ourwildjourney

5 minutes ago, Zsazsa said:

I appreciate this post soooooo much. I really do feel like people are freaking out without all the info. I’m sorry to hear that you bios got cancelled - hopefully it will resume quickly for you. 

Nevermind. I just saw the executive order. It’s directed at green cards. And family based as well. Another two months plus added onto an already brutal process. Hang in there, everyone. It was already an insanely trying process. We can handle this thrown at us as well. Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by this needless power move when there already is so much hurt and suffering from all of this right now. 

16 minutes ago, Q&Y said:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-21/trump-says-he-ll-suspend-immigration-to-u-s-over-virus-concerns

 

"Refugees and asylum seekers would not be affected by the order, nor would spouses and children of U.S. citizens or permanent residents."

from this bloomberg news, it says family-based immigrants would not be affected.

I hope we can all get our combo card and green card soon.

I saw many people here who has done their biometrics before mar 18 are already ready for interview.

but my biometrics was scheduled in Mar 18, and was cancelled...

how unlucky I am ><

If they schedule me one day earlier, or if I have done walk-in ....

 

although it seems difficult to find a job now,

but I really want to work TT

 

 

 

Same boat for us. We missed biometrics by one day as well. So brutal. Let’s see what this executive order looks like. A lot of people are about to feel a lot of pain from this. Thoughts and prayers are with everyone suffering even more during this already crushing time. If family-based AOS is exempt from this, we should be very grateful and hope for the best. We might actually move faster through the system, but let’s see what happens. Could not be more with you!  

4 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Federal offices are under control of the Federal Government.   They will open to the public when instructed by the USCIS.

Got it.  Thanks!  First and foremost, I want everyone working at the offices safe and sound.  Also, obviously excited to get these biometrics done asap and get the process underway.  Thanks and stay safe!

Hey, all.  A few weeks ago, I posted asking whether the Federal government or the State governments would control when Customs offices open (specifically ASC). I am not trying to dive into whether or not the president has total authority to open States.  Rather, I still am wondering specifically about the Federal offices--specifically ASC.  If the Federal government wants to open a Federal office (Customs, ASC, etc) and a particular State does not want to open them, who controls it?  Do all the Customs offices open at once?  Or do some open before others, depending on what States they are in and who the governors are of those states?  Thanks!

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

Removal of Conditions

Got it.  THANKS!

3 hours ago, ineedadisplayname said:

You are making it political for sure. You could have asked does anybody know when ASC will reopen and it's controlled by the federa gov or by the state.

 

Anyway it is hard to tell when they are going to reopen. I can't imagine how hard it can be to immigrate at this time. Probably it will take forever to do ROC and stuff too beside the initial applications.

 

It is too early for me to find where I read it, but I think the whole emergency situation was extended until the end of April for now.

Thanks!  Yes, It's the end of April now.  What does ROC stand for?  

4 minutes ago, Sami58 said:

Let’s not run away with ourselves. The president is looking to extend that by 30 days. So chances are offices won’t be reopening until May

Yup!  Just posted that. I should have just chilled out for a few hours😂. 

Looks like we just got an answer. 

Trump just extended Federal social distancing guidelines to April 30.  

I would assume that means USCIS offices will extend closures until at least then as well.  

Stay safe!

27 minutes ago, fs2439 said:

i honestly think we just have to wait and see what happens... read a novel, do something else... it's out of our hands right now and it's unclear whether anyone knows what will happen

BEST ADVICE.  Very true.  

Maybe dusting off "Cat's Cradle."  (Covid-19 as Ice-9).  

or for a real trip, 1997's "4th Turning."   Could not be more precient  and timely.  

Thank you and stay safe, everyone!  

16 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

Biometrics appointments are scheduled at your local office.
 

Yes but I think it just auto-populates based on your physical address.  If people move to another state during the process, most people I have seen go to ASC in their new home state instead of heading back to their original state for the appointment.  What I am learning here is nobody really knows.  Mostly, I'm trying to decide (for a ton of reasons) do I just stay safe in Utah with family for another month or head back to California.  This is more an academic question than anything.  Thanks for your responses?

17 minutes ago, fs2439 said:

Seattle was closed for a while, when the others were open, so it doesn't seem to need to be all or nothing

Good point . Thanks!

19 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

There maybe an announcement next week on wednesday.  But I would expect the announcement to be keeping the public offices closed longer.

Totally agree with that . 

2 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

The USCIS webpage says all offices closed until the 7th and check back in after that.
 

