Worldwide delay in issuing US passports, visas

 There has been a worldwide delay in issuing US passports and visas due to technical problems for some time. It is not specific to any particular country, the US embassy clarified on Friday, while apologising for the delay.

"The department of state's bureau of consular affairs is currently experiencing technical problems with our overseas passport and visa systems," the embassy said in a statement here.

Apologising for the inconvenience caused, the embassy said: "This issue is not specific to any particular country, citizenship document, or visa category."

"We apologise for the inconvenience and are working urgently to correct the problem and restore full operability. This issue is affecting our operations across the embassy and consulates in India," it added.

Passport applications accepted overseas on or after May 26, 2015 are affected by this delay, it said.

"If you applied for a U.S. passport overseas during this time frame and have travel plans within the next 10 business days, please consider requesting an emergency passport at the U.S. embassy or consulate at which you originally applied," it said.

The embassy said the information about seeking an emergency passport has been provided at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/service.html. - IANS