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