The Departments of State and Homeland Security have taken
steps since 2002 to strengthen the visa application
process, but that process would still benefit from
additional management actions, the Government Accountability
Office has said.
It said consular officers are getting clear guidance on
addressing security concerns through the visa process,
and that State has established clear worldwide procedures
on visa operations.
“State has also increased its hiring of consular officers
and language proficient foreign service officers, and has
enhanced training and fraud prevention efforts,” and in
2005 consular officers have access to more information from
intelligence and law enforcement agencies than they did in
2002, according to GAO-05-994T.
It said however that officers believed additional guidance
is needed on the roles and responsibilities of DHS staff
overseas.
While State has hired more consular officers, it continues
to experience shortages of supervisors, said GAO, noting
that as of last April, 26 percent of midlevel positions were
either vacant or filled by entry-level staff.
“Further improvements are also needed in training and fraud
prevention, as well as information sharing with the FBI,”
according to GAO.
It also said DHS does not maintain comprehensive data on the
activities of visa security personnel in consular posts in
Saudi Arabia, so it is unable to fully demonstrate the p
rogram’s impact — nor has DHS developed a strategic plan for
visa security operations there or for a planned program
expansion.
