Consular Services Abroad Can Be Improved, Process of Evaluating Need for Posts Questioned

U.S. consular officers carry out a variety of activities in foreign countries such as assisting U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad, issuing immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and handling passport and citizenship cases. As of July 1977, the State Department had 130 Embassies, 64 consulates general, 48 consulates, and 15 consular agencies.