VALIDATION STUDY OF INDIAN A2 AND A3 VISA APPLICANTS

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000575 SIPDIS SENSITIVE CA/FPP FOR JILL NYSTROM, PLEASE PASS TO DHS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFRD CVIS CMGT ASEC IN SUBJECT: VALIDATION STUDY OF INDIAN A2 AND A3 VISA APPLICANTS REF: NEW DELHI 0007 ¶1. (SBU) As one of a number of ongoing validation studies (reftel) by the Fraud Prevention personnel in Mission India, Embassy New Delhi conducted a review of selected A2 and all A3 visa recipients in FY 2007. Results indicate appropriate use of the visa by all recipients in the study. Given the high volume of A visa issuances at post (over 2200 in FY08),the results are encouraging and support continued close coordination with Government of India officials. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy New Delhi following FPP procedures selected a random sample of 800 A2 visa recipients from FY 2007 for a validation study. Upon receipt of ADIS results, staff members reviewed arrival and departure information for possible overstays. A significant number of visa holders departed via means other than commercial aircraft (for example via the USS Trenton recommissioned as the INS Jalashva),but none were found to be out-of-status. Post will continue to monitor this category for possible misuse. ¶3. (SBU) A related check of all 14 A3 visa recipients issued in FY 2007 also found no out-of-status travelers. White