In some cases, a consular officer may determine the  need for a Security Advisory Opinion, which is a response from  Washington on whether to issue a visa to the applicant. Applicants May Face Extensive Wait Times for Visa Interviews

According to consular officials, posts that consistently have wait times for  visa interview appointments of 30 days or longer may have a resource or  management problem. As  of March 2006, State’s data showed that between September 2005 and  February 2006, 97 posts reported maximum wait times of 30 or more days  in at least one month; at 20 posts, the reported wait times were in excess  of 30 days for the entire 6-month period. Moreover, in February 2006, nine  posts reported wait times in excess of 90 days (see table 1). However, since September 2001,  several factors have exacerbated wait times for visas. Visa Policy and Procedural Changes Have Increased Consular Workload

Since the September 11 attacks, Congress, State, and DHS have initiated a  series of changes to policies and procedures designed to enhance border  security. These changes have added to the complexity of consular officers’  workload and, in turn, exacerbated State’s resource constraints. As previously mentioned, some applicants have faced additional delays  due to various special security checks, or Security Advisory Opinions. Staffing Shortfalls Impact the Effectiveness of Visa Operations

In September 2005, we reported that State faced staffing shortfalls in  consular positions—a key factor affecting the effectiveness of the visa  process and the length of time applicants must wait for visas. Although these posts had  other mid- or seniorlevel consular officers, their availability on visa issues  was limited because of their additional responsibilities. We have reported on numerous occasions that factors such as staffing  shortages have contributed to long wait times for visas at some posts. However, while we have not  studied this issue, the disparity in wait times among posts may indicate the  need to reallocate positions to address the growing consular demand and  long wait times at some posts. Conclusions

The visa process presents a balance between facilitating legitimate travel  and identifying those who might harm the United States. Border Security: Actions Needed to Strengthen Management of  Department of Homeland Security’s Visa Security Program. Border Security: New Policies and Procedures Are Needed to Fill Gaps in  the Visa Revocation Process. State Department: Backlogs of Tourist Visas at U.S. Consulates.
Why GAO Did This Study

In deciding to approve or deny a visa application, the Department of State's (State) consular officers are on the front line of defense in protecting the United States against those who seek to harm U.S. interests. To increase border security following the September 11 attacks, Congress, State, and the Department of Homeland Security initiated a series of changes to border security policies and procedures. These changes have added to the complexity of consular workload. But consular officers must balance this security responsibility against the need to facilitate legitimate travel. In recent years, GAO has issued a series of reports on the visa process. This statement discusses (1) wait times for visas, (2) factors that affect wait times, and (3) GAO's recent work on consular staffing.

What GAO Found

As a result of changes since September 11, 2001, aimed at strengthening visa policies and procedures, applicants have faced extensive wait times for visas at some posts. According to consular officials, posts that consistently have wait times of 30 days or longer for interview appointments may have a resource problem. During a recent 6-month period, 97 of State's 211 visa-issuing posts reported maximum wait times of 30 or more days in at least one month; at 20 posts, the reported wait times were in excess of 30 days for this entire 6-month period. Further, in February 2006, 9 posts reported wait times in excess of 90 days. Several factors have contributed to these delays at some consular posts. For example, Congress, State, and the Department of Homeland Security have initiated new policies and procedures since the September 11 attacks to strengthen the security of the visa process; however, these new requirements have increased consular workload and exacerbated delays. Additionally, some applicants have faced additional delays because of special security checks for national security concerns. Other factors, such as resurgence in visa demand and ongoing embassy facility limitations, could continue to affect wait times. We recently reported that State had not conducted a worldwide, comprehensive assessment of staffing requirements for visa operations. While State has increased hiring of consular officers, there is a need for such an assessment to ensure that State has sufficient staff at key consular posts, particularly in light of the visa processing delays at some posts.