Prior to adjudicating  the visa application, consular officers must review all such security  check results. Adjudication. In fiscal year 2017, NIV adjudications decreased by about  880,000 adjudications, or about 7 percent. Most NIV Adjudications from Fiscal Years 2012 through 2017 Were for Tourist and Business Visitor Visas, and Approximately Half of All Applicants Came from Six Countries

State data on NIV applications adjudicated from fiscal years 2012 through  2017 indicate that the number of adjudications by visa group, applicant’s  country of nationality, and location of adjudication were generally  consistent, with some exceptions. The next largest groups were visas for students and exchange visitors  and temporary workers, which accounted for an average of 9 percent and  6 percent, respectively, of all adjudications during this time period. Applicant’s Country of Nationality. In fiscal year 2017, more than half  of all NIV adjudications were for applicants of six countries of nationality:  China (2.02 million, or 16 percent), Mexico (1.75 million, or 14 percent),  India (1.28 million, or 10 percent), Brazil (670,000, or 5 percent),  Colombia (460,000, or 4 percent), and Argentina (370,000, or 3 percent),  as shown in figure 6. As shown in figure 10, in fiscal year 2017, State data indicate  that 1,256 refusals (or 0.05 percent) were based on terrorism and other  security-related concerns, of which 357 refusals were specifically for  terrorism-related reasons. Executive Actions Taken in Calendar Year 2017 Resulted in Some NIV Refusals and Agencies Are Implementing Additional Changes to NIV Screening and Vetting Processes

		Executive Actions Taken in Calendar Year 2017 Introduced New Visa Entry Restrictions and Requirements to Enhance Screening and Vetting, Including for NIVs

In calendar year 2017, the President issued two executive orders and a  presidential proclamation that required, among other actions, visa entry  restrictions for nationals of certain countries of concern, a review of  information needed for visa adjudication, and changes to visa (including  NIV) screening and vetting protocols and procedures (see timeline in  figure 11). Some NIV Applications in Fiscal Year 2017 Were Refused Due to the Executive Actions Taken in 2017; Adjudications of Applications for Nationals of Affected Countries Decreased from Prior Fiscal Years

Our analysis of State data indicates, out of the nearly 2.8 million NIV  applications refused in fiscal year 2017, 1,338 were refused due to visa  entry restrictions implemented in accordance with the executive actions. The center will use  the uniform baselines for screening and vetting standards and procedures  established per EO-2 to set short- and long-term priorities to improve  screening and vetting across the U.S. government. For example, State sought and received emergency  approval from the Office of Management and Budget in May 2017 to  develop a new form, the DS-5535. At that time, we will send copies of this report to the  Secretaries of Homeland Security and State, the Attorney General, and  the Director of National Intelligence. Characteristics of the applicants. Issued visas, fiscal years 2012 through 2017 (in thousands)
Visa refusal rates, fiscal years 2012 through 2017 (percentage)

Appendix II: Nonimmigrant Visa Statistics, Fiscal Years 2012 through 2017

Nonimmigrant visas (NIV) are issued to foreign nationals such as tourists,  business visitors, and students seeking temporary admission into the  United States. The Department of State (State) is generally responsible  for the adjudication of NIV applications, and manages the application  process, including the consular officer corps and its functions at more  than 220 U.S. embassies and consulates (i.e., visa-issuing posts)  overseas. In summary, on March 6, 2017, the President issued Executive Order  (EO) 13780, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the  United States, which instituted visa and refugee entry restrictions, and an  accompanying memorandum addressed to the Secretaries of State and  Homeland Security and the Attorney General, calling for heightened  screening and vetting of visa applications and other immigration benefits.
Why GAO Did This Study

Previous attempted and successful terrorist attacks against the United States have raised questions about the security of the U.S. government's process for adjudicating NIVs, which are issued to foreign nationals, such as tourists, business visitors, and students, seeking temporary admission into the United States. For example, the December 2015 shootings in San Bernardino, California, led to concerns about NIV screening and vetting processes because one of the attackers was admitted into the United States under a NIV. In 2017, the President issued executive actions directing agencies to improve visa screening and vetting, and establishing nationality-based visa entry restrictions, which the Supreme Court upheld in June 2018.
GAO was asked to review NIV screening and vetting. This report examines (1) outcomes and characteristics of adjudicated NIV applications from fiscal years 2012 through 2017, and (2) key changes made to the NIV adjudication process in response to executive actions taken in 2017.
GAO analyzed State NIV adjudication data for fiscal years 2012 through 2017, the most recent and complete data available. GAO visited seven consular posts selected based on visa workload and other factors. GAO reviewed relevant executive orders and proclamations, and documents related to implementing these actions.
This is a public version of a sensitive report issued in June 2018. Information that DHS, State, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence deemed sensitive has been removed.

What GAO Found

The total number of nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications that Department of State (State) consular officers adjudicated annually peaked at about 13.4 million in fiscal year 2016, and decreased by about 880,000 adjudications in fiscal year 2017. NIV adjudications varied by visa group, country of nationality, and refusal reason:
Visa group. From fiscal years 2012 through 2017, about 80 percent of NIV adjudications were for tourists and business visitors. During this time, adjudications for temporary workers increased by about 50 percent and decreased for students and exchange visitors by about 2 percent.
Country of nationality. In fiscal year 2017, more than half of all NIV adjudications were for applicants of six countries of nationality: China (2.02 million, or 16 percent), Mexico (1.75 million, or 14 percent), India (1.28 million, or 10 percent), Brazil (670,000, or 5 percent), Colombia (460,000, or 4 percent), and Argentina (370,000, or 3 percent).
Refusal reason. State data indicate that over this time period, 18 percent of adjudicated applications were refused; more than 90 percent were because the applicant did not qualify for the visa sought, and a small percentage (0.05 percent) were due to terrorism and security-related concerns.
In 2017, two executive orders and a proclamation issued by the President required, among other actions, visa entry restrictions for nationals of certain listed countries of concern, the development of uniform baseline screening and vetting standards, and changes to NIV screening and vetting procedures.
GAO's analysis of State data indicates that, out of the nearly 2.8 million NIV applications refused in fiscal year 2017, 1,338 applications were refused due to visa entry restrictions implemented per the executive actions.
State, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and others developed standards for screening and vetting by the U.S. government for all immigration benefits, such as for the requirement for applicants to undergo certain security checks.
Further, State sought and received emergency approval from the Office of Management and Budget in May 2017 to develop a new form to collect additional information from some visa applicants, such as email addresses and social media handles.