United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2006-07-28 monographic deposited born digital 20 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-835R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R P0b002ee18038c608 f:d06835r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R GAO-06-835R Border security Eligibility determinations Homeland security Immigration International relations Policy evaluation Program evaluation Visas Waivers Strategic planning INS Visa Waiver Pilot Program Correspondence A57879 The Visa Waiver Program enables citizens of 27 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa. The program was created to promote the effective use of government resources and to facilitate international travel without jeopardizing U.S. national security. Indeed, in fiscal year 2004, more than 15 million travelers entered the United States under this program. The United States last expanded the Visa Waiver Program's membership in 1999 with the addition of Portugal, Singapore, and Uruguay; in recent years, other countries have expressed a desire to become members. In addition, Members of Congress have recently introduced bills calling for the expansion of the program. In February 2005, President Bush announced that the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and State (State) would develop a strategy, or "Road Map Initiative," to clarify to prospective candidates the statutory requirements for designation as a participating country--and work with countries to help them comply with these requirements. In response to a Congressional request, this report describes (1) the process for gaining admission into the Visa Waiver Program and (2) the U.S. government's plans for admitting additional countries into the program. To examine the criteria for expanding the Visa Waiver Program, we reviewed laws establishing the program, agency protocols governing the program, and DHS's Office of Inspector General reports. In addition, we reviewed relevant documentation and interviewed DHS and Consular Affairs Bureau officials in Washington, D.C., to determine the status of the President's initiative. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R.pdf GAO-06-835R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-835R Correspondence GAO-06-835R; Process for Admitting Additional Countries into the Visa Waiver Program; Border security Eligibility determinations Homeland security Immigration International relations Policy evaluation Program evaluation Visas Waivers Strategic planning INS Visa Waiver Pilot Program Public Law 82-414 Public Law 107-173