![]() Additional efforts include expanding the physical space in visa sections-particularly the number of interview windows-and upgrading to more modern systems and technology.Ĭonsular Affairs will continue to pilot and replicate projects that improve the efficiency of the visa process. In addition, the Department continues to implement alternative staffing strategies, such as Limited Non-Career Appointments, to address staffing challenges. Therefore, CA reviews embassy and consulate staffing on an annual basis to best align personnel with workload. Workload growth is projected to outstrip available personnel in FY 2016. Meeting the visa performance goal is dependent first upon staffing. Consular personnel continually balance efforts to meet growing demand with the need to conduct vigilant adjudications that uphold its uncompromising standard of secure processes and documents, using these reports as guidelines for action. ![]() ![]() Under the ConsularOne initiative, CA will use the lessons learned in the pilot to offer improved electronic transactions for passport book and passport card renewals.ĬA tracks visa applicant wait times and reports average percentages on a weekly basis. citizens who already had valid passport books. In FY 2012, CA successfully launched an online passport card pilot program, testing its ability to securely process passport card applications online from U.S. To meet passport demand, CA is creating a mechanism to process renewal applications online, reducing the level of effort required to issue passports in these cases. border security, as consular staff vet individuals who seek to travel to the United States. ![]() In addition to the economic benefits, the visa adjudication process puts CA at the front line of U.S. An estimated 1.1 million jobs in the United States are supported by international travel. In calendar year (CY) 2014, the Department’s efforts facilitated the travel of 75 million visitors to the United States, who, according to the Department of Commerce’s 2014 United States Travel and Tourism Statistics, spent $220.6 billion, an average of almost $3,000 per visitor. Even with this growth, in FY 2015, more than 92.5 percent of applicants worldwide, on average, were interviewed within three weeks of submitting their applications, a significant change from 70 percent in early FY 2012. Adjudications of NIV applications grew by more than 86 percent from FY 2009 to FY 2015. In FY 2015, CA adjudicated more than 13 million NIV applications, a 13.5 percent increase from FY 2014, while working through extraordinary increases in visa demand in key markets, including a 50 percent increase in China. Based on analysis of renewal application trends, passport renewal rates increased by 14.8 percent in FY 2015, and are expected to increase further through FY 2017.Įxecutive Order 13597, issued in January 2012, required CA to increase visa adjudicating capacity in Brazil and China by 40 percent and ensure that 80 percent of nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants worldwide are interviewed within three weeks of receipt of an application. An expected surge in passport renewal applications represents a rising challenge to the achievement of our passport-related performance goal. In fiscal year (FY) 2014, CA processed 13.3 million passport applications, a 4.6 percent increase over FY 2013. citizens, 38.6 percent of the population, have valid passports this number has almost doubled in the last decade. This presence consists of 29 passport agencies and centers and a network of more than 8,000 public offices managed by other federal, state, and local government agencies/offices designated to accept passport applications. Demand for passports and visas is subject to unpredictable factors, and this variability affects workload planning.ĭomestically, the Department supports a significant presence across the country to respond to the consular service needs of the U.S. Two core functions of this mission are the adjudication of passport and visa applications. security, facilitate the entry of legitimate foreign travelers, and foster economic growth. The mission of the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) is to provide efficient and effective consular services to protect U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |