There has been 24% increase in the overall non-immigrant visa applications, including tourists, businessmen, and students,” Consular Section’s chief Timothy Ponce said yesterday.

While there was 30% increase in the number of student and exchange visitors, tourists and business trips saw an upward shift of 24%. “Though we have not reached the pre 9/11 figures, we are getting closer,” stated the official, accompanied by the embassy’s public affairs officer Mirembe Nantongo.

However, according to Ponce, if the number of students who have joined the branch campuses of the five US universities in Education City were taken into consideration, then the total number of students opting for American education would have exceeded the pre 9/11 figures.

There was a marked increase in the number of Qatari applicants for non-immigrant visa.

“In the case of Qatari students, there was a 55% increase in 2006 over 2005, whereas the general Qatari non-immigrant visa issuances (all purposes) registered a 32% increase,” the official explained.

While the data for world wide non-immigrant visa issuances is not available yet, the numbers have also been increasing for business travellers (12%), students (15.1%) and exchange visitors (12.6%).

Pointing out that the US Department of State and the US embassy in Doha is dedicated to balancing the needs of national security, legitimate travel, and immigration, Ponce observed that this is reflected in the ‘Secure Borders Open Doors’ policy.

“While security must always be our first priority, we are committed to maintaining the fundamental openness of the US to the visitors whose presence we encourage and value,” the official maintained.

During 2006, the application process at the US embassy has been made much easier. While an appointment for an interview is not required for students and exchange visitors, applicants for tourist or business visas can use the new online appointment system to pick a time and date at their convenience for their interview.

Applicants can also pay the required $100 Machine Readable Visa fee required for all non-immigration visa applications at any Commercialbank branch.

“This change has reduced wait times in the Consular Section, as applicants no longer need to pay the fee individually with our cashier,” Ponce said. The embassy’s website (http://qatar.usembassy.gov) has been made more user friendly and application information and procedures easier to understand.

Applicants can e-mail their non-immigrant visa questions to NIVConsularDoha@state.gov and those for permanent immigration to the US can e-mail IVConsularDoha@state.gov.

The Consular Section chief also pointed out that due to provisions in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, consular officers can no longer accept family-based immigrant visa petitions. “In order to ensure that a petitioner has not been convicted of specified criminal offences against a minor, all I-130 petitions for family-based immigrant status must now be filed only with the Department of Homeland Security’s US Citizenship and Immigration Services,” Ponce added.