Testimony 

Before the Committee on Science, House 

of Representatives

United States General Accounting Office 

GAO

For Release on Delivery 

Expected at 9:30 a.m. EST 

Wednesday, February 25, 2004 BORDER SECURITY 

Improvements Needed to 

Reduce Time Taken to 

Adjudicate Visas for Science 

Students and Scholars 

Statement of Jess T. Ford, Director 

International Affairs and Trade 

GAO-04-443T 
www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-443T.

To view the full product, including the scope 

and methodology, click on the link above. 

For more information, contact Jess T. Ford at 

(202) 512-4128 or fordj@gao.gov. 

Highlights of GAO-04-443T, a testimony 

before the Committee on Science, House 

of Representatives 

February 2004

BORDER SECURITY 

Improvements Needed to Reduce Time 

Taken to Adjudicate Visas for Science 

Students and Scholars 

State Department (State) cannot readily identify the time it takes for a 

science student or scholar to obtain a visa. State has not set specific criteria 

or time frames for how long the visa process should take, but its goal is to 

adjudicate visas as quickly as possible, consistent with immigration laws and 

homeland security objectives. GAO found that the time it takes to adjudicate 

a visa depends largely on whether an applicant must undergo an interagency 

security check known as Visas Mantis, which is designed to protect against 

sensitive technology transfers. Based on a random sample of Visas Mantis 

cases for science students and scholars sent from posts between April and 

June 2003, GAO found it took an average of 67 days for the security check to 

be processed and for State to notify the post. In addition, GAO’s visits to 

posts in China, India, and Russia in September 2003 showed that many Visas 

Mantis cases had been pending 60 days or more. GAO also found that the 

way in which Visas Mantis information was disseminated at headquarters 

level made it difficult to resolve some of these cases expeditiously. 

Furthermore, consular staff at posts GAO visited said they were unsure 

whether they were contributing to lengthy waits because they lacked clear 

guidance on when to apply Visas Mantis checks and did not receive feedback 

on whether they were providing enough information in their Visas Mantis 

requests. Another factor that may affect the time taken to adjudicate visas 

for science students and scholars is the wait for an interview. 

 

Average Time Frames for Visas Mantis Adjudication Process, April to June 2003 

While State and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials 

acknowledged there have been lengthy waits for visas, they report having 

measures under way that they believe will improve the process and that they 

are collaborating to identify and resolve outstanding Visas Mantis cases. In 

addition, State officials told GAO they have invested about $1 million to 

upgrade the technology for sending Visas Mantis requests. According to 

State officials, the new system will help to reduce the time it takes to 

process Visas Mantis cases. 

Each year thousands of 

international science students and 

scholars apply for visas to enter the 

United States to participate in 

education and exchange programs. 

They offer our country diversity 

and intellectual knowledge and are 

an economic resource. At the same 

time, the United States has 

important national security 

interests in screening these 

individuals when they apply for a 

visa. At a House Committee on 

Science hearing in March 2003, 

witnesses raised concern about the 

length of time it takes for science 

students and scholars to obtain a 

visa and about losing top 

international students to other 

countries due to visa delays. GAO 

reviewed 1) how long it takes a 

science student or scholar from 

another country to obtain a visa 

and the factors contributing to the 

length of time, and 2) what 

measures are under way to 

improve the process and decrease 

the number of pending cases. 

GAO is making a recommendation 

to the Secretary of State, in 

coordination with the Director of 

the FBI and the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, to develop and 

implement a plan to improve the 

security check process known as 

Visas Mantis to avoid unnecessary 

delays in visa issuance. State 

commented it had taken some 

action to improve the Visas Mantis 

process and it would study our 

recommendation to make further 

improvements. 
Page 1 GAO-04-443T 

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: 

I am pleased to be here to discuss the report we are issuing today on the 

need for improvements to the visa process to reduce the time it takes to 

adjudicate visas for science students and scholars.1

 Citizens of other 

countries seeking to enter the United States temporarily for study, 

exchanges, business, tourism, and other reasons generally must apply for 

and obtain a U.S. travel document, called a nonimmigrant visa, at U.S. 

embassies or consulates abroad before arriving at U.S. ports of entry. 

