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 65 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-854 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854 P0b002ee1803a47ef f:d06854 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854 GAO-06-854 Aliens Border security Databases Embassies Homeland security Inspection International travel Passports Program evaluation Risk management Strategic planning Terrorism Visas Waivers Tourism INS Visa Waiver Pilot Program Other Written Product A57630 The Visa Waiver Program enables citizens of 27 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. In fiscal year 2004, more than 15 million people entered the country under the program. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the risks that aliens would exploit the program to enter the United States became more of a concern. In this report, we (1) describe the Visa Waiver Program's benefits and risks, (2) examine the U.S. government's process for assessing potential risks, and (3) assess actions taken to mitigate these risks. We met with U.S. embassy officials in six program countries, and reviewed relevant laws, procedures, and reports on participating countries. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854.pdf GAO-06-854 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-854 Other Written Product GAO-06-854; Border Security: Stronger Actions Needed to Assess and Mitigate Risks of the Visa Waiver Program; Aliens Border security Databases Embassies Homeland security Inspection International travel Passports Program evaluation Risk management Strategic planning Terrorism Visas Waivers Tourism INS Visa Waiver Pilot Program Public Law 99-603 Public Law 106-396 Public Law 107-173