IV Update: Good news for people stuck due to security checks while waiting for visas

[pappu]

In the meeting last Thursday, DHS communicated us about the recently streamlined Visa Mantis process. This issue affected a lot of IV members who had gone for visa stamping in their home county, and were stuck for long time due to background checks.

In the past IV members have posted on the forum their personal stories about being stuck for months due to visa stamping background check delays. IV chapter leader SNathan had lead this effort on the forum. Thank you SNathan! We had communicated those concerns to DHS in ours meetings since the beginning of this year.

On behalf of all the members, Immigration Voice appreciates DHS efforts to address this issue by streamlining the process to reduce the wait times to just two weeks.

Here is the content of the 1 page document sent by DHS. This issue was sometime back, and we are just making sure that the community is aware of this favorable fix made by DHS. Given the complexity due to many federal agencies and departments involved in Visa Mantis process, DHS has taken the lead in fixing this issue for the high skilled community. Immigration Voice very much appreciates willingness of DHS to fix issues affecting high skilled community.

Immigration Voice will continue to proactively raise such issues that our community faces and try to get fixes done through our advocacy efforts.

Thank you DHS!

[pappu]

Streamlining of Security Screening Process for Foreign Scientists

Summary
Until the summer of 2009, foreign scientists seeking entry to the United States often were subject to security screening wait times of many months. While this security screening is an important part of the effort to prevent weapons proliferation, the delays had significant costs. Among other problems, the delays sometimes stymied research efforts and caused scientists to miss conferences and teaching engagements in the United States. Moreover, in the views of many, the delays symbolized counterproductive security measures implemented after September 11. But we have fixed this problem, and security screening wait times for foreign scientists now average only two weeks. Moreover, this dramatic streamlining occurred without any sacrifice in security.

Background
Consular officers conduct security screening on all visa applicants and, depending on the results of the initial screening, the consular officer may request a security advisory opinion, or “SAO,” from the law enforcement and intelligence community. Depending on the concern at issue, the consular officer may request one of several different types of SAOs. In 2008, approximately 56,000 scientists were subject to the Visas Mantis process (“Mantis”), which is the SAO process applicable to certain foreign scientists. While very few were denied visas, many thousands were delayed: in March 2009, for example, approximately 7,000 Mantis cases were pending for more than 30 days, and approximately 1,500 of these were pending for more than 90 days.
On May 29, 2009, following months of interagency consultations, U.S. government agencies responsible for visa security screening implemented changes to streamline the Mantis process. This streamlined process, in conjunction with additional resources, has resulted in a dramatic reduction of the number of cases pending for more than 30 and 90 days: whereas in March there were approximately 7,000 cases pending more than 30 days of which approximately 1,500 were pending for more than 90 days, the September statistics are fewer than 800 pending more than 30 days of which fewer than 200 have been pending more than 90 days. Moreover, average wait times are now just two weeks, and all of the agencies involved in the Mantis process expect that this two week average will remain constant.
Most importantly, the streamlined Mantis process does not sacrifice security – all of the agencies involved believe that there has been no discernible increase in risk.

[gc_on_demand]

Thanks IV Core and all who worked for this ..

[Winner]

Originally Posted by pappu

Thank you SNathan!

You da man!

[pappu]

We are going to announce another admin fix for I485 applicants soon in the coming days.

[patiently_waiting]

Thanks

[nagio]

Thanks for the great work snathan & IV!

[letstalklc]

Great job done. Thanks for all who are part fo this effort.

[jungalee43]

What happened to campaign on AC-21 immediate denials? Officers are still not following the guidelines as it is evident from the several cases reported on IV, including mine. The hardships and tensions caused are comparable to those where scientists were stuck in their home country. And this can hit any IV member who thinks he is immune to this. Almost one year after the campaign the reckless denials are continuing.

Originally Posted by pappu

We are going to announce another admin fix for I485 applicants soon in the coming days.

[ronhira]

Thank You DHS. We love you. Please do more administrative fixes.

I hope you are reading this.

Thank you

[rayoflight]

Thanks Pappu and IV. The whole community is eagerly awaiting the news with all their eyes and ears open

Originally Posted by pappu

We are going to announce another admin fix for I485 applicants soon in the coming days.

[kate123]

big thank you to iv!!!!

Originally Posted by pappu

we are going to announce another admin fix for i485 applicants soon in the coming days.

[uvatbc]

Is there a place where you can keep these success stories together? Something like a trophy page?

[laborchic]

Another milestone reached by IV.. Waiting to hear the I-485 fix....

[laborchic]

Another milestone reached by IV.. Waiting to hear the I-485 fix.... ..