State Department

Twelve of 43 consulates GAO visited, including the one in Sao Paulo, Brazil, had nonimmigrant visa backlogs exceeding one week and ranging up to two months during 1991. These backlogs occurred primarily during peak tourist seasons, such as school vacations. Brazilian tourists wishing to visit the United States often had to endure considerable inconveniences to obtain visas, in some cases waiting in long lines out on the street. Embassy officials have suggested that the State Department charge fees for nonimmigrant visas more extensively than it now does and obtain legislative authority to use fee collections for additional staffing and facilities. Promotion of tourism tends to be a function of the Commerce Department rather than the State Department, and only 19 of the 43 consulates GAO reviewed had tourist promotion activities. Several consular officials and foreign travel industry representatives said that more communication is needed between representatives of the consulate and the travel industry.

GAO found that: (1) during 1991, 12 of the 43 reviewed consulates, including the one in Sao Paulo had nonimmigration visa backlogs exceeding 1 week and ranging up to 2 months; (2) those backlogs occurred primarily during peak tourist seasons; (3) 30 consulates reported such staffing problems as inadequate permanent positions, position vacancies, or inadequate additional staff during peak tourist seasons; (4) the number of visa applications processed per consular officer and the use of time-saving practices varied widely among consulates; (5) tourists reported that they occasionally experienced considerable inconvenience in obtaining visas; (6) embassy officials suggested that State charge fees for nonimmigrant visas more extensively than it does and obtain legislative authority to use fee collections for additional staffing and facilities; (7) State is mandated to facilitate travel rather than to promote tourism; (8) the Department of Commerce takes the lead role in promoting tourism; (9) of the 43 consulates reviewed, 19 had tourism promotion activities; and (10) consular officials and foreign travel industry representatives believe there should be more communication between consulate representatives and the travel industry.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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