Since September 11, 2001, visa operations have played an increasingly 

important role in ensuring our country’s national security. In deciding who 

should and should not receive a visa, consular officers must balance the 

need to facilitate legitimate travel with the need to protect the United 

States against persons whose entry could be harmful to U.S. national 

interests. For example, consular officers need to delicately balance U.S. 

national security interests with other interests such as promoting U.S. 

education and cultural exchanges, business, tourism, and the overall 

health of our economy. As part of the visa application process, many 

applicants with a science background, including students and scholars, 

must undergo an interagency security check, known as Visas Mantis, 

before being issued or denied a visa. A Visas Mantis check is required by 

the State Department (State), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 

and other interested Washington agencies when there are potential 

concerns that the visa applicant may engage in the illegal transfer of 

sensitive technology, which could undermine U. S. national security. 

At a hearing held by the House Committee on Science on March 26, 2003, 

witnesses raised concern about the length of time it takes for science 

students and scholars to obtain a visa and about losing top international 

students to other countries due to visa delays. You asked us to review 1) 

how long it takes a science student or scholar from another country to 

obtain a visa and the factors contributing to the length of time, and 2) what 

measures are under way to improve the process and decrease the number 

of pending cases. 

 1

U.S. General Accounting Office, Border Security: Improvements Needed to Reduce Time 

Taken to Adjudicate Visas for Science Students and Scholars, GAO-04-371 (Washington, 

D.C.: Feb. 25, 2004). 
Page 2 GAO-04-443T 

State cannot readily identify the time it takes for a science student or 

scholar to obtain a visa.2

 According to State officials, the department has 

not set specific criteria or time frames for how long the visa process 

should take, but its goal is to adjudicate visas as quickly as possible, 

consistent with immigration laws and homeland security objectives. We 

found that a key factor that can contribute to the length of time for 

adjudicating visas is whether an applicant must undergo a Visas Mantis 

security check. While State’s systems do not allow it to keep aggregate 

data on the number of Visas Mantis cases, State does have information on 

individual cases,3

 which we used to conduct our own analysis. We 

conducted a random sample of Visas Mantis cases for science students 

and scholars between April and June 2003 and found that it took an 

average of 67 days for the security check to be processed and for State to 

notify the post. Also, we visited posts in China, India, and Russia in 

September 2003 and found that many Visas Mantis cases had been pending 

60 days or more. We also found several factors that made it difficult to 

expeditiously resolve some Visas Mantis cases. For example, in some 

instances, Visas Mantis cases sent by posts did not get to the FBI for its 

security check because of improperly formatted requests. Also, 

interoperability problems among the systems that State and FBI use 

contribute to the time taken to process a Visas Mantis case. In addition, 

the consular staff at the posts we visited told us that they lacked clear 

guidance on when to apply Visas Mantis checks and did not receive 

feedback on whether they were providing enough information in their 

Visas Mantis requests. Finally, we found that the wait for an interview also 

may affect the time it takes to adjudicate visas for science students and 

scholars. 

State and FBI officials acknowledge that there have been lengthy waits but 

report having measures under way that they believe will improve the 

process and resolve outstanding cases. For example, officials from State’s 

Bureau of Consular Affairs and the FBI told us they are working together 

 2

State data are not available on the number of visas that were issued or denied to science 

students and scholars or the length of time it takes to issue visas to these people. Consular 

Affair officials told us that State’s systems can track aggregate student or scholar data by F 

(students) and J (exchange visitors) visa categories, but they cannot narrow their query 

search to specifically identify science students or scholars. 

3

During our review, State data were not available on the overall number of Visas Mantis 

cases or on the Visas Mantis cases by visa category. State’s systems can track the visa 

process for individual Visas Mantis cases but do not allow for aggregate queries of Visas 

Mantis cases. 

Summary 
Page 3 GAO-04-443T 

to identify and resolve outstanding Visas Mantis cases. These officials also 

told us that State has invested about $1 million to upgrade its technology 

for transmitting Visas Mantis requests, and the system is expected to be 

functional later this year. According to State officials, the new system will 

help to reduce the time it takes to process Visas Mantis checks. 

State claims that the time taken to adjudicate visas for science students 

and scholars has decreased from last year. While this may be true, the data 

presented by State in support of its claim continues to show that some 

applicants still face lengthy waits. We acknowledge that there may be valid 

reasons for taking long periods of time on some visa applications, given 

the national security concerns that may be involved. However, we believe 

it is important that State and the FBI continue to make improvements to 

avoid unnecessary delays. Therefore, our report recommends that the 

Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of the FBI and the 

Secretary of Homeland Security, develop and implement a plan to improve 

the Visas Mantis process in order to avoid unnecessary delays in visa 

issuance. In developing this plan, State should consider actions to 

establish milestones to reduce the current number of pending Visas Mantis 

cases; develop performance goals and measurements for processing Visas 

Mantis checks; provide additional information to consular posts that 

clarifies guidance on the Visas Mantis program; and work to achieve 

interoperable systems and expedite the transmittal of data between 

agencies. 

