In September, Grassley requested the Inspector General at the Department of State to conduct a review of the nonimmigrant visa issuing policy and procedures. In his letter, Grassley asked for a thorough and detailed review, stating "we need to get to the bottom of this and figure out how to keep the terrorists out."
"I'm appalled to learn that some posts don't have clear policies about visa procedures. The Consular Affairs offices must get serious about this. National security has to be the number one focus," Grassley said. "The lack of change to a security focus in a post-September 11th world is very alarming to me."
The Inspector General's findings reiterate Grassley's concern about the visa issuing process. The report shows that Consular Affairs offices have not made the dramatic changes needed in visa issuing process even after the first attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993. According to the report, policies remain inconsistent and unclear at visa issuing posts around the world.
"National security and border security needs to be on every employee's mind at the Consular Affairs offices" Grassley said. "I hope the Department of Homeland Security takes visa security more seriously."
The report found that visa issuing posts make up their own rules about waiving an interview, with little regard for security. The report also found that Consular Affairs use of foreign travel agencies to help process visa applications is half hazard at best and reckless at worst. Grassley said that many posts don't have the proper controls in place to prevent applicants from taking advantage of the system.
The report also shows that document fraud is a serious problem, and fraud detection efforts are not coordinated. Grassley said that fraud prevention units must be more effective around the world.
In July, Grassley and Rep. Dave Weldon prompted the State Department to dismantle the program that allowed visa applicants in Saudi Arabia to receive approval to come to the United States without proper in-person interviews. Three of the 19 September 11 hijackers took advantage of this Visa Express program by going through a travel agent for their visas. They were never interviewed by an American official. Despite this tie to September 11, the State Department was still operating the Visa Express program when Grassley and Weldon spoke out. Grassley said there may be as many as 20 similar programs still operating in various countries around the world.
A redacted version of the report can be found on the Department of State, Office of the Inspector General's website.