Delay in Delivery of Approved Visas

[Ryan H 3,790]

Posts merged with existing thread.

[soncrazed 1]

This may have been posted earlier, but if not, this article looks like all us will be waiting a little longer for the visas for ourselves or in my situation a visa for my spouse.

[canadagirl89 8]

I am SO angry about this. I have been waiting over 20 months to be with my family since I started this process. I was banking on getting my visa within the 2 weeks. Nope, I have to be out of my apartment before June and now I get to live on the street until I get my visa. Just perfect timing. AND this happened in July last year, almost exact same problem. They were back logged 200,000 visas.

My brother works in IT and the fact that it's been down for a week now is just a serious joke. They need to get their asses in gear and hire some better people.

[hanniel 41]

I am SO angry about this. I have been waiting over 20 months to be with my family since I started this process. I was banking on getting my visa within the 2 weeks. Nope, I have to be out of my apartment before June and now I get to live on the street until I get my visa. Just perfect timing. AND this happened in July last year, almost exact same problem. They were back logged 200,000 visas.

My brother works in IT and the fact that it's been down for a week now is just a serious joke. They need to get their asses in gear and hire some better people.

You can never bank on receiving a visa until you actually have it in your hands.

[Shauneg 762]

Before next week is really only two days away since nothing's processed during the weekend. BUT////,,,,,,... I have no faith it would be fixed by Monday however.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Shauneg

[TBoneTX 43,058]

*** Thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to the Embassy/Consulate forum and merged with master thread there. ***

[Lauren and Kevin 55]

I am SO angry about this. I have been waiting over 20 months to be with my family since I started this process. I was banking on getting my visa within the 2 weeks. Nope, I have to be out of my apartment before June and now I get to live on the street until I get my visa. Just perfect timing. AND this happened in July last year, almost exact same problem. They were back logged 200,000 visas.

My brother works in IT and the fact that it's been down for a week now is just a serious joke. They need to get their asses in gear and hire some better people.

I feel just the same, so close to getting out of this rotten broken Immigration system, and the wave of awfulness chases you up the beach while you are desperately trying to get up the bank.

Interview in three weeks, and stupidly I was expecting just a few days before Visa printed and can finally leave the UK, and now, who the heck knows how many weeks it will take to clear the backlog - I'm SO done with being patient, I lost all that going through the TSC and 2 RFEs for forms already sent...and now this....FFS.. I just want out of the system before anything else goes wrong with it !!

Edited June 18, 2015 by Lauren and Kevin

[hanniel 41]

I feel just the same, so close to getting out of this rotten broken Immigration system, and the wave of awfulness chases you up the beach while you are desperately trying to get up the bank.

Interview in three weeks, and stupidly I was expecting just a few days before Visa printed and can finally leave the UK, and now, who the heck knows how many weeks it will take to clear the backlog - I'm SO done with being patient, I lost all that going through the TSC and 2 RFEs for forms already sent...and now this....FFS.. I just want out of the system before anything else goes wrong with it !!

My brother told me to get used to it. Until you have citizenship you will be dealing with immigration for one thing or another for the next 5-6 years! It sounds like torture because it is.

[AoiHana35 1]

Reading here:

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/jp/index.html?firstTime=No

Does this mean my fiancé cannot even book/schedule her interview in Tokyo now because of this global issue with visa's not being able to be printed?

[tarzan31 27]

travel.state.gov > Newsroom > Technological Systems Issue

Technological Systems Issue

JUNE 17, 2015

Visa Systems Issues

The Bureau of Consular Affairs continues to experience technical problems with our visa systems. This is a global issue, and we are working around the clock to fix it. More than 100 computer experts from both the private and public sectors across the United States are working on this problem 24/7. That said, we do not expect the system will be online before next week. The problems stem from a hardware failure in a State Department facility in the United States on June 9. That failure is preventing the Department from processing and transmitting biometric data checks at visa-issuing embassies and consulates. We cannot bypass the legal requirements to screen visa applicants before we issue visas for travel. Each visa decision is a national security decision, and we take our obligation to protect the United States seriously.

We regret the inconvenience to travelers and recognize that this is causing hardship to those waiting for visas, and in some cases, their family members or employers in the United States. We will continue to post regular updates on our website, travel.state.gov.

