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

[anuspras 65]

Yes. You are right.

[lucybelle 453]

Look like we'll be okay

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/29/20745618-a-government-shutdown-what-could-it-look-like?lite

Oh thank goodness. So it'll only take the "normal" 10-12 months to process petitions instead of longer? And I thought we'd have to wait an extreme amount of time!

[Ownerjfa 4]

I say that if the government does shut down that all of us petitioners go to every politician who voted for the shutdown and take away all their guns.

If they are going to keep us away from the people we love, then we should take away their love.

....sorry, rant over. Just needed to vent.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Ownerjfa

[Steph and George 1]

Will this senate strike/ shutdown of the government stop the processing of our visas? My interview is on Wednesday the 9th and now im so scared i won't get a chance to go to it. Does anyone know whats going to happen?

[Vanitas 310]

Hail to the Mods for merging the threads.

That said.. I will be watching C-SPAN 2 for what's happening in the Senate today.

[Juliet and Steve 93]

Although most people ho-hum the possibility of a US government shutdown, since in the past--as the deadline approaches the house/senate "gets it together," and disaster is averted.

For the first time in 17 years it appears that there is a 90% chance of a US government shutdown.

Obama/Democrats had indicated that they will veto the modified continuing resolution (CR) if it contains any limitations/delays to the ACA (Affordable Care Act) so there is an impasse.

If it occurs it will likely last a few days only.

If it occurs at midnight (Monday midnight EST) all unessential government officials will be told to stay home. It's as simple as that.

Consular officials who perform interviews and who work in the background would appear to be non-essential US government workers and though naturally I am not sure--it seems likely that there is a very good chance that US embassies throughout the world may not be open.

This is possibly very sad news for those of us who have interviews arranged tomorrow and I'm not sure that there is any way other than contacting each embassy and asking them: "If the US government shuts down at midnight, will you be open tomorrow?"

Juliet tells me that in the Philppine forum the Manila embassy has required tomorrows visits to be rescheduled:

"Just a quick alert to anyone who had an Oct. 2 interview scheduled (like we did). We got an email from them saying they will not conduct interviews on that day (for whatever god-knows reason), and we have to call and reschedule,"

This is likely in anticipation of a shutdown.

Thus this warning--as it will likely affect all embassies worldwide.

When people do this please report back to this thread and let us know what the answer is for your embassy.

Note: Make sure you consider time zones. For instance midnight EST (Eastern Standard Time) October 1 will be noon in Manila, thus the Manila embassy will be open and will probably not close on Monday, but will be closed the next day: Tuesday. So be careful and consider if the embassy will be open or not when midnight, (00:01) EST occurs Oct 1.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Juliet and Steve

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Although most people ho-hum the possibility of a US government shutdown, since in the past--as the deadline approaches the house/senate "gets it together," and disaster is averted.

For the first time in 17 years it appears that there is a 90% chance of a US government shutdown.

Obama/Democrats had indicated that they will veto the modified continuing resolution (CR) if it contains any limitations/delays to the ACA (Affordable Care Act) so there is an impasse.

If it occurs it will likely last a few days only.

If it occurs at midnight (Monday midnight EST) all unessential government officials will be told to stay home. It's as simple as that.

Consular officials who perform interviews and who work in the background would appear to be non-essential US government workers and though naturally I am not sure--it seems likely that there is a very good chance that US embassies throughout the world may not be open.

This is possibly very sad news for those of us who have interviews arranged tomorrow and I'm not sure that there is any way other than contacting each embassy and asking them: "If the US government shuts down at midnight, will you be open tomorrow?"

Juliet tells me that in the Philppine forum the Manila embassy has required tomorrows visits to be rescheduled:

"Just a quick alert to anyone who had an Oct. 2 interview scheduled (like we did). We got an email from them saying they will not conduct interviews on that day (for whatever god-knows reason), and we have to call and reschedule,"

This is likely in anticipation of a shutdown.

Thus this warning--as it will likely affect all embassies worldwide.

When people do this please report back to this thread and let us know what the answer is for your embassy.

Note: Make sure you consider time zones. For instance midnight EST (Eastern Standard Time) October 1 will be noon in Manila, thus the Manila embassy will be open and will probably not close on Monday, but will be closed the next day: Tuesday. So be careful and consider if the embassy will be open or not when midnight, (00:01) EST occurs Oct 1.

I just made a call to one of Jakarta embassy staffs (local staff). He said all activities at embassy is normal in October 1st. If something is really important, they will announce it prior to the event. I tried to reach the higher up official but it is almost midnight in Jakarta by now. I also asked about visa stuff and he said everything will working normal in Tuesday.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Girl from Celebes

[Juliet and Steve 93]

I just made a call to one of Jakarta embassy staffs (local staff). He said all activities at embassy is normal in October 1st. If something is really important, they will announce it prior to the event. I tried to reach the higher up official but it is almost midnight in Jakarta by now. I also asked about visa stuff and he said everything will working normal in Tuesday.

