USCIS Averts Furlough of Nearly 70% of Workforce (merged)

[millefleur 5,046]

1 hour ago, Cndn said:

Here is what I don’t understand about there being an inevitable increase in processing times: hasn’t the volume of applications dropped significantly due to both certain visas being paused and covid? Wouldn’t the massive reduction in workload offset the reduction in staff? 

I was wondering the exact same thing. Has any data been published to show what the exact number of decrease in applications is?

[Pats5415 97]

Just now, millefleur said:

I was wondering the exact same thing. Has any data been published to show what the exact number of decrease in applications is?

They haven't released that quarter yet. What i don't understand is they keep saying that applications are coming in so they are able to keep revenue but yet they need funding. 

[jeanieCZ 228]

I guess what cut is this "The additional cost savings come through the descoping of federal contracts that assist USCIS adjudicators in processing and preparing case files as well as a myriad of other support activities."

[Cndn 98]

13 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I was wondering the exact same thing. Has any data been published to show what the exact number of decrease in applications is?

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/05/17/us/immigration-agency-uscis-budget.amp.html
 

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2020/06/uscis-pushes-potential-furlough-date-for-13400-employees-back-to-august/amp/

 

Multiple sources state USCIS says 60/61%. That’s huge. Now with no furlough how can there possibly be further delays even after terminating contractors who helped with the adjudication process? Surely the huge decrease in need for help with the adjudication process offsets that. It just doesn’t make any sense at all and the lack of transparency from this agency is a complete joke. 
 

Bottom line their processing times are at crisis levels and if they’re struggling this much to achieve what they are in place for, then they really are not in any position to be enforcing things such as AOS interviews that were never necessary before in all the years USCIS has been operating. I don’t see how on earth an interview can really even do much to deter fraudulent marriages in the first place. Is there any data at all that suggests that the AOS interviews have decreased fraudulent applications? No, probably not because that’s not what it’s really for. It’s to slow down immigration but they can’t say that. They need to let the interviews go. Achieves nothing but is backlogging everything.  

 

Edited August 26, 2020 by Cndn

[millefleur 5,046]

Just now, Pats5415 said:

They haven't released that quarter yet. What i don't understand is they keep saying that applications are coming in so they are able to keep revenue but yet they need funding. 

I also find it suspicious. I don't quite follow the logic because usually if a company, for example, has decreased business, staff are let go because there just isn't the need for them anymore. So what gives here? It sounds like it's some kind of a jobs program to just keep everyone on board despite a decreased workload? I do have sympathy for people losing their jobs but something just is not adding up here. And basically what this article is saying is, even if there are no furloughed staff, processing time will increase anyway because contractors are being laid off.

 

I believe 100% that applications have decreased overall. For one, there is probably less AOS from other visas if people can't even get to the US in the first place. Not to mention other people for whatever reason delaying filing (maybe people don't have funds of their own right now due to the bad economy, etc). But I'd be really curious to see the before/after numbers of applications to have some proof of what USCIS is claiming.

[Pats5415 97]

2 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I also find it suspicious. I don't quite follow the logic because usually if a company, for example, has decreased business, staff are let go because there just isn't the need for them anymore. So what gives here? It sounds like it's some kind of a jobs program to just keep everyone on board despite a decreased workload? I do have sympathy for people losing their jobs but something just is not adding up here. And basically what this article is saying is, even if there are no furloughed staff, processing time will increase anyway because contractors are being laid off.

 

I believe 100% that applications have decreased overall. For one, there is probably less AOS from other visas if people can't even get to the US in the first place. Not to mention other people for whatever reason delaying filing (maybe people don't have funds of their own right now due to the bad economy, etc). But I'd be really curious to see the before/after numbers of applications to have some proof of what USCIS is claiming.

Another thing...I looked at the numbers for Jan-March 2019 VS Jan-March 2020 (USCIS website)...and so far there has been overall more applications filed this year than the prior year...if any its not a huge change. I could be wrong with the numbers but its just not making sense.

[Myroslava 21]

Bittersweet news...we all we happy they cancelled the furloughs and will have opportunity to work on backlog. But they find the way to slow down things anyway... Reading news today and seems like many countries are starting to cancel flights again. At least Poland and Ukraine. 

 

I think in this time of uncertainity they should prioritize spousal visas. It's so unhumane the governments play with our lives.

