Strengthening Visa and Passport Operations
The Department of State faces a number of challenges to its global visa and passport operations.
- State has had difficulty meeting growing, long-term visa demand, which
has led to operational challenges, including long wait times, and has also
experienced a tremendous increase in the number of passports it processes
in recent years.
Highlights of GAO-07-847 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-891 (PDF) - State also needs to improve planning for potential changes to the Visa
Waiver Program that could bring about substantial increases in the demand
for visas at embassies and consular offices abroad, or risk the severe disruption
of visa operations at those locations.
Highlights of GAO-08-623 (PDF) - Despite recent security enhancements to passports and visas, State must
address challenges to the security of its travel documents, such as fraud
risks and the inability of inspection officers at ports of entry to fully
utilize these documents’ security features.
Highlights of GAO-07-1006 (PDF)
^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done
State needs to take several actions, including the following:
- Develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy for its passport operations
that describes its desired end state for passport operations and addresses
how it intends to transition from the current state to this end state; and
Highlights of GAO-08-891 (PDF) - Develop a strategy to address worldwide increases in visa demand, including
large spikes in visa demand that could occur because of planned and potential
changes in the Visa Waiver Program.
Highlights of GAO-08-623 (PDF)
^ Back to topKey Reports
- State Department: Comprehensive Strategy Needed to Improve Passport Operations
- GAO-08-891, July 25, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 51 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- Border Security: State Department Should Plan for Potentially Significant Staffing and Facilities Shortfalls Caused by Changes in the Visa Waiver Program
- GAO-08-623, May 22, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 58 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- Border Security: Security of New Passports and Visas Enhanced, but More Needs to Be Done to Prevent Their Fraudulent Use
- GAO-07-1006, July 31, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 79 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- Border Security: Long-term Strategy Needed to Keep Pace with Increasing Demand for Visas
- GAO-07-847, July 13, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 50 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
