JUNE 13, 2015

A computer database glitch has led the State
Department to halt issuance of U.S. passports
and visas at overseas diplomatic missions,
according to a statement .

The agency places the blame on a hardware
failure in the Consular Consolidated Database,
resulting in overseas embassies and consulates
unable to print visas, passports, and other travel
documents. The statement said that those who
filled out online applications for passports on or
after May 26 and visas on or after June 9 could
experience processing delays.

According to the statement, domestic passport
and emergency passports for urgent travel are still
being issued without problems.

The State Department has emphasized that
cutting corners to speed up the process is not an
option. "We cannot bypass the legal requirements
necessary to screen visa applicants before we
issue visas for travel," the statement said. "As a
result, there is a backlog of visas waiting to be
processed. We are working as quickly as possible
to resolve the issue and to clear the backlog."
Unavoidable background checks play a big part in
the delay. "Security measures prevent consular
officers from printing a passport, report of birth
abroad or visa until the case completes the
required national security checks," the statement
said.

More information about the failure has not been
revealed yet, though the department did say it
was not the result of a cyber attack. Also, the
department said this glitch is unrelated to the one
that shut down the database last July.
In the statement, the State Department said it is
working "urgently to identify the problem and
correct it," and added, "We expect the systems to
be fully operational again soon." But a specific
time was not provided.

Meanwhile, check the State Department’s website
for updates.

http://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/state-dept-computer-glitch-halts-issuing-of-overseas-passport-and-visas.html

19 JUNE, 2015

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.


travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/news/technological-systems-issue.html