UPDATE: DOS Announces System Failures, Causing Passport/Visa Delays Worldwide

From GreenbergTraurig, 06/17/2015

The DOS Bureau of Consular Affairs in its efforts to address the technical problems with the visa systems states that the issue is not specific to any particular country or visa category and they do no expect the system to be fully online and operational before next week. They further state that they intend to work as efficiently as possible to clear the backlog of pending cases affected by the technical issues.

The DOS has issued updates regarding the following:

• Passport Applicants: issues affecting passport operations have been resolved and overseas passports are being issued;
• Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants: the DOS is unable to print most nonimmigrant visas approved after June 8, 2015. Further, the DOS is currently unable to process DS-160 online applications submitted on or after June 9, 2015. They recommend that if you completed and submitted Form DS-160 on or after June 9, 2015, you continue to monitor the DOS website and only attend the appointment if the situation has been resolved. However, if you submitted your DS-160 online application prior to June 9, 2015, you should plan to attend their scheduled appointment.
• Immigrant Visa Applications: the DOS is still currently unable to print most immigrant visas, including fiancé(e) visas, approved after June 8, 2015. Additionally, they are aware that some applicants continue to experience technical difficulties accessing Form DS-260.  The issues are intermittent,  therefore DOS  suggests that you return to the Consular Electronic Application Center periodically to try to complete Form DS-260.

While the DOS Bureau of Consular Affairs is apologetic and recognizes the hardship the technical issues this has created, they stress that border security is their main concern and they cannot circumvent any legal requirements to screen applicants prior to issuing visas for travel.

Technological Systems Issue: Passport/Visa Systems Errors

From travel.state.gov, 06/16/2015

The Bureau of Consular Affairs continues to address technical problems with our visa systems.  Some visa applicants will experience delays in receiving visas.  Others will be contacted directly to reschedule their appointments.  Passports are still being processed.

This issue is not specific to any particular country or visa category; this is a global issue.  We do not believe these problems stem from any cyber-security hacking issues.

Our border security responsibilities are critical to the visa process.  We cannot bypass the legal requirements to screen visa applicants before we issue visas for travel. We are assisting visa applicants with urgent humanitarian travel, and adoption cases are being processed.  Individuals with humanitarian travel needs should contact their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

• What caused this outage?  Was it a malicious action or hack? There is no evidence the problem is cyber security related. 
• How long before you restore full system functionality? Overseas passports are being issued.  Public and private sectors experts are working around the clock to correct the problem, but we do not expect the system will be online before next week.
• How many travelers are affected by this outage? This is a global issue and is having impact on our consular operations.  We are in daily communication with consular operations worldwide to assess the evolving impact and provide guidance, including information for the traveling public.
• Once operational, how will cases be prioritized? Once the systems are fully operational, we will work as quickly as possible to clear the backlog of pending visa cases. We apologize to applicants and recognize that this may cause hardship to applicants waiting for visas.  

GLITCH CRASHES GLOBAL US PASSPORT, VISA OPERATIONS

From The Associated Press, 07/23/2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department's global database for issuing travel documents has crashed, resulting in major delays for potentially millions of people around the world waiting for U.S. passports and visas, officials said Wednesday.

Unspecified glitches in the department's Consular Consolidated Database have resulted in "significant performance issues, including outages" in the processing of applications for passports, visas and reports of Americans born abroad since Saturday, spokeswoman Marie Harf said. She said the problem is worldwide and not specific to any particular country, citizenship document, or visa category.

"We apologize to applicants and recognize this may cause hardship to applicants waiting on visas and passports. We are working to correct the issue as quickly as possible," she said.

Harf said the problems with the database have resulted in an "extensive backlog" of applications, which has, in turn, hampered efforts to get the system fully back on line.

It was not immediately clear how many people are affected, but two U.S. officials familiar with the situation said some 50,000 applicants were hit in one country alone. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly or identify the country.

The database is the State Department's system of record and is used to approve, record and print visas and other documents to ensure that national security checks are conducted on applicants.

U.S. Consulates Begin Accepting Visa Applications for Same-Sex Spouses

From Fragomen.com, 08/02/2013

U.S. embassies and consulates will immediately begin to adjudicate visa applications based on same-sex marriages, the State Department has announced. Visa applications based on same-sex marriages will be adjudicated in the same way that opposite-sex spousal applications are treated. 

The State Department makes clear that only same-sex marriages valid in the jurisdiction where they took place will be considered. Same-sex domestic partnerships and civil unions will not qualify. However, both same-sex and opposite-sex unmarried partners continue to be eligible for B-2 domestic partner visas to accompany or join a principal nonimmigrant visa holder. 

Step-children acquired through a same-sex marriage qualify for dependent benefits as long as the marriage took place before the child turned 18. 

The State Department announcement ends several weeks of speculation on the processing of same-sex nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications. Since the Supreme Court decision striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, consulates and embassies had refrained from processing same-sex applications pending further guidance from agency headquarters. 

Department of State Online Case Tracker

The Department of State has introduced the online "Visa Status Check," which allows both immigrant and nonimmigrant applicants to check the status of their cases at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). 

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx