As discussed in a May 12 meeting between Secretary of State Rice and Tonga Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele, the U.S. Government is making a good-faith effort to find a way to provide periodic non-immigrant visa (NIV) services in Nuku‘alofa.

The United States is very aware that many Tongans are unhappy at having to travel to Suva to receive an NIV interview. That obviously is an expensive trip with no guarantee of success. The U.S. regrets the inconvenience caused.

However, ever since 9/11, the United States has required NIV applicants around the world to provide electronic fingerprints at the same time as the visa interview takes place. That has meant visa adjudication has had to take place inside a U.S. embassy or consulate.

It will not be possible for the United States to open a full-time U.S. consular office in Tonga, but the U.S. is developing a technology which may open possibilities for some amount of periodic visa adjudication in Tonga. Embassy Suva is making plans to find a space in Nuku...’alofa that can be adapted for testing the new technology.

The portable technology is very new and has not been previously used in a Tonga-like environment. Initial testing which should begin later this year will focus on a limited number of select cases, in order to judge system capabilities.

Once Embassy Suva has tested and evaluated the system, Washington will decide how much NIV adjudication is possible during periodic visits to Tonga by a U.S. Embassy Suva consular officer. USA Embassy, Suva, 19/05/08.