The Hindu Business Line : US visa regulations get tougher

THEY are among the primary lines of defence for the US. They are expected to ensure that persons with mala fide intentions do not enter the US. Their office in Chennai is among the biggest anywhere in the world. They are the US consular offices.

In Chennai their throughput, the successful applicants, can fill two 747s everyday, their staff whet 180,000 applications per year and issue more visas here to South Indians than their counterparts in the EU issue to the whole of Great Britain. The office's compounded annual growth rate is about 14 per cent in the last 25 years and 30 - 40 per cent since the 1990s. Its revenue from visa applications is around Rs 15 crore per year, and they do not report a profit. Seventeen US employees and 36 Indians manage all this.

Following the 9/11 attacks on US soil, the procedures just got tougher. From the small percentage of personal interviews for visa, they now have to meet all visa applicants personally. From October 26, 2004 all US Consular operations have to collect fingerprints of all applicants, which will mean about 1000 applicants per day.

They now work two shifts a day and are increasing the infrastructure facilities within the compound located at the junction of the arterial Anna Salai and Cathedral Road.

So what can the applicants do to make their job easier and increase probability of obtaining the visa. Just speak the truth, according to the Chief Consul, Mr Michael Thomas, US Consulate General, Chennai.

Addressing a meeting here today on US Visa regulations and changes in FDA rules under bio terrorism Act, he said, communicate clearly to the officials your plans, reasons for the visit and any other questions that they may ask, and you will probably get your visa by courier in a day or two. Fill out the two-page form with appropriate details.

A one-word response - Hotel- to a question about your place of stay is not enough against the backdrop of security concerns that are the fall of 9/11.

Often an interview of a 23-year-old working in a software firm goes like this, he says.

Official: Why do you want to go to the US?

Applicant: My company is sending me to work on project.

Official: What work?

Applicant: Project for my company.

Official: What project?

Applicant: My client's project.

Not nearly enough. The official is looking for information to ensure an applicant's bona fides. Why is it that a particular applicant has to go and not his colleague? Is the applicant essential to the project? Earlier, the answers were needed to ensure that the applicant was not a potential emigrant. Now they are also needed to assure that he does not pose a threat to the country's security, he said.

According to Mr Thomas, a company that is willing to send an employee at a cost of a few thousand dollars to itself should be able to better train the employee to communicate clearly. A short letter giving the details of the person's abilities and qualifications would go a long way, he said.

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