Saudi consulates in US unable to print visas

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Due to a software update, all Saudi consulates in the U.S. are unable to print visas.

What does the change mean? While the consulates work to fix the problem, employers and visa applicants should plan for delays in issuance of visas due to the technical issues as well as the holiday weekend.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: All visas issued by Saudi consulates in the U.S.
• Who is affected: S. nationals and other applicants in the U.S. applying for visas at Saudi consulates.
• Impact on processing times: Visas that are pending will not be issued until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week at the earliest, due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday.
• Business impact: Businesses should plan for delays and may need to rearrange travel or business schedules.

Background: The software issue began Wednesday and has not been resolved as of Friday afternoon. The Saudi Consulate in Houston has confirmed that the outage is affecting visa printing nationwide.

BAL Analysis: Applicants should anticipate delays and a possible backlog when visa issuance resumes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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