oath ceremony Will Fed Gov shutdown stop our oath ceremony (next week)

[Mactan4 0]

My wife has her oath ceremony next week, on Jan 24th. The Federal Government may shut down tomorrow, due to non-approval of the Fed Budget. If this happens, is the ceremony off? Will it be delayed? The other problem is we wanted to get her US Passport ASAP as we fly out to the Philippines on Feb 12. I appreciate any thoughts!

[Hypnos 6,576]

That's a good question... USCIS is largely (but not completely) self-funded (i.e. the fees we pay go directly to providing the services with little subsidising from the federal government). I suspect they would be cancelled but I don't know for sure.

 

(Edit) http://newamericanscampaign.org/happens-uscis-government-shutdown/ seems to indicate things don't change much for USCIS.

Edited January 18, 2018 by Hypnos

[Coco8 1,039]

I would go anyway. 

[Mactan4 0]

That link gave us hope! We will go as scheduled and hopefully we will do the ceremony. The other thing would be getting the passport... hopefully no delays on that.

[Hypnos 6,576]

If an oath ceremony is going to be cancelled, that information will always be posted online and USCIS will contact you, usually by phone, to tell you.

Edited January 18, 2018 by Hypnos

[thekfc 26]

USCIS will not shut down.

Fee based agency (USCIS) as well as agencies that don't require annual appropriations (SS, Medicare & the likes) will continue to operate. The court system (for judicial ceremonies) will continue to operate as they will spend the money collected thru fees & fines to operate until the funds runs out.

 

There may be a slowdown to USCIS processing as some of the agencies that support them may have a slowdown (as these agencies may divert some of their resources elsewhere). Passport processing will continue but there may be a slowdown - if a passport processing center is located in a federal building that shutdown then that processing site may shutdown too. Also overseas offices that provide visas to foreigners may shut down like they did during the 2013 shutdown.

[deezwho 7]

But in some districts, the oath is administered by a federal court judge (DC comes to mind) not USCIS. If there's a shutdown, then the federal courts will be closed.... not sure what would happen then...

[JT4/25 38]

18 hours ago, Mactan4 said:

My wife has her oath ceremony next week, on Jan 24th. The Federal Government may shut down tomorrow, due to non-approval of the Fed Budget. If this happens, is the ceremony off? Will it be delayed? The other problem is we wanted to get her US Passport ASAP as we fly out to the Philippines on Feb 12. I appreciate any thoughts!

we are in the same boat!  My husbands Citizenship test and oath is Monday the 22nd!

[Happytobe 164]

Hubby’s Ceremony is next Friday and is a Judicial Ceremony. We plan to go unless they contact us. From what I can find, there was a lot of communication put out in 2013, prior to the shutdown and judicial ceremonies that were scheduled were still conducted. However, there seems to be a lack of communication this time around since many of the current administration officials are “new” and many positions are not filled.... to be continued, I guess. 

[babybluee 0]

what area are you on? I will go anyway if the officer does not make a call .

[Mactan4 0]

We are in San Diego, so it will be at the USCIS there. The thing I am worried about is the passport. If we can't get a passport ASAP,  then we will have to go to a future ceremony as we already have the airline and hotel booked.

[babybluee 0]

25 minutes ago, Mactan4 said:

We are in San Diego, so it will be at the USCIS there. The thing I am worried about is the passport. If we can't get a passport ASAP,  then we will have to go to a future ceremony as we already have the airline and hotel booked.

My Oath ceremony is at San Diego too but I still not getting any letter :(((

when do you receive the letter? may I know where are you take the oath ceremony? 

 

by the way, I call in the uscis this morning, the officer says that right now she has no idea will the office shut down or not but the website will update let see whats happen

Edited January 19, 2018 by babybluee

[americanintrainin 20]

The incompetence of this government is astounding to me. USCIS offices will most likely not close but I do know that SOME employees at USCIS will be furloughed. A friend of mine was working at USCIS as a Jr employee and was told to just not come in after the government shutdown lasted over a week. 

 

Furthermore, getting US passports may be difficult as passport agencies might be closed.

 

EDIT: Fee based operations will continue as usual https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/lapse-federal-funding-certain-uscis-operations

Edited January 21, 2018 by americanintrainin
Adding link to USCIS news