9 FAM 601.3
Management/Internal Controls for Visa Units
(CT:VISA-921; 08-14-2019)
(Office of Origin: CA/VO/L/R)
9 FAM 601.3-1 management/Internal
controls - overview
(CT:VISA-921; 08-14-2019)
a. Introduction to Management/Internal
Controls: Please see 7 FAH-1 H-611,
7 FAH-1 H-622,
and 7 FAH-1 H-641.
b. Special Controls for Visa
Operations: See the following for more specific management controls
related to visa units:
(1) 7 FAH-1 H-648.1-1
on Visa Lookout Accountability (VLA) controls;
(2) 7 FAH-1
H-648.1-2 and 9 FAM 601.8
on controls over visa referral programs;
(3) 7 FAH-1
H-648.1-3 and 9 FAM 601.4
on supervisory review of visa issuances and refusals;
(4) 7 FAH-1
H-648.1-4 on controls over intake and screening of applications;
(5) 7 FAH-1
H-648.1-5, 9 FAM
302.2-3(E)(2), and 9 FAM
302.2-3(E)(3) on management controls of medical examinations; and
(6) 7 FAH-1 H-650
for standard operating procedures for safeguarding and accounting for
controlled consular items at overseas posts.
c. Annual Certification: The
Bureau of Consular Affairs requires every foreign service post to annually
certify that its consular operations are in accordance with the Departments
instructions on consular management controls. Please see 7 FAH-1 H-640
for more information.
9 FAM 601.3-2 responsibility for
management/internal controls
9 FAM 601.3-2(A) Management/Internal
Controls - Roles
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
a. Maintaining management controls is one of the most
crucial responsibilities of every consular officer; implementing effective
management controls is a key responsibility of every manager.
b. Managers must set both the standards and the example
for carrying out management controls, creating a positive and supportive
attitude and environment for management controls and conscientious performance
of duties.
c. See 7 FAH-1 H-630
for additional information on responsibility for consular management controls.
9 FAM 601.3-2(B) Management/Internal
Controls - Tasks
(CT:VISA-921; 08-14-2019)
Please see 7 FAH-1 H-621
and 7 FAH-1 H-642
for information on internal controls roles.
9 FAM 601.3-3 Controlled and
accountable items
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
a. Controlled and Accountable Items:
Controlled consular items are those with an inherent value or potential for
misuse that requires them to be under the control of an American officer and
carefully safeguarded. Controlled items include both accountable items and
other items which, while controlled, do not require daily accounting of their
use or which are not expendable items.
b. Additional Information on
Accountable and Controlled Items:
(1) 7 FAH-1
H-652.1 for a list of controlled and accountable items;
(2) 7 FAH-1
H-659.2 for information on controls for specific visa items;
(3) 7 FAH-1 H-653
on roles and responsibility for safeguarding and accounting for controlled
consular items;
(4) 7 FAH-1 H-656
on daily procedures for accountability and reconciliation of controlled items;
(5) 7 FAH-1 H-655
for details on inventories of controlled items;
(6) 7 FAH-1 H-654
for information on shipment, storage and transfer of controlled items;
(7) 7 FAH-1 H-657
on destruction of controlled items;
(8) 7 FAH-1 H-658
on record keeping related to accountability; and
(9) 7 FAH-1
H-652.2 on the role the Accountable Items (AI) Systems Module and
automating record keeping associated with inventory control and daily
reconciliation of accountable consular items.
9 FAM 601.3-4 dealing with
management/internal control issues
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
See 7 FAH-1
H-656.3 on dealing with any discrepancies and incidents concerning
controlled items and 7 FAH-1
H-657.3 on emergency destruction of consular items due to a high or
critical level of risk of evacuation.