NEW POLICY DELAYS VISAS FOR SPECIFIED MUSLIM MEN
Raymond Bonner, New York Times, 9/10/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/10/international/middleeast/10VISA.html
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Under a policy quietly imposed by the Bush
administration three months ago, tens of thousands of Muslim men, from more
than 26 countries, have not been able to get United States visas,
disrupting lives, creating diplomatic tensions and causing headaches for
American diplomats.
The policy requires that officials in Washington approve visas for every
male between the ages of 16 and 45 who is a native of any one of 26
countries. Most are in the Mideast, but the list also includes Pakistan,
Malaysia and Indonesia, several diplomats said. Even if a man does not live
in one of those countries, but he or a close relative was born in one of
them, his visa application must be sent for approval. Before Sept. 11,
consular offices or embassies could issue most visas after a routine
check...
The delays now are interminable. One American official said there was a
backlog of least 100,000 visa applications, now being reviewed by the
F.B.I. and C.I.A.
At a time that the United States is trying to improve its image and win
friends, American diplomats say the policy is generating widespread
hostility in the very countries and population -- Muslim men -- from which
the Bush administration most wants to gain support...
-----
----------------------------------------------------------------
Visitez http://www.mAliLink.net pour vous deconnecter
Service offert par http://www.afribone.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (c) mAliLink