ivoryboy

..it will mean all pending visa applications are put on hold indefinitely?

266mac

I would guess so. Unless diplomatic and locally engaged staff are funded in a different way to Federal employees.

I'm not entirely sure Boehner wont blink before then though...

Beaverstate

It wont be the first, nor , I expect the last. Overall rather meaningless aside from embarassment.

HelloHello78

Not sure if this is correct or not, but this article:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_241933...ent-shuts-down

Says "U.S. embassies will stand ready to help American travelers. And new passports and visas shouldn't be delayed -- a change from the 1990s, when the government last shut down."

civilservant

USCIS is funded by visa application fees, so should remain. Background checks are run by the Department of State though, and they would be affected. Inevitably they would be a slowdown.

TJW & ACW

Wonder what the lag between interview and swearing in is going to look like?

Noorah101

Ours in Phoenix was about 4 weeks.

Rene

jeffreyhy

No. USCIS is funded by fees for applications and petitions submitted to USCIS. Bureau of Consular Affairs visa operations are funded by visa application fees.

I agree with you that neither organization operates in a vacuum, so services provided to USCIS and BCA by other government agencies in support of USCIS and BCA activities may be impacted, and in turn hinder USCIS and BCA work.

Regards, JEff

sir_eccles

It may all depend.

I am aware of at least one government entity that has received a waiver from the government accounting office to continue operating should there be a shutdown and has a 4 week cash reserve.

I doubt it would last that long if at all (ask me again in 4 weeks).

sir_eccles

Many departments have detailed webpages with shutdown service information. Here is the Dept of State:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/04/160413.htm

S Folinsky

Here is the 2013 posting by the Department of State:

GarethB789

Oh God. This is very worrying. I can't believe it. What are the chances of being affected by something like this?!

We sent off our I-130 6 months ago now. Will it go on hold until nornal service is resumed? Or will everything be thrown out of the window and have to be started from the beginning?

Gulp.

Nate_Matt

The following is an update from the London Embassy that speaks to no impact to Consular Services, for now:

http://london.usembassy.gov/servicenews001.html

KEY SERVICES
American Citizen Services (ACS)
Visas: Immigrant (IV)
Visas: Nonimmigrant (NIV)

I've made it through the I-130 step and am just waiting for my case number to proceed with the medical and the DS-260 steps.

hoffage123

C. Consular Operations Domestically and Overseas: Consular operations domestically and overseas will remain 100% operational as long as there are sufficient fees to support operations. However, if a passport agency is located in a government building affected by a lapse in appropriations, the facility may become unsupported. The continuance of consular operations in such instances will be treated on a case-by-case basis by the Under Secretary for Management.

(taken from Folinsky's link)


Also

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...own-will-work/

GarethB789

So the worst case scenario would be delays until things are resolved? I can live with an extra 3 months on top of what we already expect but I would be devastated if they discarded all apps that had not been completed before this happened and instructed everyone to start again.