Dyess Airman pivotal in Iraq express visa processing

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  • By M-NSTC-I Public Affairs
BAGHDAD --  Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael K. Martinson, NCO in Charge of the Central Visa Office located on Phoenix Base, Baghdad, deployed from Dyess Air force Base, Texas, is the sole person responsible for ensuring Iraqi military and government officials submit completed visa applications to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq when a short suspense is needed.

Before the office's conception, each visa needed in less than 90 days was processed form random agencies throughout the theater and sent directly to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

"There were a lot of inconsistencies with the applications," Sergeant Martinson said. "The process was taking much longer than necessary and most Iraqi's could not understand why."

The program works like a help desk to facilitate an expeditious visa process as well as assist in building relationships with the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi's looking to secure visas in short time frames.

"Most [American] advisors will call me and ask if I can help," Sergeant Martinson said, "Then I send them an electronic packet of visa forms and instructions."

Recently, he received a call to help facilitate the visa packets for several Iraqi Minister of Defense and one Minister of Interior personnel who were on a short suspense to get U.S. visas to shop for hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons systems. The process of purchasing this type of equipment takes up to a year he said; however, the visa process was completed in less than 60 days.

The process has essentially three parts: The applicant completes the packet in its entirety, a background check for any human rights violations is administered and the Iraqi government must issue a Diplomatic Clearance Letter.

The application asks for details on the applicants work experience, education and a list of his or her family members. The names are checked against any known human rights violators. This can be a challenging process because there are very common names among the Iraqis; therefore a thorough list of close and distant relatives is needed to distinguish between legitimate applicants and those who wish to do harm of the same name. Some applicants have been former members of Sadam's army.

"No person of questionable human rights violations are accepted," Sergeant Martinson said.

The embassy allows for background checks to be run simultaneously with the draft of the Diplomatic Clearance Letter to save time. The Diplomatic Clearance Letter provides written verification the Iraqi government is aware of the applicant's request for visa and approves of his or her request.

Once the packets are completed and Sergeant Martinson receives them, he reviews each one for completeness and hand carries them to the U.S. Embassy for timely processing.

"The greatest challenge has been in getting the [applicants] to complete the packets," he said. "Culturally they feel that all of the paper work is beneath them."

Sergeant Martinson, originally from Eaton Township, Ohio, says he works 12 hours a day upholding the standard despite the challenges.

"This is history making stuff," he said. "We are giving these people their country back. Many of these people take on a great deal of risk in applying for U.S. visas. The positive outcome has done nothing but increase."