USCIS' Plan to Furlough Employees can Severely Impact Immigration

 Posted on July 01, 2020 in Immigration

Back in May, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had announced the potential furlough of up to 70% of its workforce in August if they do not receive the necessary funding required to keep the agency open. With a lower number of immigrants applying for immigration benefits and the federal government not agreeing to provide the $1.2 billion loan the agency required, furloughs seem imminent. USCIS has recently issued furlough notices to some employees, signaling potential drawbacks for applicants.

USCIS receives a significant portion of its funding from filing fees paid by applicants, but these have dropped to half since the COVID-19 pandemic started. If Congress does not allocate additional resources to USCIS, immigrants could expect longer wait times to see their applications adjudicated. If you are concerned about how these issues may potentially impact your case, contact our office for a initial consultation.