US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1507

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001507 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR CA/VO/F/P: BRENDAN MULARKEY AND JANIE FRIEDLEIN 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: CVIS, ETRD, CE, MV, ECONOMICS, Maldives 
SUBJECT:  Initiatives to facilitate business travel in Sri 
Lanka and Maldives 
 
REF: SECSTATE 166108 
 
1. SUMMARY: Post has implemented two programs specifically 
targeted at facilitating business travelers heading to the 
United States, the `Safe and Speedy' and `AMPACT' programs. 
Post is also far along in visa reciprocity negotiations with 
the GSL, which should result in increasing visa validity 
from one year to perhaps as much as five years. END SUMMARY 
 
2. Post's Safe and Speedy program (S&S) was developed in the 
summer of 2003 in response to the Sri Lanka business 
community's request to reduce waiting periods for NIV 
appointments.  20 to 30 expedited appointments were reserved 
on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for regular travelers to 
the U.S.  The program was discontinued during the slow 
season, once waiting periods were below two weeks, and 
reinstated in May 2004 as waiting periods increased.  If an 
NIV applicant has traveled to the U.S. in the past three 
years and is traveling for business or tourism purposes, 
they received an S&S appointment on a first come, first 
served basis.  A small minority of post's NIV applicants fit 
this criterion and most applicants that do are business 
travelers.  Waiting periods in the summer of 2004 were as 
high as 7 weeks during July and August.  S&S waiting periods 
were never over 2 weeks. 
 
3. The Amcham Partnership for American Commercial Travel 
(AMPACT) program was developed by the consular section in 
conjunction with the economic/commercial section and the 
American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka.  The program went 
into effect during the summer of 2004 and is specifically 
targeted at Amcham members, many of whom do significant 
business in the U.S.  To qualify for the program, the 
sponsoring company must have been a member in good standing 
of Amcham for at least the past three years.  This avoids 
companies joining Amcham specifically to abuse this program. 
To sponsor an applicant, the company pays a small processing 
fee to Amcham. 
 
4. There are two tiers to the program.  The first tier is 
targeted at senior executive level, regular travelers to the 
U.S.  To be a first tier traveler, the applicant must be a 
senior manager at the company and have traveled to the U.S. 
at least twice previously.  First tier travelers are 
guaranteed an appointment for an NIV interview within one 
week of application, which are due at Amcham by Wednesday of 
each week.  They are then given slots during S&S times and 
those applicants are generally processed first. 
 
5. The second tier is targeted at mid-level executives with, 
at most, one previous visit to the U.S.  These applicants 
are generally mid level managers of larger companies or 
senior managers of smaller companies.  To qualify for this 
program, the applicant must have worked at the company for 
at least 6 months, they must have a significant business 
reason for travel and a letter from their CEO or Managing 
Director attesting to their long term value to the company's 
overall strategic or operational plans.  Second tier 
travelers are also required to submit their documents to 
Amcham in person and sign in a logbook, entering their 
proposed travel dates.  The embassy then coordinates with 
Amcham to ensure travelers check in with Amcham upon their 
return.  Second tier travelers are also guaranteed 
appointments within one week. 
 
6. By offering the AMPACT program, post gives corporate 
travelers more options to receive expedited appointments and 
receive value from their Amcham membership.  At the same 
time, conoffs have more reliable information regarding cases 
that may be difficult to adjudicate.  AMPACT applicants are 
in no way, implied or otherwise, guaranteed a visa.  The 
AMPACT application only provides additional information for 
the adjudication process. 
 
7. Post is fairly far along in the process of visa 
reciprocity negotiations with the GSL.  Amcham members and 
other parts of the Sri Lankan traveling community are 
putting pressure on the GSL to work with the Embassy to 
extend visa expirations from one year multiples to 
(hopefully) five year multiples.  The GSL is actually 
creating a new type a visa only for Americans to enable us 
to reciprocate. Moving to a five year visa program with Sri 
Lanka would hopefully ease the 30% increase in adjudications 
in Colombo over 2003 and send a very pro business message to 
Sri Lankan companies.  Post hopes to have reciprocity 
negotiations finalized within the next month. 
 
LUNSTEAD