On June 23, 2015, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) updated its alert regarding the technical problems that resulted in world-wide delays in visa processing, announcing that 39 consular posts, representing more than two-thirds of the agency's normal capacity, are now online and issuing visas.
Executive Summary: On June 23, 2015, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) updated its alert regarding the technical problems that resulted in world-wide delays in visa processing, announcing that 39 consular posts, representing more than two-thirds of the agency's normal capacity, are now online and issuing visas. DOS also stated that it expects the system to be fully reconnected this week and will work over the weekend to clear the backlog of visas. DOS is currently rescheduling more than 1,500 visa applicants who were unable to be interviewed last week because of the systems problems.
The following consular posts are now online and issuing visas:
- 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
- Kyiv
Employers' Bottom Line: DOS expects the visa system computer glitch to be resolved at all consulates by the end of this week, and it will work through the weekend to clear the backlog of pending visas. As such, foreign workers who are currently overseas, or planning to travel overseas in the near future, should be able to proceed with their scheduled or rescheduled visa interviews. Assuming DOS clears its visa backlog quickly, foreign workers should receive their passports back within a reasonable period thereafter.
If you have any questions about this issue or other business immigration issues, please contact Geetha Adinata, gadinata@fordharrison.com, Charles Roach, croach@fordharrison.com, or Vivien Peaden, vpeaden@fordharrison.com, all of whom are members of FordHarrison's Immigration practice group. You may also contact the FordHarrison attorney with whom you usually work.