Q: What caused this outage? Was it a malicious action or hack?

• There is no evidence the problem is cyber-security related.

Q: How long before you restore full system functionality?

• Public and private sector experts are working around the clock to correct the visa problem, but we do not expect the system will be online before next week.
• Overseas and domestic passports are being issued.

Q: How many travelers are affected by this outage?

• Most posts were able to handle visa interviews and some visa printing as usual through the end of last week. This week, many posts have had to reschedule visa appointments. We handle an average 50,000 applications daily worldwide. Many applicants do not have immediate travel plans and will receive visas in time for planned trips. We are prioritizing urgent medical and other humanitarian cases as well as H2A agricultural workers.

Q: Once operational, how will cases be prioritized?

• We are already prioritizing urgent humanitarian cases and temporary agricultural workers. Once the systems are fully operational, we will work as quickly as possible to clear the backlog of pending visa cases.
• We apologize to travelers and recognize that this has caused hardship to some individuals waiting for visas.

Q: What about domestic passports?

• Domestic passport operations are functioning, with some intermittent processing delays. While some of these issues have affected same-day service at our passport agencies, we continue to issue passports to U.S. citizens with urgent overseas travel needs.

[chantuff9 21]

I have a question, but I'm not sure if anyone will have any insight (or that I'll be able to explain my question properly).... This backlog that's being created is probably going to be huge. But I'm wondering if its embassy specific. For example, since I think way more people apply from, say, the Philippines, will the backlog take longer to clear over there than in France? Just for example! Or is it all just one backlog regardless of embassy? Does that even make sense?

[tayurshu 37]

Here is some local information for Australians:

"The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs is currently experiencing technical problems with our overseas passport and visa systems. This issue is not specific to any particular country, citizenship document, or visa category. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working urgently to correct the problem and restore full operability. Currently, we are unable to print most immigrant and non-immigrant visas approved after June 8, 2015. In addition, U.S. Embassies and Consulates are unable to process new applications submitted on or after June 9, 2015. Individuals with visa interview appointments scheduled for June 14-20, 2015, should reschedule their appointments if they submitted a DS-160 online application after June 9, 2015. Appointments can be rescheduled by following the instructions located on http://www.ustraveldocs.com/au/au-niv-appointmentschedule.asp. Individuals who submitted their DS-160 online applications prior to June 9, 2015, should plan to attend their scheduled visa interview appointments. Those with urgent travel should follow the instructions for expedited emergency appointment found on http://www.ustraveldocs.com/au/au-niv-expeditedappointment.asp ."

[hanniel 41]

I have a question, but I'm not sure if anyone will have any insight (or that I'll be able to explain my question properly).... This backlog that's being created is probably going to be huge. But I'm wondering if its embassy specific. For example, since I think way more people apply from, say, the Philippines, will the backlog take longer to clear over there than in France? Just for example! Or is it all just one backlog regardless of embassy? Does that even make sense?

The answer to your question is no one can accurately tell you how long your visa will be delayed.

[smartgreen 10]

I am SO angry about this. I have been waiting over 20 months to be with my family since I started this process. I was banking on getting my visa within the 2 weeks. Nope, I have to be out of my apartment before June and now I get to live on the street until I get my visa. Just perfect timing. AND this happened in July last year, almost exact same problem. They were back logged 200,000 visas.

My brother works in IT and the fact that it's been down for a week now is just a serious joke. They need to get their asses in gear and hire some better people.

Same boat here!!

I got kicked out from my current place today and going to stay at a temp place which is without internet.

If i don't get the visa/ passport by next Friday, I will get kicked out by the country as wel. arghhhhhhh.....

[Lauren and Kevin 55]

Update this morning - saying once up will take weeks to issue the Visa...

Nonimmigrant visa applicants who submitted their DS-160 online application prior to June 9, 2015, should plan to attend their scheduled appointment. You should note, however that your application will take two to three weeks to process. If you will require your passport for travel to a country other than the United States during this time, you must notify the consular officer at your interview.

Yeah right. So I don't believe them. My experience of TSC means it's a month at least.

Edited June 19, 2015 by Lauren and Kevin