Note:  We’re already putting travelers from those areas in mandatory quarantine.  

 

Exactly. That’s really my question. Do they either all open on the 7th or none open on the 7th. Or will it vary state to state?  If the Fed says “open up the ASC offices” could individual states say “Nope” or do they have to?  Maybe we stay safe in Utah for several more weeks and see if Utah opens before heading back to CA which has more cases anyway. 

15 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

 If you have a letter scheduling an appointment for a time at a specific office in Az that might qualify as an essential trip.  Crossing a state line from an impacted area might earn a quarantine.  Nothing personal but we are going to cheerfully re-elect the Texas officials who lock down travelers from New York, New Jersey, Ct, and New Orleans and we asked for Washington and California as well.  The first 4 are going straight to a 14-day quarantine before they move around our communities.

 

 

That’s the spirit of what I was saying. I would look for States to decide what is open or not. Even if the Feds say to open it all up. If you look at the original post, I’m not asking about driving to other offices. Rather asking if it’s an “all or nothing”. Either all are open or none are open. My guess is that it will not look like that and States will all look a bit different. It’s more me being curios about Feds vs States. (I live in CA but am with family in Utah so It’s not about specifics). 
 

(The idea of whether a State can quarantine another State is beyond the scope of my question but will be very interesting to see play out, nonetheless.)

10 minutes ago, payxibka said:

It took 108 days for my wife's biometrics,  didn't slow us down one bit

Wow. That is awesome.  I have only heard that biometrics is the very first step and nothing is even started until that step. That would be amazing!!

Thanks!

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Biometrics only need be done by the time the application hits an adjudicators desk.  You have a couple months to see how this plays out before things get more critical 

Oooh that is great news. I thought biometrics were the first piece needed for them to even start working on the case at all.

33 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

The states do not have any authority to decide what federal offices are or are not essential.

 

With that said I highly doubt that fingerprinting and interviewing will commence before the rest of the community can play outside again.  

 

Exactly. That’s what I was wondering. If the Feds say to open and CA can’t play outside but Arizona can (for example), would AZ offices actually be accessible earlier?  
 

3 hours ago, Nitas_man said:

Those are Federal offices and the Federal government makes the decision as to whether they be opened or closed.

Thanks!  And then, considering the nuance to this from @luckycat, the States could additionally decide they are "not essential" -- even if the Federal government opens them? 

5 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

1.  USCIS (Federal) controls when USCIS offices are open or closed to the public.  

2.  Local governments control "stay at home" orders for citizens.  Only essential business can take place in the lockdown orders I am familiar with.

 

BTW:  President Trump said he HOPES businesses can reopen by Easter.....

Thanks!  So the Federal gov’t could say they all must open, but a particular State could say “not in this State at this time because fingerprints are not “essential”?

I hope everyone is safe and distancing with loved ones  . 

I posted a question last week specifically about ASC openings for biometrics.  Please stay on topic and not overly political if you respond.  The discussion got heated and way off topic, so the question never was answered. 

My question is who can decide when to open specific ASC offices?  The Federal government or the State level?  (I foresaw there being a Federal (Republican) vs. State (Democrat) showdown in states like CA, WA, NYC, etc. and now am wondering even more how it will play out.

Without getting political, my original question remains:  Is it possible for one State to open it's ASC offices for biometrics before other States?  Or is that something that is mandated at the Federal level?

For example, if the Federal government says "open ASC" and Nebraska wants to but Illinois doesn't, can the States decide?  

Or CA vs AZ . Or FL vs GA, etc.  The specifics don't matter.  

Hypothetically, if Trump still wants to hit an aspirational Easter date to open businesses and says to open ASCs, would Gavin Newsome or Jay Inslee have to listen?  Or could each state actually be different on what offices open and when? 

Is anyone locally hearing their ASC offices MIGHT open?  

Stay safe and thank you!

29 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

~~Moved to the Covid-19 forum, from AOS from W,S & T Visas~~

Good point!

52 minutes ago, cd37 said:

Ofcourse keeping banks open is more important than immigration so people can take out cash if they need to.

I agree.  I did not word that well at all.  I am not saying any immigration offices SHOULD be open.  I am just wondering what will happen next Monday if the Trump administration wants things open and the Democratic-run states do not?  In that case, who controls what Federal offices do?  Fed vs. State?  It's kind of an academic question, really.  And it's so interesting that it is flipped on its head.  Historically, Republicans would be more pro-States' rights and Democrats would be more Federal.  Next Monday could be the start of the opposite dynamic.  

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.  

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?  

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 ...