VALIDATION STUDY OF INDIA AT 60 COMMEMORATIVE EVENT

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000619 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 INDIA AT 60 COMMEMORATIVE EVENT TRAVELERS REF: (A) NEW DELHI 0007 (B) NEW DELHI 575 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. As one of a number of ongoing validation studies (reftels) by the Fraud Prevention personnel in Mission India, Embassy New Delhi conducted a review of participants in the "India at 60" series of events in the U.S. in late 2007. Travelers on A, B, and I visas were included in the study. Results indicate a less than one percent overstay rate for this group. End Summary. ¶2. (U) In September 2007, India's Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and the Confederation of Indian Industry organized "Incredible India at 60" - a four day event showcasing India's art, culture and religious diversity in New York City to coincide with the UN General Assembly. Participants included musicians, singers, dancers, chefs, weavers, and others for cultural demonstrations, many of whom traveled on official passports. ¶3. (SBU) In light of relatively limited travel histories for many of the participants, Embassy New Delhi submitted a list of all 283 travelers to the "India at 60" events for a validation study using batch ADIS and ATS checks. Upon receipt of ADIS results, staff members reviewed arrival and departure information for possible overstays. Of all travelers, only one is an apparent overstay (showing only "arrival" status in ADIS, and the phone number on the application form does not work). He was a B1 visa recipient who was a member of a folk group from Karnataka. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Given the nature of the event and the performers involved, there was some concern that the economic temptations would be too great, and some number of the event participants would stay in the United States. In the end, a less than one percent overstay rate indicates the selection by the Indian Government and the adjudication by our officers both were effective processes. End Comment. White