The US Department of State (DOS)
continues to experience technical problems with its visa systems worldwide. As
of June 23, 2015, DOS reported that “39, representing more than two-thirds of
our normal capacity, are now online and issuing visas.” The main problem with
the system was biometric data processing, but DOS reports that the “biometrics
clearances has been rebuilt and is being tested.” A backlog of both
nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications have resulted, and prioritizing
issuance of visas for urgent and humanitarian travel needs, as well as
temporary agricultural workers.
The DOS technology team is
working 24/7 to restore all visa systems. As of June 22, 2015, 22 posts had
been reconnected and about 24 hours later 17 more posts were restored. On June
23, 2015, DOS issued more than 45,000 visas, including 15,000 visas out of the
Beijing post alone. Currently reconnected posts include the following: Paris;
Monterrey; Ciudad Juarez; Guangzhou; Beijing; Shanghai; Tijuana; Nuevo Laredo;
Mexico City; Guadalajara; Mumbai; New Delhi; Sao Paolo; Chennai; Manila;
Bogota; Buenos Aires; Rio de Janeiro; Tel Aviv; Merida; Hermosillo; Karachi; Seoul;
Lima; Santo Domingo; Kingston; Shenyang; Chengdu; DPT; Lagos; Guayaquil; London;
Brasilia; Moscow; San Salvador; Quito; Ho Chi Minh; Hanoi; and Kyiv.
In mid-June, many posts were
cancelling or not scheduling appointments for applicants who had filed applications
after a certain date. DOS reports that several posts are now rescheduling
interviews, and “[i]n some cases, interviews will be available as soon as June
24.” Applicants should continue to check the appropriate post’s website for
interview availability.
Initially the technology problems
included issuance of US passports in overseas posts. However, except for delays
in a few cases, passport issuance capability has been restored. In those cases
where the technology may delay regular processing, the posts are still able to
issue passports in emergency situations.
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