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Agency Priority Goal Action Plan Visa Security Goal Leaders: Carl Risch, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Bureau of Consular Affairs Karen Christensen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs Fiscal Year 2018, Quarter 4 Overview Goal Statement o Impact Statement: Under Executive Order 13780 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), the interagency identified critical data points that should be collected from every visa applicant to enhance border security and visa security screening protocols. o Agency Priority Goal Statement: By September 30, 2019, we will update the DS- 160 and DS-260 nonimmigrant and immigrant visa application forms and add the newly-collected fields to our data sharing feeds for interagency partners. Challenge o The interagency, under direction of Executive Order 13780 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), is working to improve uniform screening and vetting standards for applicants for visa applicants. o Collecting additional information from applicants is feasible once interagency consensus is reached. The application form and processing systems can then be updated to collect this data. Opportunity o Collecting additional information from visa applicants will enhance the visa security screening process by providing additional data points to screen against to prevent potential threats from gaining entry to the United States. 2 Goal Structure & Strategies In order to complete all critical fields for uniform screening and vetting, we must 1) reach agreement on the use and definition of additional information; 2) obtain OMB approval to revise our visa application forms; and 3) update our visa processing systems. Early and effective external agency coordination is a key factor that could affect goal achievement. Gaining approval for the content of forms usually follows a standardized process controlled by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). For this project, we have taken into consideration the standard process, timelines, and milestones, and have engaged OMB on the importance of meeting our timeline for this project. Consular Affairs must also update our public-facing electronic application forms, as well as our back-end databases to collect and store the new information. We anticipate that these changes will require modifications to the DS-160 and DS-260 online application forms, changes to the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), the CEAC web report used by consular officers to review DS-160 and DS-260 information, and relevant databases. 3 Summary of Progress – FY 18 Q4 Milestone for FY18 Q4: Online forms updated; systems upgrade complete The Visa Office published the 60-day notice of the form change proposal in the Federal Register on March 30, 2018. We responded to the 10,086 public comments received when we submitted the final, 30-day notice, on August 28, 2018. The 30- day comment period closed on September 27, 2018, and we are now waiting for OMB approval on the DS-160 and DS-260. The Visa Office and the Office of Consular Systems and Technology are updating the electronic DS-160 and DS-260 to collect the social media information. The systems upgrades are expected to be complete by the time we receive OMB approval of the DS-160 and DS-260. 4 Key Milestones In order to complete all critical fields for uniform screening and vetting, we must: 1) reach interagency agreement on the use and definition of required additional information; 2) obtain OMB approval to revise our visa application forms; and 3) update our visa processing systems. Milestone Summary Change Milestone Milestone from last Owner Key Milestone Due Date Status quarter Comments Definition and formulation of policy strategy FY18Q1 Complete N/A CA/VO Milestone Complete and initial discussion with Interagency stakeholders to identify barriers and other issues. Publication of form change proposal in FY18Q2 Complete Yes CA/VO/L/R Milestone Complete Federal Register; Technical requirements defined. State submits PRA Package to OMB FY18Q3 Complete Yes CA/VO/L/R Milestone Complete Online forms updated; systems upgrade FY18Q4 Not Yes CA/VO/I Comment: Not complete due to forms complete complete CA/CST still pending OMB approval Challenge: Lack of IT personnel resources; Unforeseen technical issues Technical systems monitored for stability FY19Q1 On-Track No CA/CST Challenge: Unforeseen Technical Issues and data integrity Initial statistical analysis of quarterly data to FY19Q2 On-Track No CA/VO/I Challenge: Unforeseen Technical Issues determine effectiveness Further statistical review and analysis FY19Q3 On-Track No CA/VO/I Challenge: Unforeseen Technical Issues Final evaluation of forms enhancement FY19Q4 On-Track CA/VO Forthcoming 5 program and policy. Key Indicators APG Progress Policy Formulation Form Update Due Date System Update Progress Evaluation FY180 Q1 FY181 Q2 2FY18 Q3 3FY18 Q4 4 FY19 Q15 FY19 Q26 FY197 Q3 FY198 Q4 6 Data Accuracy and Reliability Data regarding the formal approval of form updates will be collected from regular communications with OMB allowing us to move to the next stage of the process. Definition of additional data will be collected from either formal reporting or meeting minutes. System update data will be collected from meeting minutes, system status reports, and project charters. 7 Additional Information Contributing Programs Program Activities: o Consular Affairs/Visa Office will coordinate the overall project and lead the OMB submission process; o Consular Affairs/Consular Systems and Technology will update the online forms and any State Department data share connections that need adjustment; Regulations: o Office of the Legal Adviser will assist with the legal reviews needed for the OMB forms process and information decisions; o Office of Management and Budget will manage the form approval process and provide a final approval to the form changes; Stakeholder / Congressional Consultations: o The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice and the National Security Staff will contribute to the needed determinations for form enhancement. 8
