Arab, Muslim Men to Get Tougher U.S. Visa Screening

[Reza <davood@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Arab, Muslim Men to Get Tougher U.S. Visa Screening
By Mary Beth Sheridan and Dan Eggen
The Washington Post
Wednesday, November 14, 2001; Page A24

The State Department will impose more rigorous screening starting today
on many Arab and Muslim men seeking visas, a step that has irritated
foreign governments and U.S. immigrant advocacy groups.

The additional background check means that the applicants, from 25
countries, must wait as long as four extra weeks to obtain tourist,
student or business visas. The temporary measure is a response to the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, which allegedly
were carried out by 19 Middle Eastern men.

In a separate announcement, the Justice Department said it will seek to
question more than 5,000 young men who have come to the United States as
visitors or students since January 2000 from countries where terrorist
groups such as Osama bin Laden's al
Qaeda network are active.
FULL TEXT:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24711-2001Nov13.html