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Visas Dominate High Level Talks
U.S. and Polish Presidents George W. Bush and Aleksander Kwasniewski held a summit January 27, 2004, devoting the overwhelming majority of their time to visas. This hot topic occupied 28 minutes of a 30-minute lunch between them, and was even discussed during the press conference at the end of their summit. President Kwasniewski expressed his interest in visa-free travel for Poles to the U.S. President Bush made it clear that this is a decision that Congress would have to make, but said that there would be a study group formed to investigate what could be done to address the topic.
In response to the issues raised at this summit, U.S. and Polish officials met in Warsaw on February 3. The U.S. representatives addressed Polish concerns over the visa application and interview process and outlined the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration Security Initiative for Warsaw airport.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Dan B. Smith, Consul General Michael D. Kirby, and Department of Homeland Security Director of Pre-Clearance Joe O’Gorman met with Polish representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Social Policy (MOL) in what was characterized as the first meeting of the “high-level” working group to address visa issues. The Polish representatives acknowledged the problem of Poles working illegally in the U.S. and sought guidance on how to take better advantage of legal work visas. Mr. Kirby noted that while the State Department can give advice about the application process, it would be helpful if the Polish Government could identify U.S. employers and match them with qualified Poles, particularly in the engineering, construction, and nursing fields.
During a meeting later in February with the MOL, Mr. Kirby offered for the Embassy to arrange a Voluntary Visitor program where both the MOL and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs could learn how the U.S. labor-petition process works. The Embassy has already set aside slots for such a Voluntary Visitor Program to take place.
The Poles also asked for details from the U.S. about plans for prescreening of U.S.-bound passengers at Warsaw’s Okecie airport. Mr. O’Gorman outlined a proposal for a pre-screening operation there, in which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would provide a small group of experienced officials and border guards on identifying those passengers who are most likely to be denied admittance to the U.S. at ports of entry. (The volume of non-stop, U.S. bound flights from Warsaw would not support a complete pre-clearance facility.) Travelers would still need to go through the full clearance process in the United States, and the officers would be serving in an advisory capacity with no authority to stop the travelers. Nonetheless, Mr. O’Gorman said that the Immigration Security Initiative could greatly reduce the number of people who are turned around and sent back to Poland after reaching U.S. airports. According to Mr. O’Gorman, if the Polish government is interested in the proposal, officers could be in place by late spring. While more work needs to be done toward a final agreement, both sides concur that this plan could greatly benefit everyone concerned.
Polish officials also applauded a $30,000 construction project at the Embassy to expand the nonimmigrant visa waiting room. Completed February 27, the project expands the waiting room by 50%, providing seating capacity for over 150 people. Almost 100,000 Poles apply for nonimmigrant visas annually in Warsaw. The U.S. Consulate General in Krakow also expanded its waiting room this year.
Welcome to our Readers || US-VISIT Comes Into Effect || Visa Denials Receiving Social Security Benefits Will Soon Be Easier || ELECTIONS 2004 Embassy Sees Many Applicants For Diversity Visas || Visas Dominate High Level Talks || Polish Students To Work In U.S. || Warsaw Hosts Consular Conference || How Can I Get Answers To My Consular Questions?
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