USCIS Office re-openings?

[ourwildjourney 103]

So many of us are in the same boat -- needing in person office appointments.  

I know all of our crystal balls are very cloudy right now, but do those of you who watch and know this closely have an opinion on when USCIS offices will open?  (I am especially wondering about ASC and biometrics).

Specifically -- It feels like Monday the 30th could be a day that the Federal Gov't wants to reopen businesses (just basing this on Trump's comments today of the cure not being worse than the problem itself).  And Monday the 30th most certainly will be a day that the Democratic governors of hard hit states like CA, NY, WA want to keep things closed.

If there is a clash between Federal and State, who would control when field offices open?  The States or the Fed?

 

[Just Paul 4,591]

10 minutes ago, ourwildjourney said:

If there is a clash between Federal and State, who would control when field offices open?

The feds.

 

The offices are open - just not to the public.  Caseloads that can be done at home are being taken home.

 

I wouldn't hold hope for March 31.  The US confirmed cases is still going and 5+ states or 20% of the population is still under shelter in place.

 

The surgeon general said this morning "It's going to get bad"

Edited March 23, 2020 by Paul & Mary

[ourwildjourney 103]

3 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

The feds.

 

The offices are open - just not to the public.  Caseloads that can be done at home are being taken home.

 

I wouldn't hold hope for March 31.  The US confirmed cases is still going and 5+ states or 20% of the population is still under shelter in place.

 

The surgeon general said this morning "It's going to get bad"

I agree with all of that.  Completely.  It just feels like Trump is setting the table to disagree with Fauci and the individual states next week.  Let's see what happens.  It's so weird that the banks are open but not biometrics.  

Thanks for the crystal ball!  

[SalishSea 16,770]

19 minutes ago, ourwildjourney said:

I agree with all of that.  Completely.  It just feels like Trump is setting the table to disagree with Fauci and the individual states next week.  Let's see what happens.  It's so weird that the banks are open but not biometrics.  

Thanks for the crystal ball!  

Trump is minimizing the impact of the virus, for obvious reasons.  

[SalishSea 16,770]

21 minutes ago, ourwildjourney said:

It's so weird that the banks are open but not biometrics.  

Banks are not federal offices.

[Lil bear 3,831]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

Banks are not federal offices.

🤪 not in the US anyway !! 

[Just Paul 4,591]

I know you asked about USCIS - but the State Department's NVC has started furloughing based on one story. . .

 

https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200320/furloughs-hit-national-visa-center-workers-at-pease

[WandY 430]

19 minutes ago, ourwildjourney said:

It's so weird that the banks are open but not biometrics.  

Weird if you think our immigration issues are more important than banking. They are not. There are state and federal laws regulating bank hours, consecutive days of closing, etc. They actually do vary from state-to-state, such as when a governor can declare an official state of mourning, natural disaster, etc. Some banks are going to online and drive-thru only. They have to be available for cash deposits/transfers, etc. We'll get back to normal soon enough - hopefully. The feds will contact you.

[WandY 430]

10 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Trump is minimizing the impact of the virus, for obvious reasons.  

The media is hyping the impact of the virus, for obvious reasons. Nothing else they've tried (against Trump) has worked. Our president is doing an excellent job handling the situation. Sounds like you caught a case of TDS.

[SalishSea 16,770]

1 minute ago, WandY said:

The media is hyping the impact of the virus, for obvious reasons. Nothing else they've tried (against Trump) has worked. Our president is doing an excellent job handling the situation. Sounds like you caught a case of TDS.

As an RN on the front lines, and also at ground zero, I disagree.  Not interested in debating Trump's job performance with you.  Thanks.

[ourwildjourney 103]

5 minutes ago, WandY said:

Weird if you think our immigration issues are more important than banking. They are not. There are state and federal laws regulating bank hours, consecutive days of closing, etc. They actually do vary from state-to-state, such as when a governor can declare an official state of mourning, natural disaster, etc. Some banks are going to online and drive-thru only. They have to be available for cash deposits/transfers, etc. We'll get back to normal soon enough - hopefully. The feds will contact you.

 

16 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Trump is minimizing the impact of the virus, for obvious reasons.  

Yup.  Which is why I wonder what happens next Monday when his 15 Days is up.  Does he then say it is bad and everything stays closed?  Or minimize it and force the Democratic governors to take the fall for things staying closed.  I gues we just stay tuned ...

[ourwildjourney 103]

Just now, ourwildjourney said:

 

Yup.  Which is why I wonder what happens next Monday when his 15 Days is up.  Does he then say it is bad and everything stays closed?  Or minimize it and force the Democratic governors to take the fall for things staying closed.  I gues we just stay tuned ...

 

9 minutes ago, WandY said:

Weird if you think our immigration issues are more important than banking. They are not. There are state and federal laws regulating bank hours, consecutive days of closing, etc. They actually do vary from state-to-state, such as when a governor can declare an official state of mourning, natural disaster, etc. Some banks are going to online and drive-thru only. They have to be available for cash deposits/transfers, etc. We'll get back to normal soon enough - hopefully. The feds will contact you.

Sorry I was unclear.  I am not putting value on what is open or not.  Rather wondering what happens next Monday when the Federal government's 15 Days are up.  If Trump says to open things back up and Democratic governors in those states say no, who wins?  

[ourwildjourney 103]

12 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

I know you asked about USCIS - but the State Department's NVC has started furloughing based on one story. . .

 

https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200320/furloughs-hit-national-visa-center-workers-at-pease

Wow.  So thoughts are that possibly ASC not only stay closed, but workers lose their jobs in the process?  This is all so sad on so many levels.  

[SalishSea 16,770]

18 minutes ago, ourwildjourney said:

If Trump says to open things back up and Democratic governors in those states say no, who wins?  

Governors.

[arken 4,197]

28 minutes ago, WandY said:

The media is hyping the impact of the virus, for obvious reasons. Nothing else they've tried (against Trump) has worked. Our president is doing an excellent job handling the situation. Sounds like you caught a case of TDS.

Alerting the public and the government to be ready so we don’t become Italy in a few weeks is not a TDS in my opinion. 
 

In just a few weeks the cases have gone up from few hundreds to over 40K and people are still thinking media is hyping the impact.