AILA/ Consulate Tour US Embassy, Paris, France October 23, 2019
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AILA/ Consulate Tour US Embassy, Paris, France October 23, 2019 US Embassy Paris responses are in red. AILA notes from the meeting are in purple. 1. General Information: a. 100,000 visa applicants processed per year (all services) at US Consulate. b. 13-14 consular officers at Post. (Consul General, 2 Sr to mid-level managers, 2-3 managers, 8 entry-level officers) c. Consular Officers do not specialize in a particular visa class. All COs process IV, NIV and AOS cases. Mornings are visa interviews. Afternoons are used for ACS appointments. d. 20 windows: i. Windows 1-6: Officer Windows where conduct fingerprint verification and interview. ii. Windows 7-12: Document Collection and take fingerprints by Locally Engaged Staff (LES). iii. Windows 13-14: Final approval given. iv. Windows 15-18: American Citizen Services (ACS) v. Window 19: Privacy Window vi. Window 20: Cashier e. Mondays: 100 or less E visa appointments each Monday. Applicants do not use the snake-line. Post does not schedule any other case type on Mondays. f. Wednesdays: On 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays each month, only IVs are scheduled. g. During busy season for students, Post will set full days for student visas. h. Post focuses on good customer service for all visa and ACS applicants. i. Officers conduct interviews with headphones for privacy. j. 50% of work of consular staff is for ACS services (USCs pickpocketed, losing passports). 2. Arrival and Time at Consulate a. How early should applicants arrive to post? For visas no more than 15 minutes prior to their appointment. AILA NOTES: Post builds security time into the appointment times so that an 8 AM appointment will be seen around 8:30 AM. Visa appointments are scheduled between 8:30 AM – 12 PM in 15-minute increments. After security, NIV applicants process through a snake line. No electronic devices may be taken into the Consulate. Phones can 1 AILA Doc. No. 19111434.UNCLASSIFIED (Posted 11/14/19) be stored at security. Security office is small, and there is only one x-ray machine. As such, security officers only allow individuals in the consulate 15 minutes prior to the appointment. b. How long are applicants generally in the consulate? If they arrive at their appointment time they generally proceed straight in. AILA NOTES: In general, applicants are in the consulate for about an hour. c. What is the goal time for getting applicants in/out of the consulate? We seek to minimize the time our applicants spend in our waiting room, believing a prompt processing of applications is respectful of their time and a component of responsive customer service. AILA NOTES: The ACS waiting room is directly to the right upon entering the consulate. Visa applicants go past the ACS waiting room and then turn right into the interview area. Post does have a few computers in the ACS waiting room, if a new DS-160 must be completed. 3. Fees: Any special process regarding fee issues? For instance, in many posts, all fees must be paid (eg, L-1 Blanket fees) at the ACS section as there is no cashier in the NIV or IV section. We have one waiting room serving both ACS and Visa applicants and one cashier, equally accessible to both groups, collects fees for all services. AILA NOTES: Most fees are paid after the visa interview; however, Blanket L fees are paid prior to the interview. Fees can be paid in Dollars and Euros. Credit cards are accepted. 4. Passport Photos: Are there any plans to phase out the need of applicants bringing physical passport photos to the consulate? By bringing a photo that corresponds to regulations for a visa application, it is less likely that applicants will have to leave to get one if the photo they uploaded with their CEAC does not meet regulations or is of low quality. AILA NOTES: Post has two photo booths in the waiting room; however, Post recommends that applicants bring US-sized passport photos, as the “approved” photos on the DS-160 often times are not actually satisfactory for visa issuance. 5. Passport Return: a. In general, PP returns takes 3-4 days. b. PPs can be returned via La Poste at address listed or in-person at contracted Pickup Location. c. No additional fee for either option. d. Post will only return a PP to an address in France. [NOTED EXCEPTION: Post should also return to Monaco, but AILA advised there is a problem within the system, which does not allow this. Post is looking into resolving.] e. PP return option can be changed until appointment date. PP return location cannot be changed at the visa appointment. 2 AILA Doc. No. 19111434.UNCLASSIFIED (Posted 11/14/19) f. Post prefers that individuals pick up the passport at the contractor location, as it is safer, usually only takes 2 days for passport return, contractor is open until 6, and it is open on Saturdays. 