These changes have added to the complexity of consular workload and  have increased the amount of time needed to adjudicate a visa. State’s Recent Data Show Wait Time Trends Have Improved, but Some Applicants Continue to Face Extensive Delays for Visa Interviews

According to State, wait times for visa interviews have improved at many  overseas consular posts in the past year. However, despite recent  improvements—such as those at posts in India, Mexico, and Brazil—a  number of posts reported long waits at times during the past year. Believing the waits at some posts are excessive, in February of this year,  State announced its goal of providing all applicants an interview within 30  days. For example, in reviewing visa waits data provided to  us by the Bureau of Consular Affairs for the period of September 2006 to  February 2007, we found that 53 of State’s 219 visa-issuing posts had  reported maximum wait times of 30 or more days in at least 1 month—44  fewer posts than had reported this figure when we reviewed the same  period during the previous year (see fig. We determined that State’s data are sufficiently reliable for providing a  broad indication of posts that have had problems with wait times over a  period of time and for general trends in the number of posts that have had  problems with wait times over the period we reviewed; however, the data  were not sufficiently reliable to determine the exact magnitude of the  delays because the exact number of posts with a wait of 30 days or more  at any given time could not be determined. However, despite the  measures State has taken to address staffing, facilities, and other  constraints at some posts, State’s current efforts are generally temporary,  nonsustainable, and are insufficient to meet the expected increases in  demand at some posts. State acknowledges that the repositioning of consular  staff, while necessary, may not adequately address the increasing demand  for visas worldwide. State Lacks a Strategy to Address Projected Long-term Growth in Visa Demand

With worldwide nonimmigrant visa demand rising closer to pre-9/11 levels,  and current projections showing a dramatic increase in demand over time,  State will continue to face challenges in managing its visa workload and  maintaining its goal of keeping interview wait times under 30 days at all  posts. State has not developed a strategy for addressing increasing visa  demand that balances such factors as available resources and the need for  national security in the visa process against its goal that visas are  processed in a reasonable amount of time. Although the visa  improvement plan can assist State in improving the visa process, and State  has taken some steps to address wait times at a number of overseas posts,  State has not determined how it will keep pace with continued growth in  visa demand over the long term. Alternatively, State  could require consular officers to process applicants more efficiently and  quickly. Clearly we agree that in  developing a strategy, State must maintain its security responsibilities  while also facilitating legitimate travel to the United States. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

We reviewed (1) Department of State (State) data on the amount of time  visa applicants were waiting to obtain a visa interview, (2) actions State  has taken to address visa wait times, and (3) State’s strategy for dealing  with projected increases in visa demand. GAO Comments

1. Our report acknowledges that visa issuances have increased over the  last several years.
Why GAO Did This Study

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress and the Department of State (State) initiated changes to the visa process to increase security, but these changes also increased the amount of time needed to adjudicate a visa. Although maintaining security is of paramount importance, State has acknowledged that long waits for visas may discourage legitimate travel to the United States, potentially costing the country billions of dollars in economic benefits over time, and adversely influencing foreign citizens' opinions of our nation. GAO testified in 2006 that a number of consular posts had long visa interview wait times. This report examines (1) State's data on visa interview wait times, (2) actions State has taken to address wait times, and (3) State's strategy for dealing with projected growth in visa demand.

What GAO Found

According to State, the amount of time that applicants must wait for a visa interview has generally decreased over the last year; however, some applicants continue to face extensive delays. State's data showed that between September 2005 and February 2006, 97 consular posts reported maximum wait times of 30 or more days in at least 1 month, whereas 53 posts reported such waits for the same period 1 year later. However, despite recent improvements, at times during the past year, a number of posts reported long wait times, which could be expected to reoccur during future visa demand surges. In 2007, State announced a goal of providing applicants an interview within 30 days. Although State's data is sufficiently reliable to indicate that wait times continue to be a problem at some posts, GAO identified shortcomings in the way the data is developed that could mask the severity of the problem. State has implemented steps to reduce wait times at several posts including using temporary duty employees to fill staffing gaps at some posts and repositioning some consular positions to better utilize its current workforce. However, these measures are not permanent or sustainable solutions and may not adequately address the increasing demand for visas worldwide. In addition, State has made improvements to several consular facilities and has identified plans for improvements at several other posts with high workload. Some posts have utilized procedures that enable them to process applications more efficiently. However, not all of these procedures are shared among posts in a systematic way and, therefore, not all posts are aware of them. State has not determined how it will keep pace with growth in visa demand over the long-term. State contracted for a study of visa demand, in select countries, over a 15-year period beginning in 2005, which projected that visa demand will increase dramatically at several posts. However, at some posts, demand has already surpassed the study's projected future demand levels. State has not developed a strategy that considers such factors as available resources and the need for maintaining national security in the visa process, along with its goal that visas are processed in a reasonable amount of time. Given dramatic increases in workload expected at many posts, without such a strategy State will be challenged in achieving its current goal for wait times.