barry asked that we underline, to jpr%fg tha importance of interest in and real supervision of
^
consular operations. She said there was continuing strong interest in this issue on the Hill, and it was a point that
CA was stressing in briefings for new ambassadors and DCMs. She continued by noting that there were more and
more bilateral issues implicit in consular issues, for example, our telling other countries how to design then-
passport. In her view the recent delays in the issuance of NTVs because of the Visa Condor process brought this
reality home to many, but unfortunately not all front offices.

By the same token, she said there was concern that embassy front offices and consular managers were not planning
for the congressional mandate that by October 2003, that everyone benefiting from the U.S visa waiver bear a
machine readable passport, and that by October 2004 the passport contain USG standard biometrics in order to enter
the U.S. Are the missions in dialogue with the host governments? Is any planning for a public information program
by PD, etc.?

Ms. Barry also underlined the importance of other embassy sections and, in particular, other agencies at post
working with and cooperating with the consular section - in the Visa Viper program and any other possible means,
urging we verify that is occurring. She also noted the increased importance of area knowledge in the visa process
and said that we should determine if other elements are sharing vital background knowledge

She noted that while all applicants subject to a SAO must be interviewed prior to possible issue posts should look
for innovative ways to speed the process. She added that other sections and agencies could do referrals for groups
and individuals of high interest. She asked that we look to ensure the posts are alert to "visa shopping."

One staffer said it was his understanding that CA was committed to establishing a third conoff position in
Stockholm. All agreed that visa interviewing by consular associates would be phased out, though there was already
pressure coming from FLO to protect the job content/status/salary of the AMFers who fill those jobs. That said, the
group acknowledged the greater burdens being placed consular officers in one-person sections.

The representative of FPP asked that we verify that anti-fraud efforts are not being sacrificed as smaller sections
struggle with new requirements. The CA/OCS representative said there was no indication that ACS work had
suffered but did wish to see improvement in the warden systems.

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED