How Would a Government Shutdown Affect Immigration Cases?--Merged With many many others

[c12h22oh 11]

How Would a Government Shutdown Affect Immigration Cases?

There is no simple answer to this question, as some federal government agencies would continue to operate, some would close partially and some would close almost completely. Since the last time this kind of shutdown happened was 15 years ago, there are no clear rules and guidance as to what would remain open and what would close. With respect to immigration, it appears that there would be some disruptions to pending cases and upcoming filings. Generally, the government is likely to stop all non-essential, all non-self-funded and all non-contractually funded services.

USCIS Cases

Since USCIS is funded primarily through application fees, it is expected that most of its services and centers would operate normally, perhaps with slightly diminished staff. Because USCIS is a government agency which relies on other government agencies to perform its services, there may be certain disruptions; however, overall, case processing at USCIS is expected to resume. Border processing of immigrants and border enforcement activities would continue as they are deemed “essential.”

Department of State – No (or Slow) Visa Applications; Visa Bulletin Uncertain; NVC Processing Could Continue

The Department of State (DOS) is expected to to cease non-emergency visa services and non-US citizen services at U.S. Consular Posts abroad. As a result, no new visas are expected to be issued and visa application interviews are likely to be cancelled (or postponed). U.S. passport applications will not be accepted and processing of submitted applications is likely to be put on hold.

As a comparison, according to data from the Congressional Research Service Report, during the last shutdown in 1995, approximately 20,000 – 30,000 visas went unprocessed each day and 200,000 applications for U.S. passports went unprocessed.

Conclusion

While the full extent of the federal government shutdown (if it were to happen over the next WEEKS) is unknown; we can anticipate some disruptions to government services affecting immigrants. Perhaps more severe would be the disruptions to visa applications at U.S. Consular Posts abroad, followed by delays or inability to file H-1B and/or PERM labor certifications. While some of these affected cases would be able to withstand delay, there would be a number of urgent visa or petition cases which would need to be filed or processed. The shutdown would also create a significant increase in the processing time backlogs for almost all immigration cases.

" I told you before politics and love are not mixing "

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to General Immigration-Related Discussion Forum~

~commentary is applicable to many visa types~

[immihelp99 21]

This will make my go bald because I am about to pull all my hairs out!!!!!

[BastillaShan 30]

We're doing our K1 Interview in Moscow on the Second.

At this point all we can do is pray that they will be open for interviews.

[clairegie 265]

[Igorok i Marynka 0]

"....as some federal government agencies would continue to operate, some would close partially and some would close almost completely. Since the last time this kind of shutdown happened was 15 years ago, there are no clear rules and guidance as to what would remain open and what would close. With respect to immigration, it appears that there would be some disruptions to pending cases and upcoming filings. Generally, the government is likely to stop all non-essential, all non-self-funded and all non-contractually funded services."

http://www.laborimmigration.com/2013/09/government-shutdown-and-immigration-how-will-it-affect-me-september-2013-edition/

This quote really scared me. Will the government 'shut down' on Oct.1?

If so, how will it affect our pending cases??

My Igoroshka and mine's i-129F pending case is in Texas.....still waiting on our NOA2!!!!!!

What will happen, any insight????

[Girl from Celebes 588]

"....as some federal government agencies would continue to operate, some would close partially and some would close almost completely. Since the last time this kind of shutdown happened was 15 years ago, there are no clear rules and guidance as to what would remain open and what would close. With respect to immigration, it appears that there would be some disruptions to pending cases and upcoming filings. Generally, the government is likely to stop all non-essential, all non-self-funded and all non-contractually funded services."

http://www.laborimmigration.com/2013/09/government-shutdown-and-immigration-how-will-it-affect-me-september-2013-edition/

This quote really scared me. Will the government 'shut down' on Oct.1?

If so, how will it affect our pending cases??

My Igoroshka and mine's i-129F pending case is in Texas.....still waiting on our NOA2!!!!!!

What will happen, any insight????

I hope not. My fiance I-129F for my K-1 visa is in Texas as well. Just be a positive,

[RGinWA 816]

Fantastic! The US government shuts down the one service that is paid for by the people that use the service.

Welcome to America!

What a bunch of BS.

[Just_Me00 15]

There is no way to tell if the government will shutdown or not at this point. Government agencies have begun preparations just in case it does happen. If the government does shutdown, immigration cases will be affected.

[TOTOEMY 2]

ok just got this from cnn.com hope this makes us breath a little easier..i know how you all feel..we are on the last part of the nvc process..three weeks will be a year we have been doing this crazy processing..

Washington (CNN) -- [breaking news at 1:25 p.m.]

The Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to move ahead on a spending plan needed to avoid a government shutdown next week, with Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz, unexpectedly reversing themselves after previously trying to block the measure over their objection to spending for Obamacare.

[Alex & Stela 6]

Yeah, the Republicans are scared shitless that the shutdown will be blamed entirely on them (which it would be) and they're already in such dire straits following the last election that they realize that they need a pretty safe last 4 Obama years to even have a fighting chance of winning back the presidency in the next election. I don't think we have much to worry about, it all amounts to a lot of stick-waiving at each other by members of Congress, a game of chicken, if you will. Obamacare won't be defunded, and I don't foresee our cases being stalled at any rate, really. Not when they've just gone out of their way to start catching up.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

In before the move to Current Affairs and Hot Topics.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

"....as some federal government agencies would continue to operate, some would close partially and some would close almost completely. Since the last time this kind of shutdown happened was 15 years ago, there are no clear rules and guidance as to what would remain open and what would close. With respect to immigration, it appears that there would be some disruptions to pending cases and upcoming filings. Generally, the government is likely to stop all non-essential, all non-self-funded and all non-contractually funded services."

http://www.laborimmigration.com/2013/09/government-shutdown-and-immigration-how-will-it-affect-me-september-2013-edition/

This quote really scared me. Will the government 'shut down' on Oct.1?

If so, how will it affect our pending cases??

My Igoroshka and mine's i-129F pending case is in Texas.....still waiting on our NOA2!!!!!!

What will happen, any insight????

USCIS is self funded. DOS (NVC and Consulates) are not. But they will shut down the services which generate the most "noise" from voters to get theur way. The last time this was threatened, our friedns at the USCIS VSC told us they were told not to report for work if the government "shut down" even though they are (supposedly) self funded.

The answer is...no one knows.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to General Immigration-Related Discussion- topic covers more than just the K-1 ~

[Hollyday 122]

I'm sorry but do you mind searching the forum first before posting a new dramatic development story? This has been discussed all over the place here already with the same link.