Report says visa process improved after terrorist attacks
Large workloads and unchecked authority in State Department offices that issue visas may have created vulnerabilities in the system for letting visitors and immigrants into the United States, but the system has been improved, according to a report (GAO-03-132NI) released Monday.
The General Accounting Office said that before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, consular offices around the world "adopted practices that reduced the amount of time for reviewing visa applications" and in some cases could not access the right information in State databases to alert immigration authorities about questionable foreign visitors.
But since Sept. 11, the report said, the government has taken measures to "strengthen the visa process," including bolstering the technology to keep "lookout" lists of potential terrorists routinely updated. GAO recommended that State create clear policies on its visa-issuing process and enhance training of staff to meet those new guidelines.
RELATED STORIES
- State Department asks firms to create intelligence database 09/30/02
- Foreign student tracking system may not be fully ready by January 09/18/02
- State Department officials envision new intelligence role 08/20/02
- State Department aims to crack down on visa fraud 08/13/02
- Keep visa office at State Department, two panels say 07/10/02
Post a Comment
To post a comment, you must provide a name and a valid e-mail address. Messages must be limited to 400 words. By using this Service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Government Executive does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.