Inconsistent Afghan Visa Policies Increased the Cost to Deploy Contractors to Afghanistan
Abstract
In May and June 2013, SIGAR published two reports addressing burdensome and wasteful policies, including obtaining visas, that U.S. contractors faced when implementing reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. SIGAR Alert Letter 13-3, Afghan Government Levying Additional Fines, Fees, and Penalties that May Cost U.S. Government Millions of Dollars, reported that visa procedures could be costing the U.S. government more than $1,100 per contractor per year. SIGAR Audit 13-8, Taxes: Afghan Government Has Levied Nearly a Billion Dollars in Business Taxes on Contractors Supporting U.S. Government Efforts in Afghanistan, concludes that the U.S. government lacked a unified policy addressing Afghan Government fees charged to reconstruction contractors. Furthermore SIGAR reported, the Afghan and U.S. governments disagreed over the applicability of Afghan Government fees to reconstruction contractors. In May 2017, SIGAR's Investigations Directorate also found instances of contractors claiming visa procurement expenses that far exceeded the amount charged by the Afghan government.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 17, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1123727
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction