"USCIS had put a ‘hold’ on US-based green card applicants"

[Mmesa]

One horrified "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" followed by a slightly hysterical "HAHAHAHAHAHA" .

That was my reaction this morning when I read about it.

[Yoon]

Hi everyone,

After almost 100 days since I filed, still no news, no EAD, no Advance Parole, no biometrics appointment, no possibility to get a drivers license : basically no progress. And today, I end up on this article showing they had actually put green-card applications (US-BASED!!!) on hold.


And this cost us $ 2000 ?!! Is that all the consideration we deserve?

I am pretty angry as I am posting this few words. I thought it would be liberating to post it here, I hope you can forgive me.

Everyone have a wonderful day no matter what, and good luck for this killing wait.

M

I filed my applications in January and just got my EAD & AP approved 10 days ago. Some folks filing in January also just got approved these two weeks. If you filed in March, prepare yourself a longer wait.

[Mmesa]

I filed my applications in January and just got my EAD & AP approved 10 days ago. Some folks filing in January also just got approved these two weeks. If you filed in March, prepare yourself a longer wait.

Congrats Yoon!
I have indeed prepared myself, but this does not mean it is fair. They put us on hold in time of pandemic. This is madness.

[aph]

I filed my applications in January and just got my EAD & AP approved 10 days ago. Some folks filing in January also just got approved these two weeks. If you filed in March, prepare yourself a longer wait.

Did you request an expedited EAD?

[Yoon]

Did you request an expedited EAD?

I did. But only did it by the end of May after a four-month wait. I know how it felt to check the status every single day and found nothing really changed. Good luck to everyone.

[roho2point0]

> I did. But only did it by the end of May after a four-month wait. I know how it felt to check the status every single day and found nothing really changed. Good luck to everyone.

hi, even I filed in January. We got an RFIE, and my case status still says Response to RFIE received by the USCIS. Will they process my request to expedite my EAD while they are reviewing my RFIE

[WaffleTheCat]

Have you guys seen this...?

Original link: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-rele...fiscal-outlook

Deputy Director for Policy Statement on USCIS’ Fiscal Outlook

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow issued the following statement on the agency’s fiscal outlook due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“The effects of the coronavirus pandemic are long reaching and pervasive, leaving few unscathed in its wake. USCIS is still experiencing those very effects, which began with an alarming drop in applications at the end of March. Forecasts predict a crippling budget shortfall that requires assistance from Congress to allow USCIS to maintain current operations.

“Since May, USCIS has worked with Congress to explain the financial situation and educate members and staff on the needs of the agency. Recognizing the need to not let taxpayers carry this burden, USCIS’ proposal to Congress includes a requirement that any funding provided by Congress will be paid back to the U.S. Treasury. Both the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget have written to Congress supporting this proposal. Without congressional action before August 3, USCIS will need to furlough over 13,000 staff members, which will have tremendous negative impacts on our mission administering our nation's lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity, and protecting the American people. We urge Congress to provide the funding needed to pay our dedicated staff and ensure our operations continue uninterrupted during these unprecedented times.”

[minona]

Have you guys seen this...?

Original link: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-rele...fiscal-outlook

Deputy Director for Policy Statement on USCIS’ Fiscal Outlook

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow issued the following statement on the agency’s fiscal outlook due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“The effects of the coronavirus pandemic are long reaching and pervasive, leaving few unscathed in its wake. USCIS is still experiencing those very effects, which began with an alarming drop in applications at the end of March. Forecasts predict a crippling budget shortfall that requires assistance from Congress to allow USCIS to maintain current operations.

“Since May, USCIS has worked with Congress to explain the financial situation and educate members and staff on the needs of the agency. Recognizing the need to not let taxpayers carry this burden, USCIS’ proposal to Congress includes a requirement that any funding provided by Congress will be paid back to the U.S. Treasury. Both the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget have written to Congress supporting this proposal. Without congressional action before August 3, USCIS will need to furlough over 13,000 staff members, which will have tremendous negative impacts on our mission administering our nation's lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity, and protecting the American people. We urge Congress to provide the funding needed to pay our dedicated staff and ensure our operations continue uninterrupted during these unprecedented times.”

