Visa Scrutiny - U.S. Visas Hard to Obtain
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 Numerous changes have occurred since 9/11 and getting a
visa has become
more difficult than before. The visa process for non-immigrants is taking longer
as well. Applicants had to fill out one application before 9/11, now the USCIS
(formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service) may require up to
3 or more forms. To deal with the greater number of applicants and the forms
they are submitting, funding was increased to hire additional USCIS personnel.
However, the backlog of cases still persists. Some of the additional forms ask
questions like if the applicant has previously stayed in a Middle Eastern
country or been anywhere near them. Other questions may include if the applicant
has knowledge on explosives and rifles. The extra checks and interrogations are
done to prevent terrorists from entering the United States. The immigration
officer before September 11 would stamp passports for a visit for up to 6
months. Today that has changed. Before the passport is stamped by the
immigration officer, there may be a longer interrogation that includes length of
stay and where they will be staying at. The stamp is no longer valid for 6
months but usually for 30 days. If the visit is longer than the 30 days, the
immigration office must be informed. Not reporting a change of address may
result in problems for the individual on the visa. An
extension to stay in the
U.S. longer than 30 days may be granted in some cases. In 2005 the U.S.
Department of State claimed that slightly more than 2% of their visa applicants
underwent additional scrutiny.
Some of the individuals that are being affected by the delays in
visa processing
are students. Since 9/11 American schools throughout the country have seen a
drop in the number of foreign students that are applying. Some university
officials claim that a contributing factor in the drop of foreign applicants is
that European and Australian universities are attracting more foreign students.
Getting a visa to study in a country besides the United States may be of less
difficulty. Another claim is that the visa process is taking longer than before
due to the additional requirements introduced after September 11. Some of the
top reasons why visas are denied or delayed include: (1) Difficulty of proving
that the applicant is not an intending immigrate, (2) Security clearances that
are sometimes required, and (3) The interview done by a consular officer that is
required for most non-immigrant visa applicants. The U.S. Department of State
has been working on improvements such as hiring more personnel at their
embassies and consulates, reducing average processing times, and giving priority
to exchange visitors and students.
In addition to visa applicants sometimes having to face delays, some face
additional scrutiny at the airports and other port of entries. If an applicant
is from a country with strong Muslim ties and/or their name resembles that of a
9/11 terrorists they are more likely to be interrogated. Males with an Arab and
Muslim background aged from 16 to 45 years old may be fingerprinted and
photographed at airports and other border crossings. The U.S. Department of
State has assembled a list of countries with possible terrorism ties. Government
officials insist that this is by no means ethnic profiling and that criteria
change based upon intelligence reports. Racial and ethnic profiling has been
banned throughout federal agencies. There are instances when authorities receive
specific information about a certain ethnic or racial groups that may be
suspected of orchestrating a terrorist attack. In these instances, federal
guidelines allow immigration officers to further scrutinize certain ethnicities.
However, there have been numerous complaints that certain groups are singled out
at airports due to the stereotypes that exist. What can be said with certainty
is that individuals whether U.S. citizens or non-citizens have had to deal with
increased security measures.
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