As of March 18th, USCIS announced that all government offices are temporarily closed to the public, including all in-person services, such as biometrics appointments. As of today, that closure order stands until May 3rd, with plans to reopen by May 4, 2020.
USCIS also announced that it would deploy work-from-home agreements with employees while also adjusting to staffing reductions. Nevertheless, the agency is continuing to process cases and perform duties that do not involve or require contact with the public. Of course, this is concerning because the agency has already been plagued with increased backlogs and continued delays in petition processing. While the Department of Homeland Security could put interim relief measures in place, to date, none have been formally announced.
While USCIS is dealing with closures in the interior of the U.S., the Department of State announced the suspension of visa and consular services across the globe, halting the issuance of visas, including canceling existing appointments.
This is particularly tricky for those employers that utilize the H-2A agricultural visas for workers. Last reported, various farm industry groups were communicating with State officials in hopes of getting accommodations for H2A visa processing for those workers still outside of the U.S. To read more, visit the USCIS website.
Comments