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MEMORANDUM
TO: Deans, Directors, and Departmental Executive Officers
FROM: Jan Gorman, Program Administrator Immigration Services
RE: Immigration News
DATE: Sept. 28, 2001
Please share the following information with your faculty, supervisors and employees.
In the days following September 11, 2001 Immigration Services staff have received numerous contacts asking if and how the Sept. 11 attacks will affect immigration processing and travel abroad. While not enough time has passed to determine full implications; based on our continued research and interaction with federal and state offices, and professional immigration associations, we feel that the current and foreseeable future is one of caution.
In regards to travel abroad: The U.S Department of State issued a September 12, 2001 statement advising caution in making travel plans and to be aware of potential risks. Employees considering travel abroad are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of State's Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets and regional travel brochures available at the Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov. Based on this information, if you must travel, we encourage you to be prepared for delays, inquiries and investigation. We also strongly encourage foreign nationals, in addition to carrying normal travel documents, to have copies of other self-identifying information on their person. Each time a non-US citizen seeks to enter the United States, he/she bears the burden of establishing the right of entry. Please contact Immigration Services when making travel plans to discuss these documents and obtain normal travel documents.
In regards to petition processing: Departments sponsoring individuals to obtain a work authorization visas should be aware at this time, the Department of State, Department of Labor nor the Immigration and Naturalization Service have reported changes in agency practices as a result of the recent terrorist incidents. However, since the situation is fluid, it is possible that changes may occur with the most likely being delays in processing some petitions. It is generally believed the INS will be dedicated to their law enforcement rather than adjudication functions. This means potential processing delays in scheduling with any U.S. Consulates, some of which are closed, and all of which are on high security alert.
Additionally, due to the attack on America, we ask departments and foreign nationals to be extremely thorough in providing us with information on employment, education, and personal background as INS may not consider any discrepancy to be "harmless error or oversight" but rather deliberate misinformation. Immigration Services will also provide additional oversight of these documents as we assist departments in obtaining appropriate visa approvals.