I did see this and asked a few days off to put my applications together as soon as possible and hope to at least get a receipt notice of I-485...
11 years in the US. 5 years being a research scientist in public health on H1B. Approved I-140 but not qualified to file I-485 for category of mainland China. Husband's US citizen and we just filed I-130 with I-485. Facing potential wage deduction to be lower than prevailing wage and potential layoff (sarcastically for public health research scientists huh?). I would lose legal status if laid off but unable to transfer to another non-cap H1B employer within 60 days (H1B transfer premium processing seems to be on hold btw). China bans entry of visa holders like my husband at the moment...A receipt notice of i-485 would probably be that paper which keeps my family together without long detours (moving to another country whoever takes us together?). Halt in processing immigration applications means different kinds of loss to different people. As long as we can stay with our family, anywhere is home. And things will get better. We will figure it out. I wish everyone luck!

[Mmesa]

I did see this and asked a few days off to put my applications together as soon as possible and hope to at least get a receipt notice of I-485...
11 years in the US. 5 years being a research scientist in public health on H1B. Approved I-140 but not qualified to file I-485 for category of mainland China. Husband's US citizen and we just filed I-130 with I-485. Facing potential wage deduction to be lower than prevailing wage and potential layoff (sarcastically for public health research scientists huh?). I would lose legal status if laid off but unable to transfer to another non-cap H1B employer within 60 days (H1B transfer premium processing seems to be on hold btw). China bans entry of visa holders like my husband at the moment...A receipt notice of i-485 would probably be that paper which keeps my family together without long detours (moving to another country whoever takes us together?). Halt in processing immigration applications means different kinds of loss to different people. As long as we can stay with our family, anywhere is home. And things will get better. We will figure it out. I wish everyone luck!

I am so sorry to read your story Minona, so sorry to wake up one more day to no news, to no hopes, to an ever emptier bank account, to new articles in the press pretending that immigrants will "benefit the longer processes" cause well "they have more time for sending their documents".
I am so sorry to be treated this way, so sorry that everyday I feel like I'd be way better off in France with my husband and cats. So sorry I put my life on hold for so long because am legally forbidden to build one here, even though I paid (we all did) a pretty freaking high fee. I am sorry that I can't even get a few days off of this mess and fly to my mother and sister who I haven't seen for more than a year.

I am still angry as well, because it looks like nothing's gonna change in the next months.

Be very strong everyone!! and good luck!

[hopefulandhappy]

You guys might want to read this:



Seems like there’s a lot of behind the scene drama going on at USCIS which is affecting the processing of applications and publishing of cards. So all the delays can’t be just attributed to COVID - seems like there is more to it than the COVID situation.

[Mmesa]

121 days since filing. Still n.o.t.h.i.n.g, no biometrics appointment, no EAD, no Advance Parole.


Anyway, in other news, did anyone notice this little sentence from Donald Trump's latest speech? :

"We are going to be signing an immigration act very soon. It is going to be based on merit, it is going to be very strong," Trump told reporters at a Rose Garden press conference at the White House on Tuesday."

Merit based immigration... wow.

[Tibwa]

121 days since filing. Still n.o.t.h.i.n.g, no biometrics appointment, no EAD, no Advance Parole.


Anyway, in other news, did anyone notice this little sentence from Donald Trump's latest speech? :

"We are going to be signing an immigration act very soon. It is going to be based on merit, it is going to be very strong," Trump told reporters at a Rose Garden press conference at the White House on Tuesday."

Merit based immigration... wow.

That's some real BS. A president cannot change current law. A POTUS can have executive order but that order cannot contradict the law in the book. It will immediately face a national injunction.

[Tibwa]

121 days since filing. Still n.o.t.h.i.n.g, no biometrics appointment, no EAD, no Advance Parole.


Anyway, in other news, did anyone notice this little sentence from Donald Trump's latest speech? :

"We are going to be signing an immigration act very soon. It is going to be based on merit, it is going to be very strong," Trump told reporters at a Rose Garden press conference at the White House on Tuesday."

Merit based immigration... wow.

Why don't you contact them for your EAD? I thought you can contact them after 90 days of filling for an EAD.

[ldinh91]

Why don't you contact them for your EAD? I thought you can contact them after 90 days of filling for an EAD.

Because all Application Support Centers were closed due to Covid-19. As they started opening this week, we all have to wait for new biometric appointments.

[Tibwa]

Because all Application Support Centers were closed due to Covid-19. As they started opening this week, we all have to wait for new biometric appointments.

yeah- They have been waiving biometric for some applicants. I guess this waiver most likely applies for people who already have some biometric in file.