Mr. Chairman, my statement today will elaborate further on the waits that 

may occur when Visas Mantis security checks are conducted and on the 

measures State and the FBI are implementing to improve the process. 

Visa applicants, including science students and scholars, generally begin 

the visa process by scheduling an interview at a consular post. On the day 

of the appointment, a consular officer reviews the application, interviews 

the applicant, and checks the applicant’s name in the Consular Lookout 

and Support System (CLASS).4

 The consular officer then decides if the 

applicant will need a Security Advisory Opinion, which provides an 

opinion or clearance from Washington on whether to issue a visa to the 

 4

CLASS is a State Department name check database that posts use to access critical 

information for visa adjudication. The system contains records provided by numerous 

agencies and includes information on persons with visa refusals, immigration violations, 

and security concerns. 

Background 
Page 4 GAO-04-443T 

applicant and may include a Visas Mantis check. In deciding if a Visas 

Mantis check is needed, the consular officer determines whether the 

applicant’s background or proposed activity in the United States could 

involve exposure to technologies on the Technology Alert List, which lists 

science and technology-related fields where, if knowledge gained from 

work in these fields were used against the United States, it could be 

potentially harmful.5

After a consular officer decides that a Visas Mantis security check is 

necessary for an applicant, several steps are taken to resolve the process. 

The consular officer prepares a Visas Mantis cable, which contains 

information on the applicant, and then transmits the information to 

Washington for an interagency security check. The State Department’s 

Bureau of Nonproliferation, the FBI, and other agencies review the 

information contained in the cable and then provide a response on the 

applicant to the Consular Affairs section of State headquarters.6

 The 

Bureau of Nonproliferation and other agencies are given 15 working days 

to respond to State with any objections. However, State has agreed to wait 

for a response from the FBI before proceeding with each Visas Mantis 

case. 

Once State headquarters receives all the information pertaining to an 

applicant, Consular Affairs summarizes the information and transmits a 

response to the consular post. A consular official at post reviews the 

response and decides, based on the information from Washington, 

whether to issue the visa to the applicant. 

 5

Under Section 212(a)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an applicant is 

rendered inadmissible if there is reason to believe that the applicant is seeking to enter the 

United States to violate U.S. laws prohibiting the export of goods, technology, or sensitive 

information from the United States. 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(A)(i)(II). 

6

The Visas Mantis program allows all participating agencies to provide information and 

raise any particular concerns that they may have regarding an applicant and/or the 

applicant’s proposed activity in the United States. According to State, the key role of the 

Visas Mantis process is to protect U.S. national security, particularly in combating the 

proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and conventional 

weapons. 
Page 5 GAO-04-443T 

State cannot readily identify the total length of time it takes for a science 

student or scholar to obtain a visa. However, in discussions with State 

officials, we learned that a key factor that contributes to the length of time 

is whether an applicant must undergo a Visas Mantis. 

To obtain visa data on science students and scholars, and to determine 

how long the visa process takes, we reviewed all Visas Mantis cables 

received from posts between April and June 2003, which totaled 

approximately 5,000. Of these cases, 2,888 pertained to science students 

and scholars, of which approximately 58 percent were sent from China, 

about 20 percent from Russia, and less than 2 percent from India. 

We drew a random sample of 71 cases from the 2,888 science student and 

scholar visa applications to measure the length of time taken at various 

points in the visa process. The sample of 71 cases is a probability sample, 

and results from the data in this sample project to the universe of the 2,888 

science visa applications. We found that visas for science students and 

scholars took on average 67 days7

 from the date the Visas Mantis cable was 

submitted from post to the date State sent a response to the post.8

 This is 

slightly longer than 2 months per application, on average. In the sample, 67 

of the visa applications completed processing and approval by December 

3, 2003. In addition, 3 of the 67 completed applications had processing 

times in excess of 180 days. Four of the cases in our sample of 71 

remained pending as of December 3, 2003. Of the 4 cases pending, 3 had 

been pending for more than 150 days and 1 for more than 240 days.9

In addition to our sample of 71 cases, State provided us with data on two 

samples it had taken of Visas Mantis case processing times. Data on the 

first sample included 40 visa cases taken from August to October 2003; 

data on the second sample included 50 Visas Mantis cases taken from 

November and December 2003. State indicated that both samples show 

 7

The 95 percent confidence interval for the average number of days to process a science 

visa application is between 50 and 84 days. 

