Processing times just changed to 3 years!!?

[Ikhan 49]

1 minute ago, Unlockable said:

The furlough is reportedly due to a +60% decline in cases due to COVID-19. If cases (and their fees) are not coming in, then a reduction of staff is expected.

It's not just because of the COVID-19. USCIS has had issues with income even before this pandemic (thats why they closed international offices, asked for increase on application fees etc..). That being said covid crisis is definitely going to mean big losses for uscis. 

If there aren't enough applicants and they furlough employees, i am just worried that they will increase the wait times significantly (which really doesn't make sense). 

[Loren Y 2,755]

1 hour ago, James120383 said:

 

Edited June 17, 2020 by Loren Y
Removed

[Scandi 4,166]

The changed processing times are obviously just a way for USCIS to get rid of people inquiring about their cases. This way they can tell more or less everyone who calls about their case "sorry, you're still within normal processing times, you just have to wait". No extra strain on Tier 2 officers and so on. 

 

In reality, those processing times changes don't mean anything, so I don't get the freak outs over this. I can't  even remember a time when the processing times were accurate anyway.

Edited June 17, 2020 by Scandi

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to USCIS Service Centers forum.

[SalishSea 17,837]

12 hours ago, Harold_Oakland said:

I just called my Representative and will call both Senator's offices as well but my primary concern was with funding not inefficiency.

USCIS is self-funded from the fees it collects.

[SalishSea 17,837]

8 hours ago, Ikhan said:

I wish they would just accept expedite payments. I'd gladly pay more to start my life with my spouse sooner (cr-1). I just hope the USCIS doesn't hold petitioners hostage and make them protest to the govt to get more funding. 

Yes, and then everyone pays for premium processing, and you're back at square one with the same volume of work, same number of workers, but maybe just slightly less in the red.

[SalishSea 17,837]

6 hours ago, Ikhan said:

Well they are going to furlough employees which could potentially cause everyone's case to be delayed indefinitely. It's already about the money, I wish we had some power to do something to make things faster.

Government furloughs happen all the time....

[Harold_Oakland 133]

7 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

USCIS is self-funded from the fees it collects.

That is correct, and in order for this function of government to continue functioning, additional funding is needed, regardless of why.

[SalishSea 17,837]

7 minutes ago, Harold_Oakland said:

That is correct, and in order for this function of government to continue functioning, additional funding is needed, regardless of why.

The budget isn't set up for that though.  Hence the response to a large downturn in 'funding' (USCIS fees) is met with the solution of reducing costs via furlough, rather than increasing funding.....

[Harold_Oakland 133]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

The budget isn't set up for that though.  Hence the response to a large downturn in 'funding' (USCIS fees) is met with the solution of reducing costs via furlough, rather than increasing funding.....

And I contest that the budget wasn't set up to deal with a dramatic decrease in revenue. This is a function of government mandated to be funded by fees, however right or wrong that mandate is. Nevertheless, it is a function of government and as such, should be given attention in regards to funding as other entities, namely large corporations, have been awarded attention in the way of funding due to a "lack of planning" for a major pandemic.

[SalishSea 17,837]

1 minute ago, Harold_Oakland said:

And I contest that the budget wasn't set up to deal with a dramatic decrease in revenue. This is a function of government mandated to be funded by fees, however right or wrong that mandate is. Nevertheless, it is a function of government and as such, should be given attention in regards to funding as other entities, namely large corporations, have been awarded attention in the way of funding due to a "lack of planning" for a major pandemic.

Yup, and all you can really do is write those letters.  There will not be a huge overhaul of USCIS any time soon.

[Harold_Oakland 133]

Just now, Jorgedig said:

Yup, and all you can really do is write those letters.  There will not be a huge overhaul of USCIS any time soon.

For whatever reason it may be that you think there will not be an overhaul, and whether or not I may agree with that reason, I do agree with your conclusion. However, I didn't write my representative and senator to ask for an overhaul, just to ask for emergency funding so the headcount doesn't drop by 92% which would all but grind legal immigration to a halt.

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

25 minutes ago, Harold_Oakland said:

For whatever reason it may be that you think there will not be an overhaul, and whether or not I may agree with that reason, I do agree with your conclusion. However, I didn't write my representative and senator to ask for an overhaul, just to ask for emergency funding so the headcount doesn't drop by 92% which would all but grind legal immigration to a halt.

Haha Senators and Representatives. They dont work for anyone anymore in America. They are all sleeping and collecting paycheck for life .

[Trutta 103]

16 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Issue with this is now USCIS governs itself with our fees (bad as it is)  do you want the federal government provide the budget and take over?

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what I, or "the people", want.

[Ikhan 49]

4 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Yes, and then everyone pays for premium processing, and you're back at square one with the same volume of work, same number of workers, but maybe just slightly less in the red.

Then they can have a super premium processing. Lol