The Foreign Service Journal, September 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2015 15 A Consular Conundrum T he introduction to theWelfare and Protection Chapter of the Foreign Affairs Manual calls upon the consular officer to keep “in mind that the manner of performing a service may be of equal importance to the service itself,” and to dem- onstrate to individuals that “their problems are receiving careful attention (even in those cases in which it is not possible to accede to a request or bring about the desired solution).” The concern of many consular officers, including myself, is that the implementation of this standard is becoming increasingly difficult. At posts with a significant volume of consular activity, the officer is being compelled to realign his attention from the human predicament in the waiting room to the rapid and, too often, mechanical production of ser- vices. The difficulty exists because consular resources have failed to keep pace with a rising volume of activity, and because the department has chosen to respond by encouraging a rapid expansion of productivity, and not the resources. In fiscal year 1964, the nonimmigrant visa workload rose 23 percent over the preceding year, and comparable increases were recorded in other consular functions. The difficulty is compounded by the attitude that the sole function of consular sections is to produce “services.” As a consequence of the attitude, and the inadequacy of consular resources, many posts are being analyzed by a “productivity index”—essentially a ratio of “ser- vices” produced per man hour. At the same time, the consular process is being realigned so that an officer’s day is strictly allocated to “service”-producing functions, such as taking oaths, signing passports and visas. The interview, formerly a well of information and contacts, is being formalized into a one-to- five-minute routine or eliminated altogether. Various steps in the procedures are being elimi- nated. Sections are being pressured to deploy form letters and information sheets instead of personal attention. —From “That Which Befits a Profession” by Robert F. Ober Jr., in the September 1965 FSJ . 50 Years Ago and female, as well. Though the United States changed its policy in 2010 to allow its own citizens to change the gender in their passports without having undergone sex reassign- ment surgery, it still doesn’t offer the third gender option. (Under the new policy, a passport applicant must present a physi- cian’s certificate verifying that they have had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition.) And since the department is unable to comment on Soni’s visa application due to privacy laws, it remains unclear how future visa cases involving non-American third-gender passports will be handled. Meanwhile, Robyn McCutcheon, the first Foreign Service officer to publically transition, discusses how the support she received from embassy colleagues was key to helping her through that critical time as part of a New York Times series titled “Transgender Today.” —Maria C. Livingston, Associate Editor Improving Science and Technology at State A recent report from the National Research Council surveys the current science and technology landscape at the State Department and recommends ways to strengthen S&T capabilities. Published in June, “Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Embedding a Culture of Science and TechnologyThroughout the Department of State” emphasizes why constantly improving S&T competencies is integral to a range of foreign policy issues in our rapidly changing world. The report offers specific steps to boost S&T competence: ■ Establish an S&T Advisory Board to provide insights on S&T issues related to the foreign policy agenda. ■ Maintain and, when appropriate, increase S&T counselors at embassies where S&T issues are important. ■ Elevate the organizational status of the S&T adviser to the equivalent of an assistant secretary. ■ Conduct S&T-oriented foresight