8

According to State, factors that contribute to the length of time it takes to process a Visas 

Mantis check include investigations by clearing agencies or requests for additional 

applicant information. Once State sends a response regarding a Visas Mantis check, the 

post has to contact the applicant to issue or deny the visa. However, we did not attempt to 

determine how long this process takes. 

9

We assessed the reliability of the sample data provided by State by tracing a statistically 

random sample of data to source documents. We determined that the data were sufficiently 

reliable for the purposes of this report. 

Security Check Is 

Major Contributing 

Factor to Length of 

Time It Takes to 

Adjudicate Visas 
Page 6 GAO-04-443T 

improvements in processing times compared with earlier periods in 2003. 

However, based on the documentation of how these cases were selected, 

we were unable to determine whether these were scientifically valid 

samples and therefore we could not validate that processing times have 

improved. For the first sample, the data show that 58 percent of the cases 

were completed within 30 days; for the second sample, the data show that 

52 percent were completed within this time frame. In addition, the data for 

both samples show that lengthy waits remain in some cases. For example, 

9 of the 40 cases had been outstanding for more than 60 days as of 

December 3, 2003, including 3 cases that had been pending for more than 

120 days. Also, 9 of the 50 cases were still pending as of February 13, 2004, 

including 6 that had been outstanding for more than 60 days. State officials 

commented that most of the outstanding cases from both samples were 

still being reviewed by the agencies. 

During our fieldwork at posts in China, India, and Russia in September 

2003, we also obtained data indicating that 410 Visas Mantis cases 

submitted in fiscal year 2003 were still outstanding more than 60 days at 

the end of the fiscal year.10 In addition, we found numerous cases—

involving 27 students and scholars from Shanghai—that were pending 

more than 120 days as of October 16, 2003. 

We found that several factors, including interoperability problems among 

the systems that State and FBI use, contribute to the time it takes to 

process a Visas Mantis case. Because many different agencies, bureaus, 

posts, and field offices are involved in processing Visas Mantis security 

checks, and each has different databases and systems, we found that Visas 

Mantis cases can get delayed or lost at different points in the process.11 We 

found that in fiscal year 2003, some Visas Mantis cases did not always 

reach their intended recipient and as a result, some of the security checks 

 10Outstanding cases include those where the posts had not heard back from State 

headquarters and those where State had responded to the posts by indicating that 

additional information or review time was needed. The number of outstanding Visas Mantis 

cases is based only on F and J Visas Mantis cases for the posts in China but includes other 

visa categories for the remaining posts we visited. 

11Posts have no way to ensure that State receives the Visas Mantis request, State has no 

systematic check to know if the FBI receives the cases, and the FBI has no way to ensure 

that its results are forwarded to the posts. Information regarding a case may potentially be 

sent back and forth between different agencies and offices several times before a decision 

can be made on whether to issue a visa. 

Several Factors Contribute 

to the Length of Time It 

Takes to Resolve Visas 

Mantis Cases 
Page 7 GAO-04-443T 

were delayed. For example, we followed up with the FBI on 14 

outstanding cases from some of the posts we visited in China in September 

2003 to see if it had received and processed the cases. FBI officials 

provided information indicating that they had no record of receiving three 

of the cases, they had responded to State on eight cases, and they were 

still reviewing three cases. FBI officials stated that the most likely reason 

why they did not have a record of the three cases from State were due to 

cable formatting errors. State did not comment on the status of the 14 

cases we provided to the FBI for review. However, a Consular Affairs 

official told us that in fall 2003, there were about 700 Visas Mantis cases 

sent from Beijing that did not reach the FBI for the security check. The 

official did not know how the cases got lost but told us that it took 

Consular Affairs about a month to identify this problem and provide the 

FBI with the cases. As a result, several hundred visa applications were 

delayed for another month. 

