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US Visa Agency Avoids Furloughs, Warns Applicants of Long Waits

VOA News

   Thefederal agency thatprocessesU.S. visashas announced
   itwillavoidfurloughing70% of its staffnextweek
   butwarnedvisaapplicantsto expectalong wait time.

   "Averting thisfurloughcomes at a severe operational cost that will
   increase backlogs and wait times across the board, with no guarantee we
   can avoid future furloughs,saidJoseph Edlow, deputy director for policy
   at theU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

   "A return to normal operating procedures requires congressional
   intervention to sustain the agency through fiscal year 2021," he added.

   Although theagency saiditexpectsto continuefunctioningfor the rest of
   the fiscal year, which ends on September 30,"aggressive"spendingcuts,
   including a reduction in the number ofcontractworkers, willimpactall
   its operations.Among other things, USCIShandleswork permits, asylum
   requests,green card applications and naturalizations.

   USCIS is unlike most federal agencies because it receives funds mostly
   from fee collection. The coronavirus pandemic cut that income by
   50%because there were fewerapplications.

   Congress turned down its appeal for emergency funds in May, saying
   USCIS has all the money itneedsfor the restof the fiscal year.

   Last month, the agency announcedit will increasefeesas of October 2.

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