USCIS Prepares to Decrease Staff by 70% (13 Thousand Workers)

[aperson 44]

6 minutes ago, eirinlinn said:

What does this furlough mean? How long is this furlough going to last I wonder? 

 So basically they are going to be working in a skeleton crew? 

Furlough means being temporarily laid off. USCIS asked Congress for $1.2B bailout for emergency fund for the next 2 years, so I would think this furlough will last a long time. I read on Reddit that USCIS employees are looking for other jobs now after they received notice of furlough.

[eirinlinn 105]

1 minute ago, aperson said:

Furlough means being temporarily laid off. USCIS asked Congress for $1.2B bailout for emergency fund for the next 2 years, so I would think this furlough will last a long time. I read on Reddit that USCIS employees are looking for other jobs now after they received notice of furlough.

I read somewhere that it is anticipated to last for more than a month. The furlough notice supposedly says "... It looks like at the very least most of us are having three more months tacked on. 

“At this time, we do not reasonably anticipate the need for a furlough of 90 days or more,” the notice continues. “However, should additional furlough days be necessary, you will be issued another notice.”" 

 

[eirinlinn 105]

Friends, I found a petition that we can send to your state legislators to help hopefully make a conversation in congress happen against the furlough: 

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-to-halt-uscis-furloughs?source=facebook&

[Gii 48]

This is all so disappointing. I really hope that the furlough doesn't happen, for the sake of the employees and for our applications. How heartbreaking. 

[TBoneTX 45,654]

6 hours ago, eirinlinn said:

"[...] most of us are having three more months tacked on."

This is consistent with what I heard tonight in regard to asylum hearings -- none of those for 3 months.

[DSOTM1973 52]

7 hours ago, eirinlinn said:

I read somewhere that it is anticipated to last for more than a month. The furlough notice supposedly says "... It looks like at the very least most of us are having three more months tacked on. 

“At this time, we do not reasonably anticipate the need for a furlough of 90 days or more,” the notice continues. “However, should additional furlough days be necessary, you will be issued another notice.”" 

 

Furloughing 70% of staff is bizarre in itself. I work in the financial industry, and NO private or public company furloughed that many people... Maybe the government is different, but most of the budget cuts furloughs I have seen are 30, 45, and 60 days depending on your position. A call center person might be furloughed longer than a field officer... etc.  I don't think it make any sense to furlough someone more than 60 days because at this point, why not just fire them? 

 

Technically speaking, the federal paycheck program is set to end by the end of the month, so If you furlough someone now for +60 days, you are asking them to live on only the UE benefits, that range between $1200-$1600, which is insane. The result may be, a bunch of resignments, so even if USCIS get funded 2-3 months from now, they will have to hire new people and train them from ground-up, which take time.

 

 

 

[eirinlinn 105]

4 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

This is consistent with what I heard tonight in regard to asylum hearings -- none of those for 3 months.

In that I’m referring to the anticipated time slot that the furlough is projected to last at possibly 90 days or more; which at this point in time is very possible. 
Things unfortunately are very dismal looking for most of us. We will see how cases are processed. 

[eirinlinn 105]

2 hours ago, DSOTM1973 said:

Furloughing 70% of staff is bizarre in itself. I work in the financial industry, and NO private or public company furloughed that many people... Maybe the government is different, but most of the budget cuts furloughs I have seen are 30, 45, and 60 days depending on your position. A call center person might be furloughed longer than a field officer... etc.  I don't think it make any sense to furlough someone more than 60 days because at this point, why not just fire them? 

 

Technically speaking, the federal paycheck program is set to end by the end of the month, so If you furlough someone now for +60 days, you are asking them to live on only the UE benefits, that range between $1200-$1600, which is insane. The result may be, a bunch of resignments, so even if USCIS get funded 2-3 months from now, they will have to hire new people and train them from ground-up, which take time.

 

 

 

I agree it’s pretty jarring. It’s so upsetting for these people that are being furloughed and not knowing where it’s going to leave us. 

[familybasedvisa12 23]

8 hours ago, Gii said:

This is all so disappointing. I really hope that the furlough doesn't happen, for the sake of the employees and for our applications. How heartbreaking. 

But mostly for the sake of our applications 😂

 

It's out of our control - it is what it is, and all we can do is hope for the best. For now, good luck to everyone and stay safe! 

[David Holmes 13]

Hi all, now that it's July, what's the status on this? Did they receive their last minute funding?

What's the outlook? I'm trying to decide what to do with, wait for her here, or go over there and wait with her.

[DSOTM1973 52]

14 minutes ago, David Holmes said:

Hi all, now that it's July, what's the status on this? Did they receive their last minute funding?

What's the outlook? I'm trying to decide what to do with, wait for her here, or go over there and wait with her.

There will not be a last min funding. House and Senate must pass something to Trump, who is gotta sign it. They already furloughed people, so I don't see a reason for immediate funding at this point. If funding happen, I expect it by September or after considering how slow government  is.

[aperson 44]

I thought they can't furlough until Aug 3rd? They are required to inform employees at least 30 days before the furlough and they just sent out the notice.

 

I saw a news article yesterday that the deputy director of USCIS said he continues to meet with the members of congress and sources from congress said they are hopeful to have the funds provided to the agency. Here's the article:

 

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/immigration-system-budget-cuts

[Thenaturalstate 9]

My marriage based AOS package was received by the Chicago Field Office today. What does this mean for my process? Will it be in limbo? Will they prioritize family based cases? I am little nervous to be honest. 

[aperson 44]

3 minutes ago, Thenaturalstate said:

My marriage based AOS package was received by the Chicago Field Office today. What does this mean for my process? Will it be in limbo? Will they prioritize family based cases? I am little nervous to be honest. 

Where are you in the process? When did you file? Did you have your bio completed?

[Thenaturalstate 9]

3 minutes ago, aperson said:

Where are you in the process? When did you file? Did you have your bio completed?

Hi, We just completed all the necessary paperwork and send it to USCIS.It was received by the chicago field office today. Yet to receive a NOA.