Agency Priority Goal Action Plan Visa Security Goal Leaders: Carl Risch, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Bureau of Consular Affairs Karen Christensen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs Fiscal Year 2018, Quarter 4 Overview Goal Statement o Impact Statement: Under Executive Order 13780 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), the interagency identified critical data points that should be collected from every visa applicant to enhance border security and visa security screening protocols. o Agency Priority Goal Statement: By September 30, 2019, we will update the DS- 160 and DS-260 nonimmigrant and immigrant visa application forms and add the newly-collected fields to our data sharing feeds for interagency partners. Challenge o The interagency, under direction of Executive Order 13780 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), is working to improve uniform screening and vetting standards for applicants for visa applicants. o Collecting additional information from applicants is feasible once interagency consensus is reached. The application form and processing systems can then be updated to collect this data. Opportunity o Collecting additional information from visa applicants will enhance the visa security screening process by providing additional data points to screen against to prevent potential threats from gaining entry to the United States. 2 Goal Structure & Strategies In order to complete all critical fields for uniform screening and vetting, we must 1) reach agreement on the use and definition of additional information; 2) obtain OMB approval to revise our visa application forms; and 3) update our visa processing systems. Early and effective external agency coordination is a key factor that could affect goal achievement. Gaining approval for the content of forms usually follows a standardized process controlled by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). For this project, we have taken into consideration the standard process, timelines, and milestones, and have engaged OMB on the importance of meeting our timeline for this project. Consular Affairs must also update our public-facing electronic application forms, as well as our back-end databases to collect and store the new information. We anticipate that these changes will require modifications to the DS-160 and DS-260 online application forms, changes to the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), the CEAC web report used by consular officers to review DS-160 and DS-260 information, and relevant databases. 3 Summary of Progress – FY 18 Q4 Milestone for FY18 Q4: Online forms updated; systems upgrade complete The Visa Office published the 60-day notice of the form change proposal in the Federal Register on March 30, 2018. We responded to the 10,086 public comments received when we submitted the final, 30-day notice, on August 28, 2018. The 30- day comment period closed on September 27, 2018, and we are now waiting for OMB approval on the DS-160 and DS-260. The Visa Office and the Office of Consular Systems and Technology are updating the electronic DS-160 and DS-260 to collect the social media information. The systems upgrades are expected to be complete by the time we receive OMB approval of the DS-160 and DS-260. 4 Key Milestones In order to complete all critical fields for uniform screening and vetting, we must: 1) reach interagency agreement on the use and definition of required additional information; 2) obtain OMB approval to revise our visa application forms; and 3) update our visa processing systems. Milestone Summary Change Milestone Milestone from last Owner Key Milestone Due Date Status quarter Comments Definition and formulation of policy strategy FY18Q1 Complete N/A CA/VO Milestone Complete and initial discussion with Interagency stakeholders to identify barriers and other issues. Publication of form change proposal in FY18Q2 Complete Yes CA/VO/L/R Milestone Complete Federal Register; Technical requirements defined. State submits PRA Package to OMB FY18Q3 Complete Yes CA/VO/L/R Milestone Complete Online forms updated; systems upgrade FY18Q4 Not Yes CA/VO/I Comment: Not complete due to forms complete complete CA/CST still pending OMB approval Challenge: Lack of IT personnel resources; Unforeseen technical issues Technical systems monitored for stability FY19Q1 On-Track No CA/CST Challenge: Unforeseen Technical Issues and data integrity Initial statistical analysis of quarterly data to FY19Q2 On-Track No CA/VO/I Challenge: Unforeseen Technical Issues determine effectiveness Further statistical review and analysis FY19Q3 On-Track No CA/VO/I Challenge: Unforeseen Technical Issues Final evaluation of forms enhancement FY19Q4 On-Track CA/VO Forthcoming 5 program and policy. Key Indicators APG Progress Policy Formulation Form Update Due Date System Update Progress Evaluation FY180 Q1 FY181 Q2 2FY18 Q3 3FY18 Q4 4 FY19 Q15 FY19 Q26 FY197 Q3 FY198 Q4 6 Data Accuracy and Reliability Data regarding the formal approval of form updates will be collected from regular communications with OMB allowing us to move to the next stage of the process. Definition of additional data will be collected from either formal reporting or meeting minutes. System update data will be collected from meeting minutes, system status reports, and project charters. 7 Additional Information Contributing Programs Program Activities: o Consular Affairs/Visa Office will coordinate the overall project and lead the OMB submission process; o Consular Affairs/Consular Systems and Technology will update the online forms and any State Department data share connections that need adjustment; Regulations: o Office of the Legal Adviser will assist with the legal reviews needed for the OMB forms process and information decisions; o Office of Management and Budget will manage the form approval process and provide a final approval to the form changes; Stakeholder / Congressional Consultations: o The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice and the National Security Staff will contribute to the needed determinations for form enhancement. 8