Feds End Visa Shortcut for Saudis

Associated Press ^ | Sat Jul 20, 2002 | WILLIAM C. MANN

[Colombia59]

WASHINGTON (AP) - People who want to visit the United States from Saudi Arabia no longer can apply for visas at travel agencies, the State Department said Saturday.

Saudi Arabia was the home country of 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers. Three of them got their U.S. visas using Visa Express, the travel-agency shortcut that has come under fire in Congress.

Some lawmakers have been on the attack largely because of news reports of laxity by U.S. consular officers in Saudi Arabia and allegations of a visa fraud at the U.S. Embassy in nearby Qatar.

Clark Kent Ervin, the State Department's inspector general, said last week that he has ordered a survey of the 207 U.S. posts abroad that issue visas to determine if any are going to unqualified applicants.

"As of opening of business today in Saudi Arabia, our embassy will no longer accept visa applications forwarded from third parties," State Department spokeswoman Jo-Anne Prokopowicz said Saturday.

"We are taking this action because despite repeated clarifications by the department that every visa is reviewed and adjudicated by an American consular officer, erroneous media reports have created a false perception that threatens to undermine public confidence."

Prokopowicz said the policy means the government has "terminated the use of travel agencies as collection points for applications."

The nonimmigrant visa section of the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh was shut down Saturday. "This page is currently under construction," it said.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a leading critic of the department's policies, released figures last week that showed 36,018 visas were issued through the Visa Express system to applicants in Saudi Arabia from June 1 through Sept. 10 last year. Recipients included Saudi citizens and third-country nationals. Of those, 64 percent were Saudis, and 3 percent of those were interviewed, Grassley said.

Since Sept. 11, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday, the interview rate in Saudi Arabia has increased dramatically.

"We've been interviewing 60 percent of Saudi nationals, 72 percent of third-country nationals and 92 percent of people in the target group of military-aged males," Boucher said.

Prokopowicz said Saturday the department's goal is to ensure that the process for granting visas guarantees national security and the government's counterterror programs.

[Colombia59]

It is nice to see the striped pants boys have finally gotten the message that "Visa Express" is not a good idea in countries where there are many people that would like to come here to destroy us.

[Vidalia]

Step #1. Close the doors and clean house...

[PA Engineer]

"We've been interviewing 60 percent of Saudi nationals, 72 percent of third-country nationals and 92 percent of people in the target group of military-aged males," Boucher said.

I guess the other 8 percent are taking flying lessons in Florida.

[XBob]

we really should review all the visas and citizenship papers of the state department personnel, as most of them appear to be anti-american.

[Pining_4_TX]

I guess the other 8 percent are taking flying lessons in Florida.

Zinger! It would be a lot funnier if it weren't so true.

[holyscroller]

"Clark Kent Ervin, the State Department's inspector general, said last week that he has ordered a survey of the 207 U.S. posts abroad that issue visas to determine if any are going to unqualified applicants."

We should all drop a line to Mr. Ervin, and have him revise his survey to see if any visas are going to QUALIFIED applicants. That would be a much smaller number!

[Pining_4_TX]

Amen to that, brother! We should deport all Muslims who aren't US citizens and not let another one in the country until they learn to abide by the rules of the civilized world.

[spokeshave]

A good first step....

Now we need to stop this stupid visa "lottery."

[Marine Inspector]

Ping.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Almost a year later and we've finally figured this out???? Sheesh, just have the pres read free republic more often and he'd be able to figure this out sooner!

[sarcasm]

"We've been interviewing 60 percent of Saudi nationals, 72 percent of third-country nationals and 92 percent of people in the target group of military-aged males," Boucher said

It should have been 100% beginning September 12th.

[Marine Inspector]

Agreed.

[PsyOp]

It's a start. I won't be satisfied till every Saudi undergoes an FBI background check and cavity search before each entry. They should also have to post a bond of at least one Million dollars - to be forfeited if they're caught so much as spiting on the sidewalk.