Figure 1 illustrates some of the time-consuming factors in the Visas Mantis 

process for our sample of 71 cases. While the FBI received most of the 

cases from State within a day, seven cases took a month or more, most 

likely because they had been improperly formatted and thus were rejected 

by the FBI’s system. In more than half of the cases, the FBI was able to 

complete the clearance process the same day, but some cases took more 

than 100 days. These cases may have taken longer because (1) the FBI had 

to investigate the case or request additional information from State; (2) the 

FBI had to locate files in field offices, because not all of its files are an 

electronic format; or (3) the case was a duplicate, which the FBI’s name 

check system also rejects. In most of the cases, the FBI was able to send a 

response—which it generally does in batches of name checks, not by 

individual case—to State within a week. The FBI provides the results of 

name checks for Visas Mantis cases to State on computer compact disks 

(CDs), a step that could cause delays. In December 2003, a FBI official told 

us that these CDs were provided to State twice a week. However, in the 

past, the CDs were provided to State on a less frequent basis. In addition, 

it takes time for data to be entered in State’s systems once State receives 

the information. In the majority of our sample cases, it took State 2 weeks 

or longer to inform a post that it could issue a visa. State officials were 

unable to explain why it took State this long to respond to post. Officials 

told us that the time frame could be due to a lack of resources at 

headquarters or because State was waiting for a response from agencies 

other than the FBI. However, the data show that only 5 of the 71 cases 

were pending information from agencies other than the FBI. 
Page 8 GAO-04-443T 

Figure 1: Average Time Frames for Visas Mantis Cases, April to June 2003 

During our visits to posts in September 2003, officials told us they were 

unsure whether they were adding to the wait time because they did not 

have clear guidance on when to apply the Visas Mantis process and were 

not receiving feedback on the amount of information they provided in 

their Visas Mantis requests. According to the officials, additional 

information and feedback from Washington agencies regarding these 

issues could help expedite Visas Mantis cases. Consular officers told us 

that they would like the guidance to be simplified—for example, by 

expressing some scientific terms in more easily understood language. 

Several consular officers also told us they had only a limited 

understanding of the Visas Mantis process, including how long the process 

takes. They told us they would like to have better information on how long 

a Visas Mantis check is taking so that they can more accurately inform the 

applicant of the expected wait. 

Consular officers at most of the posts we visited told us they would like 

more feedback from State on whether the Visas Mantis cases they are 

sending to Washington are appropriate, particularly whether they are 

sending too many or too few Visas Mantis requests. They said they would 

like to know if including more information in the security check request 

would reduce the time to process an application in Washington. Moreover, 

consular officers indicated they would like additional information on some 

Post Officials Seek Clearer 

Guidance and More 

Feedback 
Page 9 GAO-04-443T 

of the outstanding Visas Mantis cases, such as where the case is in the 

process. State confirmed that it has not always responded to posts’ 

requests for feedback or information on outstanding cases. 

Aside from the time it takes to process Visas Mantis checks, an applicant 

also has to wait for an interview. State does not have data or criteria for 

the length of time applicants at its overseas posts wait for an interview, 

but at the posts we visited in September 2003, we found that it generally 

took 2 to 3 weeks. Furthermore, post officials in Chennai, India, told us 

that the interview wait time was as long as 12 weeks during the summer of 

2003 when the demand for visas was greater than the resources available 

at post to adjudicate a visa. Officials at some of the posts we visited 

indicated they did not have enough space and staffing resources to handle 

interview demands and the new visa requirement that went into effect on 

August 1, 2003. That requirement states that, with a few exceptions, all 

foreign individuals seeking to visit the United States need to be 

interviewed prior to receiving a visa. Factors such as the time of year an 

applicant applies for a visa, the appointment requirements, and the staffing 

situation at posts generally affect how long an applicant will have to wait 

for an interview. 

State and FBI officials acknowledged that visa waits have been a problem 

but said they are implementing improvements to the process and working 

to decrease the number of pending Visas Mantis cases. For example, 

• State and FBI officials told us that the validity of Visas Mantis checks for 

students and scholars has been extended to 12 months for applicants who 

are returning to a program or activity and will perform the same functions 

at the same facility or organization that was the basis for the original Visas 

Mantis check. 

• FBI officials said that to address delays stemming from problems with lost 

case files or systems that are not interoperable, the FBI is working on 

automating its files and setting up a common database between the field 

offices and headquarters. They also told us they have set up a tracking 

system within the FBI for all Security Advisory Opinions, including Visas 

Mantis cases. 

