Possible Government shutdown

[Romancita 3]

If this will happen again, then what ? Should I "Cancel" my life for the next whole year ?

"Cancel" is such a strong word! No, just put your life on hold for a year!

[ER Team :) 5]

Just in case someone was looking for some info... there was a transcript from a press conference on USCIS website http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/News/2011%20New%20Items/February%202011/transcript_StrategicGoalsInit_2011.pdf

They did not say that the government shutdown would neither that it wouldn't affect the USCIS. They did say that it's mostly fee-funded agency... for example any grants or refugee programs might be affected....

On the other hand...someone had the point..those background checks won't get done themselves...

Some info on the marriages that have been split due to the spouse being sent out of U.S...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hi Kathryn 41,

Extremerecluse here!! So, you are contemplating legal action against your beloved USCIS. What? Flip Flopping are we? I think you see the same thing I see, but are afraid to admit it in an OPEN FORUM such as this. What are we to do? A private entity (even though they call they are called a government service). Remember that they have a large poorly trained team of attorneys to take on your Harvard trained law firm. I agree the employees of the USCIS should not be involved. They are honest, hard working people working for a DYSFUNCTIONAL system. If you ask them in a confidential survey, I think they would agree. I am sure you have heard this before: just because things have been done for so long does not make those things right. You are right, they are a private entity and should not be allowed to shut down. Sort of put your foot in your mouth, didn't you? Sorry, I just calls em likes I sees em!!! I would love to run a company that collects it's fees upfront knowing I am not required to provide any services for 6 months or longer!!! Sounds like a PONZI SCHEME, don't you think?

I have to ask - have you even actually read what I've written both here and in response to your other posts? It is almost fascinating how you completely re-invent comments that were never said, and then twist them so they fit into a tunnel vision view of the world. It is so black and white for you! If someone doesn't agree 100% with what you say, then you just attack them with little regard for the facts and circumstances of the discussion.

Are your proposals so lacking in substance that they cannot be defended in any other way than attacking those who raised questions and pointed out problems with your plan? Since you don't answer the questions or difficulties raised about what you propose but just make innuendos and insinuations, it seems like they cannot be defended because you don't defend them - you just attack those who present information that you did not consider in your proposals. Equating my position - that a one size fits all, move everything to a computer and send all of immigration paperwork (whatever it is) to the Consulates and send all of the USCIS staff to the Consulates is not a viable solution to the problems that plague USCIS, and my second comment that since USCIS immigration is fee-based and not tax-dollar based so should not be affected by a Government shut down - how in heavens name do you get that I am flip-flopping and planning to take legal action against USCIS? If you call 'em the way you see 'em you may want to take a second look or else get better glasses, because you really are not seeing them; you are calling them, but what you are calling seems to be a self-creation that exists no where else other than in your own poorly understood conception of what is actually involved in immigration.

Quite honestly, I don't have time for these games. If you were at all interested in discussing a topic you would at least read what was written instead of creating a conversation that never existed, while ignoring the one that did.

Edited February 25, 2011 by Kathryn41

[Luckywife2007 6]

I found this article today and is a little more reassuring ( I hope)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110224/ap_on_re_us/us_what_shutdown

[N M 96]

yes but what about the agencies that do the background checks wonder if the FBI shuts down because of this, just a thought.

All agencies essential to the security of the U.S. are immune to the shut down - so, FBI, Military, Secret Service, CIA, ICE etc will all carry on working. The difficulty will be - who actually processes those background checks? FBI Agents holding a badge? Or admin/ clerical staff? If it's admin/ clerical staff, they may well be sent home during the shut down.

Edited February 25, 2011 by N M

[DaveE 178]

My concern is that USCIS employees are Federal Civil servants. Their salary all comes form the same pot. The problem is not that the government is out of money, the problem is that the authority of the government to spend money is gone. Without a continuing resolution, or budget approval, I don't see how USCIS can stay in business. Although they have money they can't spend it.

FBI - name and background checks are probably not considered essential government services

Biometrics - most of these facilities are "contractor" operated.

Printing services for the NOA's etc.

Mailing fees.

I hope I am wrong, but heck we have waited so long I consider it the norm. Action is the exception.

Dave

[patient2010 93]

[kikip 12]

Is it for sure that that a shutdown cannot affect us Visa Filers?:blink::blink:

One more thing to fret about in this process !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not for sure at all. everything i've read says that the last time a shutdown happened, visas and passports were one of the things shut down :-(

[TBoneTX 43,057]

Quite honestly, I don't have time for these games. If you were at all interested in discussing a topic you would at least read what was written instead of creating a conversation that never existed, while ignoring the one that did.

+1, si man!

[kaospouse 5]

The problem is not that the government is out of money...

Actually, that is the problem. Has been for a few decades now.

[kaospouse 5]

BTW, it looks like a shutdown will be averted so I hope everyone breaths a little easier. A two week spending bill has been passed that will take us past the 4 March deadline, and this bill will likely lead to a long-term path to keeping the government running.

[lvriesling 11]

http://www.fragomen.com/united-states-02-24-20111/

Fragomen - Global Corporate Immigration Law [Firm]

US Client Alert

United States

Federal Spending Impasse Could Lead to Delays in Immigration Processing

February 24, 2011

As Congress continues to debate a bill to fund the government this year and the prospect of a federal shutdown looms, employers and foreign nationals should be prepared for the possibility of immigration processing delays. If House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) do not reach agreement on this years budget by March 4, when the continuing resolution that is currently funding the government will expire, many federal agencies could suspend operations during the impasse, including some immigration-related functions.

In the event of a shutdown, visa processing at U.S. consulates is most likely to be suspended, though posts may provide limited services for U.S. citizens, urgent humanitarian issues and cases in which a foreign national nearing the age of 21 is at risk of aging out of an immigration benefit.

At a stakeholder meeting on Thursday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed that because it is funded largely by application and petition fees, its operations would continue during any shutdown, though employers and foreign nationals should still be prepared for the possibility of some adjudication delays.

On the compliance front, there are some indications that Form I-9 audits could be suspended during a shutdown, and E-Verify operations could also be affected. It is not yet known whether the Department of Labor would continue to process immigration-related applications, though it did so during the last federal shutdown in 1995.

As March 4 approaches, Fragomen is closely monitoring immigration operations and will provide updates as developments occur.

Edited February 26, 2011 by lvriesling

[lvriesling 11]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703905404576164803957166880.html

Shutdown Preparations Begin

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

By NAFTALI BENDAVID And DAMIAN PALETTA

Agencies throughout the government are scrambling to figure out how to handle a government shutdown, with a potential closure as soon as March 5 prompting a review of which activities are essential and which aren't. [...] Guiding the agencies is a 1981 Justice Department interpretation of a law called the Antideficiency Act, which said the only government activities allowed in the absence of a funding plan are those connected to "the safety of human life or the protection of property." In 1990, Congress passed a law specifying that ordinary government functions cannot continue unless their suspension would directly threaten safety or property. [...] VISAS and PASSPORTS Applications for U.S. passports and for visas to enter the U.S. went unprocessed in the 1995 shutdown, to the frustration of travelers, airlines and travel agents. [...]

[kaospouse 5]

Both those articles were published before yesterday's temporary spending bill. As I mentioned above, it looks increasingly unlikely that there will be a shut down.

[Tahoma 2,291]

@ Kathryn41.......Bravo!!!.......+1.......