US embassy cable - 05VIENNA2646

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AUSTRIA'S VISA WAIVER PROGRAM CERTIFICATION

Identifier: 05VIENNA2646
Wikileaks: View 05VIENNA2646 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Vienna
Created: 2005-08-05 14:06:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PREF AU
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS VIENNA 002646 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR CA:JARZT; CA/PPT FOR MHOLLY; CA/VO/F/P:DLOPES 
DA ROSA; DHS for MNEIFACH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, AU 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA'S VISA WAIVER PROGRAM CERTIFICATION 
 
REF: A) STATE 125862 AND PREVIOUS, B) VIENNA 2332, C) 
 
VIENNA 2344 
 
1. ON AUGUST 4, POST RECEIVED THE REQUESTED EXEMPLARS OF 
EACH TYPE OF THE MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORTS AUSTRIA WILL 
BE ISSUING IN OCTOBER 2005.  (NOTE:  AUSTRIA CHOSE 
NOT/NOT TO INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY PASSPORTS WITH THE 
EXEMPLARS BECAUSE THEY WILL SHORTLY BE REPLACED WITH 
MACHINE-READABLE EMERGENCY PASSPORTS.  THESE INTERIM MRPS 
WILL SHORTLY BE REPLACED WITH ICAO-CONFORMING EMERGENCY 
PASSPORTS.)  REGARDING THE EXEMPLARS OF ORDINARY 
PASSPORTS, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DUE TO TECHNICAL 
CONSTRAINTS THE SERIAL NUMBER IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND 
CORNER DOES NOT MATCH THE NUMBER IN THE ICAO MRZ. 
 
2.  AS REPORTED IN REFTEL B, AUSTRIA WILL NOT/NOT BE IN 
COMPLIANCE WITH LEVEL I STANDARDS BY OCTOBER 26, 2005. 
HOWEVER, AUSTRIA WILL BEGIN ISSUING E-PASSPORTS THAT WILL 
BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH LEVEL I AND LEVEL II IN MAY 
2006.  ON AUGUST 5, THE AUSTRIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINSTRY 
PROVIDED THE CERTIFICATION LETTER, REQUESTED IN REF A, 
INCLUDING A DETAILED STATUS REPORT ON COMPLIANCE EFFORTS. 
PER DEPARTMENT'S INSTRUCTIONS, THIS CERTIFICATION LETTER 
AND THE PASSPORT EXEMPLARS HAVE BEEN SENT VIA UPS TO THE 
DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION POLICY AT DHS. POST WILL FAX AN 
INFO COPY OF THE CERTIFICATION LETTER TO CA/VO/F/P (202) 
663-3897. 
 
VAN VOORST 

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