US Government Shuts Down: Impact on Immigration Benefits & Visas

[Soccer.Player 47]

http://www.visajourney.com/news/2013/09/30/us-government-shuts-down-impact-on-immigration-benefits-visas/

**updated 10-01-2013 12:07AM EST**

As a fee-based agency, USCIS will continue to accept and process applications and petitions. However, there will be delays in processing, as some support staff may be furloughed and USCIS depends on non-essential agencies for services.

E-Verify will be shut down. According to the Department of Homeland Security, “citizens and U.S. businesses will not be able to access E-Verify, the Internet based system that allows employers to voluntarily determine the eligibility of prospective employees to work in the United States.”

The Department of State confirmed that consular operations domestically and overseas will remain 100% operational as long as there are sufficient fees to support operations. However, this is only expected to last for a few days, after which consular posts will focus solely on diplomatic services and emergency services for American citizens. There will be delays in processing visas, and if there is a prolonged shut down, we expect a cessation of visa processing. During previous shutdowns, business reasons have not qualified for emergency visa processing.

The Department of State has posted an official memo:

http://www.state.gov/m/rls/2013/214880.htm

How to contact congress to let them know how you feel:

How to find your Representative (US House)

How to find your Senator (US Senate)

More updates to be posted shortly.

[ source 1 ] [ source 2 ]

[carolynhotstuff 252]

Thank you I didn't understand how the shut down would affect the embassy. Now I understand that they will only process visas for a few more days.

[kamraan 4]

Thank you I didn't understand how the shut down would affect the embassy. Now I understand that they will only process visas for a few more days.

what it means?

they will not issue visas?

[carolynhotstuff 252]

They will only issue visas for a few more days and then they will stop.

[kamraan 4]

They will only issue visas for a few more days and then they will stop.

but why? for how long they will stop issuing visas?

[Atif & Sana 3]

This is So Ridiculous like the Immigration process was not slow enough now this #######. Now they got excuse to process slow and make people wait for longer. I don't get this HORRIBLE

[PuppyLove 24]

but why? for how long they will stop issuing visas?

Because they will keep issuing visas as long as they have money/funding ready to do their jobs. When the money is not available they need to stop working. Hopefully this problem will be fixed soon though. Don't worry too much yet.