DOS CABLE PRIORITY FOR STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR VISA PROCESSING
>R 181803Z JUN 03
> >FM SECSTATE WASHDC
> >TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS
> >SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM
> >AMEMBASSY KABUL
> >AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
> >AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
> >
> >UNCLAS STATE 172365
> >
> >
> >VISAS, FOR CONSULS FROM VO DAS JANICE JACOBS
> >
> >E.O. 12958: N/A
> >TAGS: CVIS, KPAO
> >SUBJECT: PRIORITY FOR STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR VISA
> >PROCESSING
> >
> >REFTELS: A) STATE 136100, B) STATE 139997
> >
> >1. Following up on ref A guidance on waiving personal
> >appearances, I would like to ask posts that have
> >developed or expect to develop waiting periods for NIV
> >interviews to give priority to students and exchange
> >visitors in the professor, student, and research scholar
> >categories when scheduling interviews this summer. I
> >commend those posts that already have developed
> >mechanisms within their appointment systems for giving
> >priority to these important classes of NIV applicants.
> >
> >2. A small number of posts already have waiting times for
> >interviews of four weeks or more; others could develop
> >such waiting periods as the recently-announced personal
> >appearance waiver regulations are implemented. The
> >Department is sensitive to the potential impact on our
> >nation's academic and research institutions if students
> >are not able to begin their courses of study on time,
> >and we want to avoid the kinds of delays in the entry of
> >students and scholars that we saw last summer as a
> >result of changes in the SAO process.
> >
> >3. Any questions or comments about priority appointment
> >systems can be forwarded to CA/VO/F/P. Posts that have
> >developed appointment systems that take into account
> >seasonal travelers such as students are encouraged to
> >share their stories with other posts. For example, I
> >understand that Embassy London has asked its call center
> >to identify certain categories of applicants by visa
> >class, including students, to prioritize appointments.
> >Other posts may have similar mechanisms built into their
> >appointment system. In closing, I would like to join
> >Secretary Powell and Assistant Secretary Harty in
> >expressing my thanks and admiration to all my colleagues
> >in the field.
>