 

Sorry for my mood. Have been apart with my beloved husband for 9 months already. He has tickets for September 25 but Ukraine forbid entry of foreigners starting August 27😑 I know many people here have a story to tell... Hope the situation will improve soon and we all can reunite with our loved ones ❤️

 

 

[millefleur 5,046]

2 minutes ago, Pats5415 said:

Another thing...I looked at the numbers for Jan-March 2019 VS Jan-March 2020 (USCIS website)...and so far there has been overall more applications filed this year than the prior year...if any its not a huge change. I could be wrong with the numbers but its just not making sense.

To give them the benefit of the doubt, Jan-March 2020 was right before Covid blew up here (it really started getting crazy in March if I'm not mistaken), so I can kind of understand how those numbers might be high. What I'm curious about are the numbers after that to now. Totally agree that the lack of transparency is unnerving.

 

3 minutes ago, Myroslava said:

I think in this time of uncertainity they should prioritize spousal visas. It's so unhumane the governments play with our lives.

I was under the impression that spousal visas were kind of priority right now? I think literally everything has slowed down and but they are still "processing" spousal visas, it's not like K-1's that are stuck in a vague grey area.

[Pats5415 97]

7 minutes ago, millefleur said:

To give them the benefit of the doubt, Jan-March 2020 was right before Covid blew up here (it really started getting crazy in March if I'm not mistaken), so I can kind of understand how those numbers might be high. What I'm curious about are the numbers after that to now. Totally agree that the lack of transparency is unnerving.

 

I was under the impression that spousal visas were kind of priority right now? I think literally everything has slowed down and but they are still "processing" spousal visas, it's not like K-1's that are stuck in a vague grey area.

True once they release the next quarter numbers maybe we will see a better picture. But they were already having budget issues prior to covid so there's that too.

Edited August 26, 2020 by Pats5415

[Myroslava 21]

3 minutes ago, millefleur said:

 was under the impression that spousal visas were kind of priority right now? I think literally everything has slowed down and but they are still "processing" spousal visas, it's not like K-1's that are stuck in a vague grey area

Yes, you are right. They do prioritize spousal visas for now. I am talking about to the future so people don't wait for years to be together. Agree about K-1 visa....

[gregcrs2 1,778]

8 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I was under the impression that spousal visas were kind of priority right now? I think literally everything has slowed down and but they are still "processing" spousal visas, it's not like K-1's that are stuck in a vague grey area.

Spousal visa are a priority.  Seems per Myroslava's timeline, they just filed the I-130 in July 2020.

[Myroslava 21]

12 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

Spousal visa are a priority.  Seems per Myroslava's timeline, they just filed the I-130 in July 2020.

Yes. But we have a reason for that. I have a child from my first marriage and it was really hard to get a permission from my ex so our son can leave Ukraine. 

 

Posting what I posted I don't mean just our forced separation but I do feel sad for everyone who goes through this and we really don't know what to expect and how those increased processing times will look like

Edited August 26, 2020 by Myroslava

[JFH 12,190]

19 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Yes.

Which is excellent news for us Seattle filers - not! Already I’ve been waiting almost a year for my N-400 to be adjudicated. I’ll be retired before they get to my case if they go any slower. 

[Cndn 98]

24 minutes ago, JFH said:

Which is excellent news for us Seattle filers - not! Already I’ve been waiting almost a year for my N-400 to be adjudicated. I’ll be retired before they get to my case if they go any slower. 

I’m in Seattle and I’m about to move just to get out of this inhumane processing time zone. 18 months since filing AOS next week, which isn’t even abnormal as it was the median before covid but still way too long. I can’t imagine what Seattleites will have to endure now if they’re saying more delays. 

Edited August 26, 2020 by Cndn

[Neickers 46]

18 hours ago, ManCharsey said:

No surprises. Self inflated wound. No secret that this administration is seeking to significantly reduce immigration. Also not a surprise that the current acting director of the USCIS is a so called 'Immigration Hard-liner'.  Just look at his policies when he was Attorney General of Virginia and it will not surprise you why he was put in this position. To the current administration, this is a blessing in disguise. Brace yourselves everyone. We are in for a good ride!

Has nothing to do with the administration, it has to do with the budget. dont get caught up in the BS. Jeezz. 🤦‍♂️ People are too damm quick to blame whos not at fault, just because CNN says it.