Budget Crisis, possible Govt shutdown and impact on Visa processing

[RTam 7]

This is meant as an apolitical civil service announcement. perhaps you’ve heard in the news that there is a potential federal government budget crisis and the possibility that the government will shut down in three or four days if US elected officials do not agree on a budget. What could this mean for those of us waiting for visa processing? Possibly further delays. Because the federal government will shut down agencies, including state department agencies. I’ve been reading a lot about it and local hires in local countries may not get paid until there is a budget passed. And what this may mean is that those local hires will probably not want to work until they get paid. Which will mean further delays at embassies and consulates. This is not just FYI. If you have a passion about it, regardless of political party, you can call up your senators or congressman and ask that they kindly work to negotiate a compromise and pass the budget without closing US government agencies. To do this, you simply look up their phone numbers in Washington DC and you respectfully make a phone call. I did that this morning, it took me all of seven minutes to call both my United States senators and my congressman’s office. They need to know that there are people out here that will be negatively affected if the government shuts down. Pressure on them to find a resolution can be helpful. Again we should all be respectful, calm, and positive. Thank you.

[JeanneAdil 6,511]

you do realize immigration is funded by our fees?

 

• -

  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): As a fee-funded agency, USCIS would continue to process applications and petitions for immigration benefits, but processing delays, already widespread within the agency, could worsen for cases dependent on support from government functions that are suspended – for example, a security clearance from an agency that is affected by the shutdown. Appointments at USCIS local offices and Application Support Centers should not be affected by the shutdown, though COVID-19 precautions remain in place. 

  Department of State: The State Department’s visa processing and U.S. citizenship document functions would not be suspended as long as filing fees remain available to fund consular operations. However, some passport offices may be affected if they are located in federal buildings that are closed due to the shutdown. These functions are already significantly affected by reduced staffing and other effects of the pandemic.

  igration processing – including

[Boiler 45,525]

It is not the budget, but the debt ceiling. Harris Biden are on it.

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

As much as I can understand the urge to make your voice heard I don't feel that swamping them with calls will help. It just blocks whoever has to answer the phone from doing their work.

[RTam 7]

Their job IS to answer those calls. And for US citizens concerns to be heard. Don’t be afraid. It isn’t a bother for them. They expect it. But surprise them with your kind words. Peace to you. 

[RTam 7]

Excerpts From an article of the Washington Post…..

 

3 ways a U.S. government shutdown affects the rest of the world

 

1. People

The U.S. government employs thousands of people around the world — people who work at U.S. embassies may be the most obvious examples. Generally, the people whose work is most vital to national security and the safety of human life are considered “excepted” and are required to work through the shutdown, instead of being put on unpaid furlough. They will be given back pay once a new spending bill is passed. Most American diplomats fall under this category. 

 

But the nonexempt workers may end up not getting paid. This is especially true for people contracted to do work for the U.S. government, many of whom are not U.S. citizens.

“In the developing world, where most of our employees live paycheck to paycheck and accrue little personal savings, the consequences of no pay can be devastating,”

 

2. Procedure

A government shutdown has a major effect not only on who goes to work but also what work gets done. The State Department, for example, said it will keep issuing passports and visas — although it warned that such activities “will remain operational as long as there are sufficient fees to support operations.” But some other services will not be provided, which can have unexpected consequences.

 

The shutdown can also have implications for humanitarian assistance and foreign aid: No new funding commitments or obligations can be made during a shutdown, except to protect life and property.

 

3. Prestige

 

To many nations, U.S. government shutdowns are bewildering….the prospect of a political dispute leaving large numbers of government workers without pay is unheard of in most other political systems. 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

I'm not afraid. I just know how it is to constantly get interrupted at your work by people calling that want to get heard 😉 

Edited September 28, 2021 by Letspaintcookies

[JeanneAdil 6,511]

u know we face this same threat every year while the Congress fights over budget control

 

and we have been  shut down before

 

Some of the most significant shutdowns in U.S. history have included the 21-day shutdown of 1995–1996 during the Bill Clinton administration over opposition to major spending cuts; the 16-day shutdown in 2013 during the Barack Obama administration caused by a dispute over implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA ...

