December Immigrant Visa Filers (IR-1/CR-1)

[elya4848 3]

It wont shut down. Hide and watch! It might slow down some, that's all.

[Darnell 8,478]

uscis shutdown? what?

most adjudicators are contractors, not government employees.

SERCO handles the majority of the contract.

I don't smell any future slowdown for adjudicators.

[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://money.cnn.com/2011/02/21/news/economy/government_shutdown/index.htm

Government shutdown: What's at stake

By Charles Riley, staff reporter

February 21, 2011: 3:01 PM ET

[...] The last time the federal government went dark was for five days in November 1995 and another 21 days, ending in January 1996, during the Clinton administration.

As a result, the government closed 368 National Park Service sites, along with national museums and monuments, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

In addition, 200,000 passport applications went unprocessed, and toxic waste cleanup work at 609 sites stopped, according to the same report. [...]

[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. [...]

[RosyMad 2]

Just noticed that we got RECOGNIZED... just signed up for text and email alerts.. Hubby is coming for a two week visit this Saturday, so hope we get an approval SOON! YAYAYAYAY!

[RosyMad 2]

How do we find out if we've been "touched"

[KLS2010 30]

How do we find out if we've been "touched"

I think 'touch' refers to the 'last updated' date in your account on the USCIS website.

[KLS2010 30]

From what I've read on VJ I don't think it means much to be 'touched'. Some people have been 'touched' numerous times and are still waiting for approval, others have been approved without being 'touched' at all.

Our NOA1 is Dec 9th and the only 'touch' we've had was on Jan 10th.

Anyway - good luck with it all...and I hope you both enjoy your visit with each other!

[redsnap 13]

Hi,

I made a spreadsheet and would like us to stick together until the end, if you all like. Please tell me if there is someone/something missing. Please update me about your status. We can see who'll get NOAs and go to NVC together.

December filers

[Daria8885 1]

My case was touched Feb. 15th if you wanna add

[redsnap 13]

My case was touched Feb. 15th if you wanna add

Thanks for the info and keep me updated

Edited March 2, 2011 by redsnap

[KLS2010 30]

Hi,

I made a spreadsheet and would like us to stick together until the end, if you all like. Please tell me if there is someone/something missing. Please update me about your status. We can see who'll get NOAs and go to NVC together.

December filers

I'm missing

NOA1 9th Dec

[RosyMad 2]

Our case was touched on the 16th of Feb

From what I've read on VJ I don't think it means much to be 'touched'. Some people have been 'touched' numerous times and are still waiting for approval, others have been approved without being 'touched' at all.

Our NOA1 is Dec 9th and the only 'touch' we've had was on Jan 10th.

Anyway - good luck with it all...and I hope you both enjoy your visit with each other!

Thank You!

[lvriesling 11]

Hi,

I made a spreadsheet and would like us to stick together until the end, if you all like. Please tell me if there is someone/something missing. Please update me about your status. We can see who'll get NOAs and go to NVC together.

December filers

A spreadsheet is unnecessary, since the VJ site itself provides this capability already.

Simply click on "Immigration Timelines" and then "Find Similar Timelines".