Pakistan: Reporting on Visa Delays That Disrupt U.S. Assistance Could Be Improved (open access)

Pakistan: Reporting on Visa Delays That Disrupt U.S. Assistance Could Be Improved

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "U.S. officials have experienced delays in obtaining Pakistani visas that disrupt the delivery and oversight of U.S. assistance to Pakistan. According to Pakistani Consular Services, and as confirmed by the Department of State (State), the goal of the embassy of Pakistan is to issue visas for U.S. officials within 6 weeks. GAO's analysis of data provided by State, the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) found that U.S. officials experience delays in the issuance of both visas to travel to Pakistan and visa extensions. For instance, GAO found that of about 4,000 issued visas, approximately 18 percent took more than 6 weeks, with approximately 3 percent taking 16 weeks or longer. Moreover, of approximately 2,200 visa extensions, about 59 percent took longer than 6 weeks to be issued, with approximately 5 percent taking 16 weeks or longer. U.S. officials stated that they receive little specific information from Pakistan on the reasons for visa delays, but they noted that visa delays disrupt the effective implementation and oversight of U.S. programs and efficient use of resources in Pakistan. Visa …
Date: May 7, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Capital Purchase Program: Status of the Program and Financial Health of Remaining Participants (open access)

Capital Purchase Program: Status of the Program and Financial Health of Remaining Participants

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "As of March 31, 2013, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) had received about $222 billion from its Capital Purchase Program (CPP) investments, exceeding the approximately $205 billion it had disbursed. Treasury estimated at the end of December 2012 that CPP would have an approximate lifetime income of $15 billion after all institutions had exited the program. Treasury's March 2013 data showed that 534 of the original 707 institutions had exited CPP. Most of these institutions exited by repurchasing their preferred shares in full or by refinancing their investments through other federal programs. In March 2012, Treasury began selling its investments in the institutions through auctions, expediting the exit of a number of CPP participants. A relatively small number of the remaining 173 institutions accounted for most of the funds outstanding. Specifically, 25 institutions accounted for $4.2 billion, or 68 percent, of the $6.1 billion in outstanding investments. These investments were relatively widely dispersed throughout the United States, with 39 states having at least one institution with investments outstanding and 12 states having at least 5 such institutions."
Date: May 7, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
VA Construction: Additional Actions Needed to Decrease Delays and Lower Costs of Major Medical-Facility Projects (open access)

VA Construction: Additional Actions Needed to Decrease Delays and Lower Costs of Major Medical-Facility Projects

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In summary, GAO recognizes that some cost increases and schedule delays result from factors beyond VA's control; however, GAO's review of VA's largest projects indicated weaknesses in VA's construction management processes also contributed to cost increases and schedule delays. Given that VA is currently involved in 50 major medical-facility construction projects, including four large medical centers, VA should take further action to improve its management of costs, schedule, and scope of these projects."
Date: May 7, 2013
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library