12/1/2007 - Update on Petition Information Management Service Reports and Delays in Nonimmigrant Visa Processing at Consulates
According to answers released by the U.S. Department of State to questions posed by the American Immigration Lawyers' Association (AILA), the Department of State is claiming that all issues with the new Petition Information Management System (PIMS) have so far been resolved within 48 hours.
Interestingly, the data in the reports generated by the electronic PIMS system, which is maintained by the Kentucky Consular Center, is not being transferred electronically from USCIS' computer systems. Rather, the system is based on mailed and faxed reports which are then data-entered or scanned in. Discrepancies are resolved through phone contact between Kentucky Consular Center personnel and USCIS personnel. Data errors seem almost guaranteed under such a system.
In response to the point raised by AILA that visa stamps are almost never issued on the same day under the new PIMS system as they often were at some posts under the old system, the Department of State simply responded that same-day issuance has never been promised, and that foreign nationals should be prepared to wait longer than a day for their passports back with their visa stamps.
The Department of State indicates that all L-1 Blanket Petitions have already been entered in PIMS, and so approval of L-1s under existing blankets should not be a problem.
We can expect many problems with data integrity with these PIMS reports as long as data transfer is handled in this way. Further, we can expect slower service as the consulates struggle to verify petition information through this unwieldy system and visa issuance time slows down. Initial concerns about Blanket L-1 issuance, at least, seem to have been addressed.
Any foreign national who needs to apply abroad for an H, L, O, P and Q Nonimmigrant Visa Stamps at a U.S. embassy or consular post, and any U.S. employer relying on the prompt return of such a foreign national for the operation of their business.