Thank you! Though I will be surprised if this will actually be what happens.

When the US government shuts down, essentially there will be no money available for that day of work. We'll see how it plays out.

[Mrbip 1]

Actually most of Consulate Affairs will stay open during the shutdown. Embassys will NOT close during the shutdown. They will continue to provide services to American Citizens. The Department of Homeland security (according to plans drawn up in 2011) will be mostly unaffected (including USCIS.) Both CA and USCIS draw a good deal of their funding from the fees that we pay so they will be able to continue limited operations (at least for a time.) I wouldn't press the red alert panic button just yet.

Right now the situation is still highly fluid. It's hard to say with 100% certainty how the shutdown will effect federal services or folks in our boat specifically so pooling information in a thread like this is a good idea. Based off of your friends report it sounds like at least interview services will be disrupted during the shutdown.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2013-shutdown-federal-department-impact/?hpid=z2

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Thank you! Though I will be surprised if this will actually be what happens.

When the US government shuts down, essentially there will be no money available for that day of work. We'll see how it plays out.

.

I hope it does not happen. I feel sorry for whoever wait for their interview for so long if it does.

[Juliet and Steve 93]

Actually most of Consulate Affairs will stay open during the shutdown. Embassys will NOT close during the shutdown. They will continue to provide services to American Citizens. The Department of Homeland security (according to plans drawn up in 2011) will be mostly unaffected (including USCIS.) Both CA and USCIS draw a good deal of their funding from the fees that we pay so they will be able to continue limited operations (at least for a time.) I wouldn't press the red alert panic button just yet.

Right now the situation is still highly fluid. It's hard to say with 100% certainty how the shutdown will effect federal services or folks in our boat specifically so pooling information in a thread like this is a good idea. Based off of your friends report it sounds like at least interview services will be disrupted during the shutdown.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2013-shutdown-federal-department-impact/?hpid=z2

Good point--I agree. The embassies will not close down--but all "non-essential" personnel are likely to be dismissed for the duration. Immigration is not an essential activity. Keeping the embassy open in case of a terrorist attack and its effect on a US citizen is.

It makes no difference at all if fees are involved. The government does not look at income that way.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/456004-how-would-a-government-shutdown-affect-immigration-cases/?view=getnewpost

^Main Government Shutdown thread. Please use that for discussing anything to do with the shutdown.

I looked but did not see that thread. Admin: Please feel free to move my post to that thread.

I'm hesitant to post it as I'm not sure what VJ's policy is about double posting.

[h_m 12]

According to WaPo (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2013-shutdown-federal-department-impact/) Department of State will continue to operate for a limited amount of time - other sources say they have 2-year funds and also no-year funds that they can use. More importantly for us, passport operations and visa issuance overseas will continue because those are fee-funded.

[Vanitas 310]

I've asked the Mods to merge it in (like I've had to with all the threads on the shutdown today, everyone's panicking it seems).

[Juliet and Steve 93]

The good news IMHO: The shutdown will only last a few days.

The bad news: The US government has a 90% chance of a shut-down at midnight EST.

In the Philippine forum there is a post telling that people scheduled for Tuesday have been told to reschedule. What more do people need to hear to believe that Manila is anticipating a shutdown?

This idea that because we pay fees will somehow keep things open seems ludicrous to me. No government works that way, it's all about budgeting. Sure they try to recoup costs bit it's not as if the US Government is composed of thousands of different bank accounts, each with autonomy. It just does not work that way.

[del-11-03-13-3 11]

My fiancé's interview is October 8th and I'm freaking out as is many other people here. For days I've read that no new passport applications and all visa processing is halted by DOS. But today, today!, I've seen some different and good news. Of course I won't relax and be fully convinced until I hear from the consulate but it seems like passports and visas will go ahead. Here is hoping our upcoming interviews are spared impact from a government shutdown!

From http://news.msn.com/us/how-will-you-be-impacted-by-a-government-shutdown "The State Department would continue processing foreign applications for visas and U.S. applications for passports, since fees are collected to finance those services. Embassies and consulates overseas would continue to provide services to American citizens."

More importantly from DOS Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter:

@TravelGov: In the event of a #governmentshutdown, you'll still be able to get a #passport. For info, visit http://t.co/g8FzLiXik3 #travel

@Rachel_White_: @TravelGov What about already scheduled K1 fiancé visa interviews at the consulates next week?

@TravelGov: @Rachel_White_ We will also be issuing visas.