1/05/2004 1 9 : 0 2 FAX 202 6470122 DEPARTMENT OF STATE

lNT STATE

S/ES:200407595

No. Pages -
Message No. Classification Unclassified _ Attacged _

From: S.M.Elliott S/ES 75301 7224

(Officer name) (Office symbol) (Phone number) (Room number)

MESSAGE DESCRIPTION
Hofmann/Marcus-Transmittal of Statistics on the Visas Condor Program

TO: (Agency) DELIVER TO: (Person/Office) Phone no. Room no.

9/11 Commission Daniel Marcus - 3-*? t, ~
9/11 Commission Thomas Eldridge fax: 2 0 2 358-3124

FOR: CLEARANCE Q INFORMATIOMfxJjx PER REQUEST Q COMMENTQ

REMARKS:

S/ES Officer:
Susan M. Elliott
WATCH/Guidance, Forms, Samples/OS Forms/Fax Covers & Cheatsheets/Form-Washfax seal cover.doc 06/17/01
<004 19:02 FAX 202 6470122 DEPARTMENT OF STATE

United States Department of State

Washington, D.C. 20520
www.state.gov

APR 5 XC4

UNCLASSIFIED

MEMORANDUM FOR DANIEL MARCUS

GENERAL COUNSEL
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORIST ATTACKS UPON
THE UNITED STATES

SUBJECT: Transmittal of Statistics on the Visas Condor Program

Please find enclosed, statistics and comments on the Visas Condor

program as requested by Thomas Eldridge, Counsel to the 9/11 Commission.

Karl Hofmann
Executive Secretary

Attachment:
Visas Condor Statistics

UNCLASSIFIED
T004 19:02 FAX 202 6470122 DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bl 003/003

UNCLASSIFIED

VISAS CONDOR STATISTICS

Q. How many Condors have now been done?

A. According to VISTA, the Visa Office's internal case tracking system,

there have been approximately 130,000 Visas Condor Security Advisory
Opinion (SAO) requests submitted by posts to Washington since the
program began on January 26, 2002. The VISTA system counts SAO
requests, not applicants. There are several factors that could have an effect
on this number. Until March 21, 2003 posts could and often did submit
more than one applicant on a Condor SAO. On the other hand, posts
sometimes sent a second or third SAO request on the same applicant if they
didn't receive a quick response. Therefore, the number of actual Condor
applicants vs. SAO requests could be greater than 130,000 but probably not
significantly so.

Q. Are there any applications still in limbo? How many?

A. About 2,000 cases are still awaiting a final response from the FBI.

Q. How many visas have been denied based on Condor clearance results?

A. No visa has yet been denied under terrorism grounds to any applicant
subject to a Condor SAO. Cases denied under the terrorism grounds of the
Immigration and Nationality Act are reported to Congress on a quarterly
basis by the Department of State. The cases mentioned in these reports
received interagency screening under the Visas Donkey program.

Q. Were any visas granted with silent waivers?

A. No silent waiver was granted to any applicant subject to a Condor SAO

as none were denied under terrorism grounds.

UNCLASSIFIED
\n. 6. 2004" 9:2]AM""' M 9-11 COMMISSION -. . ' NO, 2298 P^,4
UNCLASSIFIED

VISAS CONDOR STATISTICS v /

- . - . . • . • ' . ^- ' - UJ

Q. How many Condors have now been done? .

A, Accordingto VESTA, the Visa Office's internal case tracking system,

there have .been approximately 130,000 Visas Condor Security Advisory.
Opinion (SAO) requests submitted by-posts' to.-Washingtbn since the
program began on January 26,2002. The VISTA system counts SAO
requests, not applicants. There are several factors thai could have an effect
on this number. Until March:21, 2003 posts could and often did submit
more than one applicant on a Condor SAO. On the other hand, posts
sometimes sent a second or third SAO. request on the same applicant if they
didn't receive a quick response. Therefore, the number of actual Condor .
applicants vs. SAOrequests, could be greater than 130,000 but probably not
•sigfrficantlyso. . . . .

Q. Are there any applications still in .limbo?. How many?

• A. About 2,000 cases are still awaiting a final response from the FBI.

Q. How many visas have been denied based on Condor clearance results?

A. No visa has yet been denied under terrorism grounds to any applicant ' • . (A
subject to a Condor SAO; Cases denied under the terrorism grounds of the p5
Immigration and Nationality Act are reported to Congress on a quarterly fi\ i •
basis by the Departnient of State. The cases mentioned in' these reports ^ </ • .•
received interagericy screening under the Visas Donkey program.

Q. Were any visas granted with silent waivers?. ,

A* • No silent waiver was granted to any applicant subject to a Condor SAO ; v ^\s none we

. UNCLASStFIED