Mumbai Requires Additional Form for Certain Visas
Posted Mar 17, 2006
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The U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is now requiring that certain visa applicants complete an additional questionnaire to obtain a visa. This new questionnaire is for "applicants intending to study or attend conferences in the United States, or with background or experience in certain areas of science and advanced technology."
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The questionnaire consists of twelve questions. These are primarily directed at understanding the nature of an individual's work, his/her purpose for being in the U.S., and whether the individual will be doing work that is connected to the U.S. government. The form also asks about past travel to the U.S. and the organizations and facilities to which the individual will have access while in the U.S.
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In addition, the questionnaire requests an explanation of how the trip to the U.S. will benefit or change the individual's current research or work. The applicant needs to provide the source of funding for the trip, a list of three references familiar with the work s/he does, and an itinerary with contact information for where s/he will be while in the U.S. Students must also provide the contact information for professors who will be overseeing their studies or research.
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There have been problems and delays for esteemed scientists trying to obtain visas to come to the U.S. for conferences, work, and study. Some scientists have canceled their trips to the U.S.; the difficulty in obtaining the visas having caused them to feel unwelcome. It is not clear that this questionnaire will do anything to improve the impression of U.S. hospitality. Shutting out some of the best and brightest minds from around the world is surely not the best way to establish national security.