
United States
The State Department issued more than 410,000 nonimmigrant visas from June 21 through June 29 and has cleared the bulk of the backlogged cases, according to its latest update. U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide are back online, scheduling interviews and issuing visas. The agency expects its system to be back to normal by early next week, once it resolves a problem that prevents consulates from accessing some immigrant visa application forms in the system.
The biometrics clearance database – which took longer to be repaired, further delaying required security clearances – is now operational. According to official reports, nearly 300,000 of the 335,000 visas that were pending security clearance between June 9 and June 19 have now been printed. The remaining backlog was expected to be cleared this week.
All posts have reopened appointment scheduling and are able to accommodate applicants whose visa interviews had to be rescheduled during the system outage.
If you have any questions about visa processing or need assistance rescheduling an appointment, please contact your designated Fragomen professional.
© 2015 Fragomen
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