U.S. Embassy Interviews on New Changes in the Visa Application Process

This interview with Mr. William Weissman, Head of the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, provides insights into the current U.S. visa application process and highlights recent initiatives aimed at improving the experience for Vietnamese applicants.

Key Points from the Interview:

1. Post-9/11 Visa Procedures:

• Before September 11, 2001, only the applicant’s name and date of birth were required for visa applications.
• After 9/11, fingerprinting and photographing became mandatory at U.S. entry points.
• Visa applications now include barcodes, enabling faster data retrieval during processing.

2. Visa Processing in Vietnam:

• The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City handle visa applications, with Ho Chi Minh City processing a larger volume.
• Visa issuances increased from 4,298 in 2001 to 15,649 in 2010, with a target of 20,000 visas in 2011.

3. Visa Types Issued (2007-2010):

• 57% for business and tourism.
• 22% for student visas.
• 7% for official visas.
• 14% for other categories.

4. Service Improvements:

• Initiatives like visa renewal by mail (EMS) began in October 2009 to save applicants time and money.
• In many cases, individuals renewing visas within two years of expiration may not need to visit the consulate for interviews or fingerprinting.
• In July 2010, 1,003 applications were processed via mail, compared to 21 applications in October 2009.

5. Transition to DS-160 Online Visa Application (April 2010):

• The DS-160 form is an online-only application that transmits data directly to the U.S. Department of State.
• All nonimmigrant visa applicants, except for fiancé(e) and treaty trade/investor visas, must use the DS-160 form.
• This system streamlines data collection and reduces paper usage.

6. Public Engagement:

• The U.S. Consulate hosts monthly online chats to answer visa-related queries and engages with applicants through Facebook.

7. Visa Interviews – A Fair Process:

• Mr. Weissman, having interviewed 67,000 applicants, reassured that visa questions are not overly difficult.
• The focus is on assessing the honesty and intent of the applicant through observation and responses.

8. Adoption Visas – Future Outlook:

• From 2005 to 2008, over 2,200 visas were issued for Vietnamese children adopted by American families.
• Following the expiration of the 2005-2008 bilateral adoption agreement, new adoption visas were suspended.
• Vietnam’s new Adoption Law may pave the way for the resumption of adoption visas once supporting legal frameworks are in place.

This interview reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to improve visa services, promote transparency, and facilitate legitimate travel for Vietnamese applicants.