A US immigration agency could run out of money by the end of summer without a $1.2 billion bailout (Merged)

[Babu Frik 1,162]

https://www.vox.com/2020/5/16/21260966/uscis-bailout-coronavirus-immigration-agency

 

[cd37 229]

49 minutes ago, Babu Frik said:

https://www.vox.com/2020/5/16/21260966/uscis-bailout-coronavirus-immigration-agency

 

That would be very strange because thousands of applications are being filed to uscis, its just that they are not doing in person interviews. Major effect would be to overseas embassies who can not issue any visa right now. Btw uscis is still processing applications and cashing out fees with those applications, so i wonder if this article is reality or more political.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,417]

What is interesting is that, according to the article from vox, the USCIS is claiming the coronavirus will cause a $1.2 billion budget shortfall.

 

However, an article from Jan 2020 shows that USCIS stated a $1.26 billion budget shortfall in January, prior to coronavirus events.  

 

https://www.boundless.com/blog/uscis-fees-increase-comparison/

 

 

[PhillyNatz 39]

26 minutes ago, cd37 said:

That would be very strange because thousands of applications are being filed to uscis, its just that they are not doing in person interviews. Major effect would be to overseas embassies who can not issue any visa right now. Btw uscis is still processing applications and cashing out fees with those applications, so i wonder if this article is reality or more political.

I believe the state department gets the fees for the visas not the USCIS. 
 

The issue is drop in applications, example with asylum applications, with the same level of staffing . That’s my assumption. 
 

[cd37 229]

1 minute ago, PhillyNatz said:

I believe the state department gets the fees for the visas not the USCIS. 
 

The issue is drop in applications, example with asylum applications, with the same level of staffing . That’s my assumption. 
 

Well but any application that is submitted within US, fees goes to uscis. Visa fees for visas issued overseas goes to state department. Asylum applications are small numbers compare to numerous other categories.

[PhillyNatz 39]

5 minutes ago, cd37 said:

Well but any application that is submitted within US, fees goes to uscis. Visa fees for visas issued overseas goes to state department. Asylum applications are small numbers compare to numerous other categories.

Yes that’s true. So what would explain the budget shortfall then

[HRQX 4,145]

43 minutes ago, cd37 said:

Asylum applications are small numbers compare to numerous other categories.

"There is no fee to apply for asylum." https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum

37 minutes ago, PhillyNatz said:

So what would explain the budget shortfall then

The $1.2 billion figure was reported months before Covid-19 closures: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-11-14/html/2019-24366.htm "In Table 3, FY 2019 and 2020 costs and revenue are averaged to determine the projected amounts to be recovered through this rule. Based on current immigration benefit and biometric services fees and projected volumes, USCIS expects fees to generate $3.41 billion in average annual revenue in FY 2019 and FY 2020. For the same period, the average annual cost of processing those immigration benefit requests and providing biometric services is $4.67 billion. This yields an average annual deficit of $1.26 billion. In other words, USCIS expects projected FY 2019/2020 total operating costs to exceed projected total revenue."

[cd37 229]

2 minutes ago, HRQX said:

"There is no fee to apply for asylum." https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum

The $1.2 billion figure was reported months before Covid-19 closures: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-11-14/html/2019-24366.htm "In Table 3, FY 2019 and 2020 costs and revenue are averaged to determine the projected amounts to be recovered through this rule. Based on current immigration benefit and biometric services fees and projected volumes, USCIS expects fees to generate $3.41 billion in average annual revenue in FY 2019 and FY 2020. For the same period, the average annual cost of processing those immigration benefit requests and providing biometric services is $4.67 billion. This yields an average annual deficit of $1.26 billion. In other words, USCIS expects projected FY 2019/2020 total operating costs to exceed projected total revenue."

Exactly so it has nothing to do with corona virus. That was the reason they were planning to increase fees for most of the forms but vox article blames this pandemic to be the reason.  

[Babu Frik 1,162]

15 minutes ago, cd37 said:

Exactly so it has nothing to do with corona virus. That was the reason they were planning to increase fees for most of the forms but vox article blames this pandemic to be the reason.  

The original deficit was set to be resolved by the fee increases.

That's not going to be met now because of the pandemic decreasing applications.

[HRQX 4,145]

28 minutes ago, cd37 said:

but vox article blames this pandemic to be the reason.  

I don't even consider it as an article. At least Washington Times and Fox quote an USCIS official:

https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/15/citizenship-agency-faces-drastic-coronavirus-cash-/

https://1010wcsi.com/fox-politics/us-immigration-agency-says-it-might-not-make-payroll-without-congressional-help/

“Given the unprecedented nature of the global pandemic, there is no historical data that can be used to project the scope and duration of COVID-19’s impact on USCIS’ revenue,”

“USCIS will exhaust its funding this summer, and without congressional intervention, we risk not being able to make payroll and will have to take drastic actions to keep the agency afloat,”

[PhillyNatz 39]

26 minutes ago, HRQX said:

I don't even consider it as an article. At least Washington Times and Fox quote an USCIS official:

https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/15/citizenship-agency-faces-drastic-coronavirus-cash-/

https://1010wcsi.com/fox-politics/us-immigration-agency-says-it-might-not-make-payroll-without-congressional-help/

“Given the unprecedented nature of the global pandemic, there is no historical data that can be used to project the scope and duration of COVID-19’s impact on USCIS’ revenue,”

“USCIS will exhaust its funding this summer, and without congressional intervention, we risk not being able to make payroll and will have to take drastic actions to keep the agency afloat,”

What does it have to do with the pandemic. People are still filing applications. 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

2 hours ago, PhillyNatz said:

I believe the state department gets the fees for the visas not the USCIS. 
 

The issue is drop in applications, example with asylum applications, with the same level of staffing . That’s my assumption. 
 

Asylum applications have always been free so wouldn’t affect it.

 

DOS are still processing and accepting visa application fees etc to get people DQ, the only difference is they’re not scheduling interviews until embassies reopen.so highly unlikely they’re running out of money given the backlog

[Babu Frik 1,162]

37 minutes ago, PhillyNatz said:

What does it have to do with the pandemic. People are still filing applications. 

And people are still working,  that  doesn't mean many others aren't.

The article doesn't state no one is filling. 

 

[El Escocés 217]

Linky

 

“US Citizenship and Immigration Services is facing a massive budget shortfall because fewer immigrants are applying to enter the US“

 

 

[JMPM 507]

Maybe they change to a system where it's like this:

80% payment on petition.
20% payment due on adjudication. 

It would light a fire to get things processed faster.  

This pay now, and wait forever scheme is horrible.