6. Communication: a. Understanding that the online contact form allows inquiries to be submitted to post, is there an actual email address as well? [email protected] for visas; [email protected] for ACS. AILA NOTES: Post advises it is best to use the Dropdown box online. Additionally, if information requested is offered on the website, Post will not answer the email. If imbedded form does not illicit a response, the email addresses above are available. Additionally, there is also an E visa email: [email protected] b. Additionally, what is the general response time to inquiries to post? Questions that can be answered by the website or call center will not receive a personalized response. Questions submitted via the contact form that have not already been answered should expect a response within two working days. c. If we have a client with serious medical condition, should we advise post before the applicant is to enter the consulate to advise of the special circumstance? Would this be helpful to post? Yes, in these cases, applicants or their attorneys should use the “Contact Us” section of the website. 7. Expedite Processing: If there is a need for urgency, applicant should advise at the interview. If the need for expedited processing occurs after the interview, individual or attorney should email Post or go through LegalNet or Congressional Representative. 8. Third-Country Nationals: a. Percentage of applicants that are Third-Country Nationals (TCNs)? Per law and regulation, the Paris Consular Section accepts applications from all persons physically present in our Consular district. AILA NOTE: Post sees applicants from 180 nationalities. In fact, 52% of all applicants in France are French. The remaining 48% are comprised of all other countries. No one country stands out. b. Can TCNs traveling through Paris have a visa issued? (eg, if someone is on a business trip to France) Please note we do understand that there may be some concerns regarding nonimmigrant intent if a TCN is processing in France. Yes AILA NOTE: Post may check the French residence status, as this may help to dissuade an officer from denying for 214(b); however, residence in France is not required to apply for a visa. As such, applicants are encouraged to bring their Carte de Sejour, if a resident in France. 3 AILA Doc. No. 19111434.UNCLASSIFIED (Posted 11/14/19) c. Syrian, Iranian and Yemeni Applicants i. Does post have a number of applicants from Syria, Iran, or Yemen? Yes ii. What is the best method and format of submitting waiver applications post interview or on pending AP cases. When Post needs further information on a pending case, the requested information can be sent using the “Contact Us” section of the website. AILA NOTE: Information can be sent using the imbedded form, which is located on the “Contact US” section of the website iii. Has Post Paris issued waivers for applicants from the countries listed above? If so, how many? Yes. Through September 14, 2019, the Department issued 7,679 visas to applicants who were found ineligible for a visa under the proclamation but were found eligible for a waiver. We do not have an itemized statistic for Embassy Paris. iv. Does Post Paris issue such waivers without feedback by the Visa Office (VO), or are all waiver recommendations sent to VO? Sometimes, applications require administrative processing before a consular officer can make a final decision on waiver eligibility. For example, consular officers may need to consult with the Visa Office to determine if an applicant is eligible for a waiver. This can happen for a variety of reasons. In July 2019, the Department of State and partner agencies initiated a pre- interview enhanced automated screening and vetting process for all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants including those subject to P.P. 9645. The automated vetting system has been strengthened by these changes and consular officers are no longer required to submit a case to the Department for additional processing to assess the national security prong of the proclamation. Consular officers should submit cases for additional processing when they determine one is needed for a reason separate from P.P.9645 or if they determine they need assistance in assessing the “no threat to the national security or public safety” waiver criterion. AILA NOTE: If pre-cleared by DOS, officer can issue the approval at the window. DS-5535 is not a requirement and is now in PDF format. DS-160 has now changed and incorporated much of the info that the DS-5535 asked. Additionally, the DS- 160 no longer asks different questions based on gender of the applicant. v. AILA members report an increased number of student visa revocations, most notably for Iranian nationals, who were advised of their visa revocation upon attempted entry into the US.