Figure may be subject to minor revision, official records show a total issuance of 5,633 through July 2, 1954. * Estimate on Apr. 15 revised to 32,000 to 35,000. The general process for the issuance of visas under the act involves the submission of an assurance by a sponsor (as stated, refugees covered by the amendment described above requires certificates by relatives), verifying the authenticity and bona fides of assurances, determining the prima facie eligibility of applicants, investigating applicants, preparing written reports regarding the applicant's character, reputation, mental and physical health, history and eligibility under the act, and otherwise processing the cases as required under the usual visa procedures and in accordance with the general immigration laws and objectives. There are six departments of the Government involved in the implementation of this program, namely, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Department of the Army, the Department of Labor, and the Treasury Department. In each case, these Departments perform activities required in the administration of this act that are functionally and substantively within their normal jurisdiction. The Department of State performs those operations involved in the issuance of visas, including security investigations in areas other than those covered by the Department of the Army, and has responsibility for the policy programing direction and coordination of the program. The Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice performs those operations involved in determining admissibility into the United States and adjusting immigration status under the act. The Public Health Service of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare conducts medical examinations of visa applicants abroad. The Counter Intelligence Corps of the Department of the Army conducts security investigations of visa applicants in the areas of Germany and Austria in which they presently operate. The Bureau of Employment Security of the Department of Labor performs those operations involved in assuring that aliens admitted in the United States under this act will be suitably employed without displacing some other person from employment. Finally, the Department of the Treasury performs those operations involved in making loans to public or private agencies of the United States for the purpose of financing the transportation from ports of entry within the United States to places of their resettlement of persons receiving immigrant visas under this act. This estimate includes the program requirements for funds for all of the aforementioned agencies. Policy and program arrangements have been made with each agency by the Administrator and coordinated operational plans have been made among the various agencies. Thus, correlated regulations, procedures, and forms have been devised to meet the needs of all the participating agencies. Also, the master plan of operations has been phased to accommodate the operational needs of each agency and its activity. Each Department of the Government participating in the program operates under its own procedures. The Department of State, however, provides certain administrative facilities abroad for those participating agencies where it would have cost more for them to provide these facilities separately. |