GAO-18-608, NONIMMIGRANT VISAS: Outcomes of Applications And
United States Government Accountability Office Report to Congressional Requesters August 2018 NONIMMIGRANT VISAS Outcomes of Applications and Changes in Response to 2017 Executive Actions GAO-18-608 August 2018 NONIMMIGRANT VISAS Outcomes of Applications and Changes in Response to 2017 Executive Actions Highlights of GAO-18-608, a report to congressional requesters Why GAO Did This Study What GAO Found Previous attempted and successful The total number of nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications that Department of terrorist attacks against the United State (State) consular officers adjudicated annually peaked at about 13.4 million States have raised questions about the in fiscal year 2016, and decreased by about 880,000 adjudications in fiscal year security of the U.S. government’s 2017. NIV adjudications varied by visa group, country of nationality, and refusal process for adjudicating NIVs, which reason: are issued to foreign nationals, such as • tourists, business visitors, and Visa group. From fiscal years 2012 through 2017, about 80 percent of NIV students, seeking temporary admission adjudications were for tourists and business visitors. During this time, into the United States. For example, adjudications for temporary workers increased by about 50 percent and the December 2015 shootings in San decreased for students and exchange visitors by about 2 percent. Bernardino, California, led to concerns • Country of nationality. In fiscal year 2017, more than half of all NIV about NIV screening and vetting adjudications were for applicants of six countries of nationality: China (2.02 processes because one of the million, or 16 percent), Mexico (1.75 million, or 14 percent), India (1.28 attackers was admitted into the United million, or 10 percent), Brazil (670,000, or 5 percent), Colombia (460,000, or States under a NIV.
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