Visas:
U.S. and Japanese Practices for Granting Business Visas
NSIAD-88-48BR: Published: Dec 29, 1987. Publicly Released: Feb 12, 1988.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on: (1) the United States' review process for issuing E- and L-visas to aliens entering the country for business purposes; (2) Japan's visa system; and (3) characteristics of Japanese who obtained E- and L-visas from the United States.
GAO found that the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the U.S. Consulate in Osaka: (1) issued about 9,700 E-visas and 4,000 L-visas to Japanese citizens in fiscal year 1986; (2) had wide latitude in deciding whether to issue visas; (3) refused very few Japanese business visa applications; and (4) in approving visas, relied on information applicants and their companies provided. GAO also found that: (1) the Department of State attempts to maintain flexibility in its visa approval process by specifying factors for consideration, but not their relative weight or emphasis; and (2) of 265 Japanese E- and L-visa holders it studied, most were executives or supervisors with over 10 years of company experience, had annual salaries of over $49,997, and were college graduates. In addition, GAO found that Japan: (1) averaged about 6,390 posting and working visas in the United States; (2) took between several days to several months for its review process; and (3) required companies to meet a minimum gross sale or investment amount for their employees to qualify for visas.
Feb 26, 2021
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Servicemember Rights:
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Have Affected Some Employment and Consumer Claims but the Extent of Their Effects is UnknownGAO-21-221: Published: Feb 26, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2021.
Feb 18, 2021
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Workplace Safety and Health:
Actions Needed to Improve Reporting of Summary Injury and Illness DataGAO-21-122: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 2021.
Jan 27, 2021
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Military Spouse Employment:
DOD Should Continue Assessing State Licensing Practices and Increase Awareness of ResourcesGAO-21-193: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 27, 2021.
Oct 19, 2020
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Fair Labor Standards Act:
Observations on the Effects of the Home Care RuleGAO-21-72: Published: Oct 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 19, 2020.
Jun 22, 2020
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Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act:
Additional DOL Actions Needed to Help States and Employers Address Substance Use DisorderGAO-20-337: Published: May 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 22, 2020.
Apr 14, 2020
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Job Corps:
DOL Should Provide Greater Transparency in Communicating Its Rationale for Closure DecisionsGAO-20-240R: Published: Apr 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2020.
Feb 14, 2020
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National Mediation Board:
Additional Actions Needed to Fully Implement Prior GAO Recommendations and Improve Agency Management and OversightGAO-20-236: Published: Feb 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 14, 2020.
Feb 10, 2020
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National Weather Service:
Information on Contractor Selection and Work Performed for Its Operations and Workforce Analysis ProjectGAO-20-271R: Published: Jan 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 10, 2020.
Sep 9, 2019
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Job Corps:
Actions Needed to Improve Planning for Center Operation ContractsGAO-19-326: Published: Aug 8, 2019. Publicly Released: Sep 9, 2019.
Apr 10, 2019
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Priority Open Recommendations:
Department of LaborGAO-19-395SP: Published: Apr 3, 2019. Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2019.
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