May 30, 2003

If You Submitted Your Passport To The Department Of State in March For Visa Revalidation Expect Additional Delays In The Processing Time

The Visa Revalidation Unit at the State Department has indicated that a software problem involving revalidation applications submitted in March has caused a delay in processing many of the cases submitted at that time. The problem has been corrected, and those cases where data was not complete have been returned to the processing center for data re-entry. Once the data re-entry is complete, they will be returned to their original places in the processing queue. Revalidation applications filed after the glitch occurred will continue to be processed as usual. This means that those who filed applications after March may receive their new visas before those who filed their applications in March.

If you have urgent travel plans and you think your application may be one of the ones affected by this glitch you still have the option of requesting the return of your application and passport. Information on how to request your application can be found at the Department of State website.

The general estimated processing time for revalidations (other than the March applications) is at 10 to 12 weeks.

Courtesy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association