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Query: Would an individual who traveled to the US for the first time on a
non-immigrant visa in 1998 have been required to appear for an
interview before obtaining that visa? Response: The following information was provided by the U.S. Department of
State (3 Apr 2003): “A Chinese citizen traveling to the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa in
1998 would not necessarily have been required to appear in person for
a visa interview. In 1998, the five visa issuing posts in China [Beijing, Chengdu,
Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang] employed several Personal
Appearance Waived (PAW) programs to process visas for Chinese
travelers. These PAW programs included: - The ‘Waiban’ program, whereby ‘official’ Chinese travelers have
their passports and visa applications submitted on their behalf by
the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or Provincial and Municipal
Foreign Affairs Offices (FAO’s); - The Drop Box program for Chinese, whereby travelers who have
visited the U.S. within the previous five years and did not overstay
their visas, and who still have the original visa and passport to
present as evidence of their previous travel may drop off their
passport and application; - American Chamber of Commerce Business Visa Program, whereby
certain employees and customers of U.S. companies who participate in
the program are allowed to drop off their passports and applications
without personally appearing for a visa interview; - Mission Visa Referral Program, whereby U.S. Embassy and
Consulate American staff can refer contacts whose travel to the U.S.
[is] in the U.S. government’s interest; - Travel Agency Referral Programs, whereby travel agents could
submit visa applications for applicants’ traveling on group tours. It is important to note that the Embassy and Consulates always
reserve the right to call in any visa applicant for a personal
interview. NOTE: U.S. visa issuing posts in China have discontinued all
Travel Agency Referral Programs. Not all U.S. visa issuing posts in
China participate in the American Chamber of Commerce Business Visa
Program.” The information contained in this response does not account for
passports, visas, and any other documents obtained through bribery,
personal connections, or other irregular means. This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible
information currently available to the RIC within time constraints.
This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to
the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. References: U.S. Department of State. E-mail to the Bureau of Citizenship &
Immigration Services, Resource Information Center (Washington, DC: 3
Apr 2003). |