• Consular Affairs officials told us that State has invested about $1 million 

on a new information management system that it said would reduce the 

time it takes to process Visas Mantis cases. They described the new 

Wait for an Interview Can 

Also Add Significant Time 

Agency Officials Cite 

Improvements 
Page 10 GAO-04-443T 

system as a mechanism that would help strengthen the accountability of 

Visas Mantis clearance requests and responses, establish consistency in 

data collection, and improve data exchange between State and other 

agencies involved in the clearance process. In addition, officials said the 

system would allow them to improve overall visa statistical reporting 

capabilities and data integrity for Mantis cases. The new system will be 

paperless, which means that the current system of requesting Visas Mantis 

clearances by cable will be eliminated. State officials told us that the 

system is on schedule for release early this year and that the portion 

relating to Security Advisory Opinions will be operational sometime later 

this year. However, challenges remain. FBI officials told us that the name 

check component of the FBI’s system would not immediately be 

interoperable with State’s new system but that they are actively working 

with State to seek solutions to this problem. Nonetheless, FBI and State 

have not determined how the information will be transmitted in the 

meantime. We were not able to assess the new system since it was not yet 

functioning at the time of our review. 

• Officials from Consular Affairs and the FBI told us they are coordinating 

efforts to identify and resolve outstanding Visas Mantis cases. For 

example, they have been working together on a case-by-case basis to make 

sure that cases outstanding for several months to a year are completed. 

However, State officials said they do not have a target date for completion 

of all the outstanding cases, which they estimated at 1,000 in November 

2003. 

• In addition to improvements to the Visas Mantis process, State officials 

told us that they are monitoring post resource needs and adding staff as 

needed. These officials also told us that State added 66 new officers in 

2003 and plans to add an additional 80 in 2004. 

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, agency officials recognize that the process 

for issuing a visa to a science student or scholar can be an important tool 

to control the transfer of sensitive technology that could put the United 

States at risk. They also acknowledge that if the process is lengthy, 

students and scholars with science backgrounds might decide not to come 

to the United States, and technological advancements that serve U.S. and 

global interests could be jeopardized. Our analysis of a sample of Visas 

Mantis cases from April to June 2003 show that some applicants faced 

lengthy waits. While the State Department and the FBI report 

improvements in Visas Mantis processing times, our analysis of data from 

the posts we visited in September 2003 and our contact with post officials 

in January 2004 show that there are still some instances of lengthy waits. 

State’s and FBI’s implementation of the Visas Mantis process still has gaps 
Page 11 GAO-04-443T 

that are causing wait times for visas. State’s new information management 

system could improve the Visas Mantis process. Nevertheless, it is unclear 

whether the new system will address all the current issues with the 

process. 

To help improve the process and reduce the length of time it takes for a 

science student or scholar to obtain a visa, we are recommending that the 

Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of the FBI and the 

Secretary of Homeland Security, develop and implement a plan to improve 

the Visas Mantis process. In developing this plan, the Secretary should 

consider actions to 

• establish milestones to reduce the current number of pending Visas Mantis 

cases; 

• develop performance goals and measurements for processing Visas Mantis 

checks; 

• provide additional information through training or other means to 

consular posts that clarifies guidance on the overall operation of the Visas 

Mantis program, when Mantis clearances are required, what information 

consular posts should submit to enable the clearance process to proceed 

as efficiently as possible, and how long the process takes; and 

• work to achieve interoperable systems and expedite transmittal of data 

between agencies. 

In commenting on our draft report, State said it had taken some actions to 

improve the Visas Mantis process and it would study our recommendation 

to make further improvements. 

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared statement. I would be happy to 

answer any questions you or other members of the committee may have. 

For future contacts regarding this testimony, please call Jess Ford or John 

Brummet at (202) 512-4128. Individuals making key contributions to this 

testimony included Jeanette Espinola, Heather Barker, Janey Cohen, and 

Andrea Miller. 

Contact and 

Acknowledgments 

(320243) 
Page 12 GAO-04-443T 

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Jeff Nelligan, Managing Director, NelliganJ@gao.gov (202) 512-4800 

U.S. General Accounting Office, 441 G Street NW, Room 7149 

Washington, D.C. 20548 

GAO’s Mission 

Obtaining Copies of 

GAO Reports and 

Testimony 

Order by Mail or Phone 

To Report Fraud, 

Waste, and Abuse in 

Federal Programs 

Public Affairs