<p>Jamming in the backup system of open tunnel boring machines (TBM) is a significant issue in soft ground under high in situ stress, which prolongs the construction period and increases costs. In this work, a semi-analytical solution for the spatial–temporal tunnel convergence is developed based on the Burger creep visco-plastic (CVISC) model, accounting for the TBM tunneling scheme as well as the spatial support effect of both tunnel face and lining. The feasibility is validated by comparing the creep behavior and lining response with the numerical results. Furthermore, a jamming criterion for the TBM backup system is proposed. The application to the Xianglushan Tunnel demonstrates that the advance rate plays a critical role in the jamming problem. Specifically, a slower advance rate increases the likelihood of jamming. The convergence patterns of the tunneling scheme combing alternating advance rates and regular standstill are similar to those with a constant advance rate. However, a long-term standstill may lead to severe jamming problems in the TBM backup system. Jamming occurs, the process of releasing the TBM and replacing the lining results in additional delays, which further aggravates the jamming problem and leads to increased economic losses. This semi-analytical solution proves to be an essential tool for assessing jamming risks in the early stages of design.</p>