101 Iowa L. Rev. 2141 (2016)

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Abstract

This Note addresses the practice of Overseas Document Verification, an investigatory process through which employees of the U.S. Department of State attempt to verify the authenticity of documents submitted as evidence with asylum applications. The investigators' reports following these investigations sometimes contain few details regarding the methods used to reach their conclusions. This Note examines the use of these Overseas Document Verification reports in asylum proceedings and whether courts should require the reports to include a minimum level of detail about how the investigation was carried out. It compares the rationales of the circuits that have required this minimum detail threshold with those of the circuit that came to the opposite conclusion. Finally, it suggests an administrative rule to impose a minimum detail standard.