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 2008-09-15 monographic deposited born digital 58 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-967 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967 P0b002ee1803981fc f:d08967 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967 GAO-08-967 Airlines Data collection Data storage Foreign governments Homeland security Illegal aliens Immigration International cooperation International travel Passports Program evaluation Reporting requirements Requirements definition Risk assessment Risk factors Risk management Standards evaluation Travel Visas Waivers Program goals or objectives Program implementation Visa Waiver Program Other Written Product A84177 The Visa Waiver Program, which enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States without first obtaining a visa, has many benefits, but it also has risks. In 2006, GAO found that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needed to improve efforts to assess and mitigate these risks. In August 2007, Congress passed the 9/11 Act, which provides DHS with the authority to consider expanding the program to countries whose short-term business and tourism visa refusal rates were between 3 and 10 percent in the prior fiscal year. Countries must also meet certain conditions, and DHS must complete actions to enhance the program's security. GAO has examined DHS's process for expanding the Visa Waiver Program and evaluated the extent to which DHS is assessing and mitigating program risks. GAO reviewed relevant laws and procedures and interviewed agency officials in Washington, D.C., and in U.S. embassies in eight aspiring and three Visa Waiver Program countries. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967.pdf GAO-08-967 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-967 Other Written Product GAO-08-967; Visa Waiver Program: Actions Are Needed to Improve Management of the Expansion Process, and to Assess and Mitigate Program Risks; Airlines Data collection Data storage Foreign governments Homeland security Illegal aliens Immigration International cooperation International travel Passports Program evaluation Reporting requirements Requirements definition Risk assessment Risk factors Risk management Standards evaluation Travel Visas Waivers Program goals or objectives Program implementation Visa Waiver Program Public Law 99-603 Public Law 106-396 Public Law 107-173 Public Law 110-53