Potential Gov. Shutdown

[Amunah 62]

Good evening, morning, afternoon, night, fellows

 

What impact will the potential Gov. shutdown have impact on us, particularly NVC, embassies? I am of understanding that USCIS will not due to it being funded by fees mostly? 
Thanks, and sorry if I am in the wrong tread

Edited September 16, 2023 by Amunah

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Progress Reports to General Immigration-Related Discussion ***

 

[JeanneAdil 6,492]

Seems like we face this every year now 

 

it still would slow USCIS down 

many US offices are located in Federal buildings.  if Congress fails its job and we have a shutdown,  federal buildings are affected

 

Immigration is funded by us who petition but embassies fall under the US budget

 

American diplomatic establishments, embassies and consulates, are paid for by the US Government from appropriated funds. Depending upon the arrangement we have with the host country, the land is either purchased or leased, and the buildings are either built with appropriated funds or leased. Under either arrangement, the US Government pays the bills.

[Gigizaza 7]

4 hours ago, Amunah said:

Good evening, morning, afternoon, night, fellows

 

What impact will the potential Gov. shutdown have impact on us, particularly NVC, embassies? I am of understanding that USCIS will not due to it being funded by fees mostly? 
Thanks, and sorry if I am in the wrong tread

Oh god 😨 when is the shutdown 😣😢

[TBoneTX 45,267]

Don't freak out.  None of the previous ones had any discernible effect on immigration stuff.

[JeanneAdil 6,492]

but immigration will use it for an excuse

 

longest shutdown was 21 days under Clinton 1995/96

 

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a fee-generating agency; accordingly, it does not rely primarily on government funding. During past shutdowns, USCIS offices generally continued to operate; however, slowdowns and processing delays can be expected due to reduced staff, particularly in instances when USCIS adjudicators rely on other government functions to render decisions.

[Amunah 62]

9 hours ago, Gigizaza said:

Oh god 😨 when is the shutdown 😣😢

Shutdown, as is policy makers failing to enact legislation to fund federal goverment by the end of the fiscal year ( Sept. 30th), as in : birocracy’s perpetual quarel over who gets the money. Not dramatic as it may sound in other parts of the world, but some gov. services get suspended. Mainly concerned about NVC and embassies, since they are DoS, meaning all non essential services, local workers will be furloughed, laid off, meaning longer queue for interviews. But’ will see, it is what it is. 

18 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

but immigration will use it for an excuse

 

longest shutdown was 21 days under Clinton 1995/96

 

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a fee-generating agency; accordingly, it does not rely primarily on government funding. During past shutdowns, USCIS offices generally continued to operate; however, slowdowns and processing delays can be expected due to reduced staff, particularly in instances when USCIS adjudicators rely on other government functions to render decisions.

Thank you, that is what I thought. 

Edited September 16, 2023 by Amunah

[Rocio0010 5,579]

Why worry about something that hasn't happened yet?

And if it did, you have no control over it.

[Amunah 62]

10 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

Why worry about something that hasn't happened yet?

And if it did, you have no control over it.

True that. Thank you. Let’s hope for the best. 

[jan22 3,052]

18 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Seems like we face this every year now 

 

it still would slow USCIS down 

many US offices are located in Federal buildings.  if Congress fails its job and we have a shutdown,  federal buildings are affected

 

Immigration is funded by us who petition but embassies fall under the US budget

 

American diplomatic establishments, embassies and consulates, are paid for by the US Government from appropriated funds. Depending upon the arrangement we have with the host country, the land is either purchased or leased, and the buildings are either built with appropriated funds or leased. Under either arrangement, the US Government pays the bills.

While the operation of the physical Embassy building is included in the Congressionally-approved budget, the buildings do not suspend all operations during a government shut-down and, therefore, remain open and operational during a government shutdown.  More importantly, Consular Affairs — like USCIS — is a fee-funded operation. Therefore, consular services continue during the government shut down.  Some of the procedures that require information from other sources, however, may slow down.

