A/S JACOBS VISIT TO POLAND

UNCLAS WARSAW 000501 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CVIS CASC PL SUBJECT: A/S JACOBS VISIT TO POLAND ¶1. Summary: Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Janice L. Jacobs visited Consulate General Krakow and Embassy Warsaw May 3-7 to attend the EUR Consular Leadership Development Conference (CLDC) and to observe Mission Poland's consular operations. In addition, A/S Jacobs met with resident American citizens, AmCham members, and students of American Studies to discuss U.S. visa policy as well as to promote the Foreign Service as a career. End Summary. ¶2. Following the opening of the EUR CLDC on Monday, May 3, A/S Janice Jacobs met with thirty Polish students and six professors of the American Studies program at Jagellonian University in Krakow to discuss study abroad opportunities in the United States. A/S Jacobs identified participation in a student exchange program in the United States as one of the best ways to learn about America and its culture. In discussing the Visa Waiver Program, she acknowledged Poland's disappointment in not qualifying for the program. She noted that former President Bush had made expanding the program a priority and Congress had responded by raising the refusal rate threshold from three percent to ten percent. Even though Poland is still above the threshold refusal rate, A/S Jacobs emphasized that this did not preclude the possibility of Poland entering the program at some point in the future. ¶3. Ambassador Ashe and Embassy Warsaw welcomed A/S Jacobs to Warsaw with a breakfast at his residence hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham),including a brief interview with Tomasz Cwiok, editor of the official AmCham publication, The American Investor. A/S Jacobs addressed the more than one hundred attendees, explaining the role of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, describing U.S. efforts on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP),and thanking the Poles for their ongoing cooperation in fighting terrorism. She reiterated the USG's continued desire to work with the Polish Government as it attempts to qualify for VWP status. ¶4. A/S Jacobs also took the opportunity to promote the Foreign Service during a meeting with American students currently studying in Poland. She encouraged the students to consider careers with the State Department, sharing many of her own experiences as a Foreign Service Officer. She described the application process and emphasized what a great time this is to be a part of the growing Foreign Service. The students were engaged and asked a number of questions about the assignment process, training and the breadth of opportunities. Many of the students expressed a strong interest in working in the State Department and in taking the Foreign Service Exam. ¶5. A/S Jacobs ended her trip by visiting the Department of Homeland Security/International Advisory Program (DHS/IAP) team at Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport. She discussed the DHS/IAP team's operations and policies and thanked them for their help supporting U.S.-Polish relations. ¶6. A/S Jacobs cleared on this cable. ASHE