WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of State provided an update Thursday on the technical glitch affecting the worldwide database responsible for issuing passports and visas.
Both Oracle and the State Department are working in coordination to fix the Consular Consolidated Database, which crashed July 20 while regular maintenance was being performed.
On Thursday, State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf acknowledged the technical troubles have created "a significant backlog" in processing both passports and visas, "and we are not yet working at full functionality."
"We anticipate it will take weeks to restore full visa processing capacity."
Typically, the CCD issues 370,000 non-immigrant visas in an eight-day period. From the start of the technical issues on July 20 through July 28, the State Department issued more than 180,000 non-immigrant visas, marking a 50 percent reduced capability.
Harf said that while the system is still being fixed, the priorities are immigrant visas and adoption cases. "So far we have been able to issue most ... of those cases with few delays." She also pointed out that if in need of a passport for emergency travel, the system can handle that.
