Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA2646
2005-08-05 14:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIA'S VISA WAIVER PROGRAM CERTIFICATION

Tags:  PREF AU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS VIENNA 002646 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR CA:JARZT; CA/PPT FOR MHOLLY; CA/VO/F/P:DLOPES
DA ROSA; DHS for MNEIFACH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA'S VISA WAIVER PROGRAM CERTIFICATION

REF: A) STATE 125862 AND PREVIOUS, B) VIENNA 2332, C)

VIENNA 2344

UNCLAS VIENNA 002646

SIPDIS


STATE FOR CA:JARZT; CA/PPT FOR MHOLLY; CA/VO/F/P:DLOPES
DA ROSA; DHS for MNEIFACH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA'S VISA WAIVER PROGRAM CERTIFICATION

REF: A) STATE 125862 AND PREVIOUS, B) VIENNA 2332, C)

VIENNA 2344


1. ON AUGUST 4, POST RECEIVED THE REQUESTED EXEMPLARS OF
EACH TYPE OF THE MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORTS AUSTRIA WILL
BE ISSUING IN OCTOBER 2005. (NOTE: AUSTRIA CHOSE
NOT/NOT TO INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY PASSPORTS WITH THE
EXEMPLARS BECAUSE THEY WILL SHORTLY BE REPLACED WITH
MACHINE-READABLE EMERGENCY PASSPORTS. THESE INTERIM MRPS
WILL SHORTLY BE REPLACED WITH ICAO-CONFORMING EMERGENCY
PASSPORTS.) REGARDING THE EXEMPLARS OF ORDINARY
PASSPORTS, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DUE TO TECHNICAL
CONSTRAINTS THE SERIAL NUMBER IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND
CORNER DOES NOT MATCH THE NUMBER IN THE ICAO MRZ.


2. AS REPORTED IN REFTEL B, AUSTRIA WILL NOT/NOT BE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH LEVEL I STANDARDS BY OCTOBER 26, 2005.
HOWEVER, AUSTRIA WILL BEGIN ISSUING E-PASSPORTS THAT WILL
BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH LEVEL I AND LEVEL II IN MAY

2006. ON AUGUST 5, THE AUSTRIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINSTRY
PROVIDED THE CERTIFICATION LETTER, REQUESTED IN REF A,
INCLUDING A DETAILED STATUS REPORT ON COMPLIANCE EFFORTS.
PER DEPARTMENT'S INSTRUCTIONS, THIS CERTIFICATION LETTER
AND THE PASSPORT EXEMPLARS HAVE BEEN SENT VIA UPS TO THE
DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION POLICY AT DHS. POST WILL FAX AN
INFO COPY OF THE CERTIFICATION LETTER TO CA/VO/F/P (202)
663-3897.

VAN VOORST