[arken 4,197]

Imagine a congressperson/senator saying in the assembly "With due respect, I say NO to the proposed funding and the increased debt ceiling for following reasons but wait because few of my constituents' foreign relatives visas might get delayed by few months because of this shutdown, I vote YES, do whatever you like."

 

[KSVJ 216]

33 minutes ago, arken said:

Imagine a congressperson/senator saying in the assembly "With due respect, I say NO to the proposed funding and the increased debt ceiling for following reasons but wait because few of my constituents' foreign relatives visas might get delayed by few months because of this shutdown, I vote YES, do whatever you like."

 

I know you're taking it to the extreme...but their job is to represent their constituents. It's not really great to encourage people not to contact their members of congress to voice their opinions. 

[arken 4,197]

10 minutes ago, KSVJ said:

I know you're taking it to the extreme...but their job is to represent their constituents. It's not really great to encourage people not to contact their members of congress to voice their opinions. 

Of course one needs to contact their representative for plausible reasons, I am saying bombarding them with frivolous calls will just prevent them from getting calls from someone who really needs help. Imagine everyone calling them for any minor related or unrelated reasons and the people who actually need help being put on 1 hr hold due to increased calls.

 

Let's not turn their places into NVC or USCIS call supports.

Edited September 28, 2021 by arken

[Cathi 5,755]

Every year this same topic comes up and people panic.

 

Every.

Single.

Year.

USCIS is funded by our fees. Period.

[jan22 3,056]

Visa processing is also usually funded by fees.  This year is a bit different, however.  There are fixed expenses for overseas consular operations that must be paid whether visaa are processed (i.e., whether fees are generated) or not.  It is likely that, with the limited IV processing and the almost non-existent NIV processing, the State Department did not generate sufficient fees to meet those fixed expenses and will need an influx of appropriated monies.  State has always said that visa processing will continue during a government shut-down as long as there are sufficient visa fees available  to continue operations.   They may come against insufficient funds this year to continue during a shut-down.

 

Hopefully, none of this will become an issue and Congress will approve at least a temporary fix while they work out longer term solutions.  That assumes they also do something about the debt ceiling -- which is an even more dangerous issue, as others have already said.

Edited September 28, 2021 by jan22

[Boston_Gary 16]

14 hours ago, RTam said:

Excerpts From an article of the Washington Post…..

 

3 ways a U.S. government shutdown affects the rest of the world

 

1. People

The U.S. government employs thousands of people around the world — people who work at U.S. embassies may be the most obvious examples. Generally, the people whose work is most vital to national security and the safety of human life are considered “excepted” and are required to work through the shutdown, instead of being put on unpaid furlough. They will be given back pay once a new spending bill is passed. Most American diplomats fall under this category. 

 

But the nonexempt workers may end up not getting paid. This is especially true for people contracted to do work for the U.S. government, many of whom are not U.S. citizens.

“In the developing world, where most of our employees live paycheck to paycheck and accrue little personal savings, the consequences of no pay can be devastating,”

 

2. Procedure

A government shutdown has a major effect not only on who goes to work but also what work gets done. The State Department, for example, said it will keep issuing passports and visas — although it warned that such activities “will remain operational as long as there are sufficient fees to support operations.” But some other services will not be provided, which can have unexpected consequences.

 

The shutdown can also have implications for humanitarian assistance and foreign aid: No new funding commitments or obligations can be made during a shutdown, except to protect life and property.

 

3. Prestige

 

To many nations, U.S. government shutdowns are bewildering….the prospect of a political dispute leaving large numbers of government workers without pay is unheard of in most other political systems. 

USCIS and the embassies haven't been doing their jobs anyway. Concerned about a possible shutdown?? Many embassies are still not working because of COVID! What a joke. 

[milimelo 4,481]

A bit wrong on locally employed staff. Depending on the labor law(s) in each country, they can’t be furloughed and continue to work (and continue to be paid).