TSC JULY 2014 FILERS - NOA2 APPROVALS

[tarzan31 27]

LATEST UPDATE

travel.state.gov > Newsroom > Technological Systems Issue

Technological Systems Issue

JUNE 19, 2015

Visa Systems Issues

• The Bureau of Consular Affairs is in the process of resolving technical problems with our visa systems. Biometric data is not yet processing properly to allow embassies and consulates to perform security checks required to issue visas.

• More than 100 experts across the country are working on this problem 24/7. We are pursuing a variety of solutions. This week, nearly 750 temporary or seasonal workers who had been issued visas in the past were issued new visas in Mexico, and we have issued another 1,500 visas globally for urgent and humanitarian travel. We continue to look for ways to facilitate travel as we work to restore the systems to full functionality.

• We deeply regret the inconvenience to travelers and recognize the hardship to those waiting for visas, and in some cases, their family members or employers in the United States.

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

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

• This is not the same problem we had with the CCD last year, which was a problem with the database caused by a software patch. This is a hardware failure, and we are working to restore system functions.

Q: How long before you restore full system functionality?

• Public and private sector experts are making progress in correcting the visa problem, and we are striving to have the system online sometime 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 processing delays. These technical problems have affected the intake of some mailed applications and same-day service at our passport agencies; however, we continue to issue routine and expedited passports to U.S. citizens for all overseas travel needs.

Q: What about the foreign agricultural workers (H2A visa holders?)

• We issued nearly 750 H2A visas for agricultural workers this week. These are applicants whose biometric data was captured before the systems went down.

[daphnee1286 1]

Good evening all, has anyone got any great news about the system being back up...

[Chalandrae 32]

I moved in last Monday and it went smoothly!

We spent 2 hours at secondary inspection because no one wanted to do our visa ( one of the officer even told the processing us; Oh you ended up with the K1 huh? Good luck!). Other than that it was a smooth ride .

I was told until I was married I could leave the US for no up to 30 days. is it true? Not that I plan on it, but I've never heard about being able to go out of the country.

[Unidentified 2,930]

I moved in last Monday and it went smoothly!

We spent 2 hours at secondary inspection because no one wanted to do our visa ( one of the officer even told the processing us; Oh you ended up with the K1 huh? Good luck!). Other than that it was a smooth ride .

I was told until I was married I could leave the US for no up to 30 days. is it true? Not that I plan on it, but I've never heard about being able to go out of the country.

That strange because all information I've seen is that if you leave without using your K1 you have abandoned it.

[Chalandrae 32]

That strange because all information I've seen is that if you leave without using your K1 you have abandoned it.

They asked me if I had any plans to leave the country and I said no,but my mother is in a nursing home, so maybe if something happened I'd have to go.

I had the same idea, you enter and can't leave until AOS, I am wondering now.

[Unidentified 2,930]

They asked me if I had any plans to leave the country and I said no,but my mother is in a nursing home, so maybe if something happened I'd have to go.

I had the same idea, you enter and can't leave until AOS, I am wondering now.

And it wasn't a chance for them to advise you about getting Advance Parole if you're planning on traveling or going back because of an emergency?

[daphnee1286 1]

Hello Everyone I checked CEAC website and it says issued does that mean it is ready to be pick up or is there another process to it again?

[KASH2011 382]

Hello Everyone I checked CEAC website and it says issued does that mean it is ready to be pick up or is there another process to it again?

Congrats! Get ready to go pick it up.

[Chalandrae 32]

And it wasn't a chance for them to advise you about getting Advance Parole if you're planning on traveling or going back because of an emergency?

They said after I am married, I will have to obtain an Infopass appointment. But before wedding I can go for no more than 30 days. But either way, if something happened I'll just go through the safer way.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Hello Everyone I checked CEAC website and it says issued does that mean it is ready to be pick up or is there another process to it again?

Congratulations! Depending on the embassy they will either send it home to you or you will be able to go pick it up

They said after I am married, I will have to obtain an Infopass appointment. But before wedding I can go for no more than 30 days. But either way, if something happened I'll just go through the safer way.

I don't think he knew what he was talking about since the K1 is a one-entry visa only. Even if you would travel prior to your wedding, you would risk not being let into the US. So yeah, do it the safe way if you have to travel and wait for AP!

[daphnee1286 1]

How many days after a visa is issued will they let you know it's ready for pickup?

[tarzan31 27]

Finally, visa issued July 2, 2015. Just 26 days shy of one year since the receipt of I-129F at the Texas lock box !!!!! 23 day delay after interview because of the consular affairs crash , but oh well, finally done !!!!

[Unidentified 2,930]

Finally, visa issued July 2, 2015. Just 26 days shy of one year since the receipt of I-129F at the Texas lock box !!!!! 23 day delay after interview because of the consular affairs crash , but oh well, finally done !!!!

Congratulations!

[KASH2011 382]

Finally, visa issued July 2, 2015. Just 26 days shy of one year since the receipt of I-129F at the Texas lock box !!!!! 23 day delay after interview because of the consular affairs crash , but oh well, finally done !!!!

Congrats!

[de3wcfan 3]

Finally, visa issued July 2, 2015. Just 26 days shy of one year since the receipt of I-129F at the Texas lock box !!!!! 23 day delay after interview because of the consular affairs crash , but oh well, finally done !!!!

Congratulations!!