Immigration

Action Item: Employers who have foreign national workers with pending visa applications at U.S. consulates, or are travelling to apply for visas, will likely see delays in the workers’ return because of technical problems with the State Department’s Consular Consolidated Database systems.

The U.S. State Department has posted an alert indicating that because of technical problems affecting its Consular Consolidated Database systems, U.S. consulates are temporarily unable to issue visas or other travel documents.  Foreign nationals who filed nonimmigrant visa applications or had visa interviews on or after June 9 will not be able to receive their visas until the problems are resolved.  The problems are across all consular posts and visa categories.

The State Department has not estimated when consular systems will be back in operation, but has stated that they may be able to assist those with an urgent humanitarian need to travel in the interim.  In its alert, the State Department indicates it is working urgently around the clock to correct the problems and restore system to full operational status as soon as possible.

Many visa applicants will need to resubmit their applications or reschedule their appointments. The technical problems are also delaying immigrant visa processing and the issuance of passports to U.S. citizens abroad. Applicants who have been interviewed and are awaiting visa issuance can ask to have their passports returned, but will need to go back to the consulate for visa stamping once the State Department resolves its system problems.

Blank Rome’s Immigration attorneys will continue to monitor this situation and provide additional updates as they become available.