[JeanneAdil 6,492]

19 hours ago, jan22 said:

While the operation of the physical Embassy building is included in the Congressionally-approved budget, the buildings do not suspend all operations during a government shut-down and, therefore, remain open and operational during a government shutdown.  More importantly, Consular Affairs — like USCIS — is a fee-funded operation. Therefore, consular services continue during the government shut down.  Some of the procedures that require information from other sources, however, may slow down.

but FBI  and other agencies don't put a prioity on immigration background checks during a shutdown 

Shutdowns (depending on length of shutdown) do slow all down the other federal agencies 

and the post office if u r waiting for green card delivery

 

[CFS 14]

On 9/16/2023 at 4:13 PM, jan22 said:

While the operation of the physical Embassy building is included in the Congressionally-approved budget, the buildings do not suspend all operations during a government shut-down and, therefore, remain open and operational during a government shutdown.  More importantly, Consular Affairs — like USCIS — is a fee-funded operation. Therefore, consular services continue during the government shut down.  Some of the procedures that require information from other sources, however, may slow down.

 

Thanks for your inputs. I'm waiting for the US Embassy in the Philippines to issue my spouse an immigrant visa after submitting 221(g) documents earlier this month. If the government does shut down, do you think it's likely that this process would be slowed down/delayed in any way? It seems like the answer is "No" from your inputs above, but I would like to confirm.

 

Thank you,

Edited September 22, 2023 by CFS

[jan22 3,052]

1 hour ago, CFS said:

 

Thanks for your inputs. I'm waiting for the US Embassy in the Philippines to issue my spouse an immigrant visa after submitting 221(g) documents earlier this month. If the government does shut down, do you think it's likely that this process would be slowed down/delayed in any way? It seems like the answer is "No" from your inputs above, but I would like to confirm.

 

Thank you,

Might depend a bit on what the 221(g) documents were.  The administrative processing might slow down a bit overall, but with your documents already submitted, I dont think it should affect you much, if at all.

Edited September 23, 2023 by jan22

[CFS 14]

49 minutes ago, jan22 said:

Might depend a bit on what the 221(g) documents were.  The administrative processing might slow down a bit overall, but with your documents already submitted, I dont think it should affect you much, if at all.

 

Thank you, @jan22. We submitted the following documents:

• Repeat Medical Exam (which is the only thing that the 221(g) asked for)
• New NBI Clearance (as the previous one had expired) - this was not requested
• New CENOMAR (as the previous one was about to expire) - this was not requested
• 2022 Tax Returns (just in case) - this was not requested
• 6 months' records of my payslips (just in case) - this was not requested

 

We had previously gone through the DS-5535 process and believe we were cleared (because we received another 221(g) requesting a repeat medical exam ~60 days or so after the DS-5535 e-form was submitted). I don't know if any of the documents above have to be re-certified by the DOS or if the Embassy has to be in touch with them at all before issuing the visa...and hence my apprehension re: a potential government shutdown.

 

Some additional information - the Embassy confirmed receipt of our documents on Sep. 5, 2023. It took the Embassy about 1 month to issue a second 221(g) when we responded to the first 221(g) request (accidentally failed to bring original NBI clearance to the interview + 2021 tax returns were not uploaded to CEAC)...granted, this was in December 2022 and there were holidays interspersed in there...so I'm hoping that we can hear back any day now and maybe even miss the government shutdown window altogether (if it happens). 

 

I'm also trying to do my best not to worry....but this can be so daunting at times. Thanks for reading through this and your inputs. 

Edited September 23, 2023 by CFS

[jan22 3,052]

2 minutes ago, CFS said:

 

Thank you, @jan22. We submitted the following documents:

• Repeat Medical Exam (which is the only thing that the 221(g) asked for)
• New NBI Clearance (as the previous one had expired) - this was not requested
• New CENOMAR (as the previous one was about to expire) - this was not requested
• 2022 Tax Returns (just in case) - this was not requested
• 6 Months of my payslips (just in case) - this was not requested

 

We had previously gone through the DS-5535 process and believe we were cleared (because we received another 221(g) requesting a repeat medical exam ~60 days or so after the DS-5535 e-form was submitted). I don't know if any of the documents above have to be re-certified by the DOS or if the Embassy has to be in touch with them at all before issuing the visa...and hence my apprehension re: a potential government shutdown.

 

I'm also trying to do my best not to worry....but this can be so daunting at times. 

 

Thanks for your inputs!

These shouldn't cause any additional delays if the shutdown occurs.  Hopefully, you will hear good news soon!