In this video, we'll talk about how the Coronavirus crisis is impacting immigration applications
that are currently in process and applications that are about to be submitted. So watch this
video, and let's talk about it right there. So, one of the most common questions that
I'm getting right now and during this Coronavirus crisis is how is this Coronavirus crisis impacting
immigration applications that are currently being processed, whether it's in the US embassies,
National Visa Center, or USCIS? And how is it impacting or will impact cases that are
about to be filed right now? Can we even file cases right now? So, we'll talk about all
this in this video. If you’re here for the first time, make sure you subscribe to our
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Let’s talk about what's this crisis is doing to applications that are currently being submitted.
We have a lot of clients that… and I see that a lot in our comments and emails that
I get, people filed applications in January of 2020, and also last year, those cases are
currently pending. A lot of cases are pending at a National Visa Center if you're going
through a family petition. A lot of cases are currently waiting for their interviews
at the different US embassies. How is this impacting the processing time? So, first of
all, the embassies closed several weeks ago, and we're still waiting for them to reopen.
And so, what that means is that all the interviews that were scheduled for April were essentially
rescheduled. They're not going to happen. And so, the practical impact of that is that
when they are going to resume, they're going to go back and start to reschedule interviews,
first come, first served. So, those that are supposed to be seen beginning of April, are
going to, hopefully, get priority and they're going to be starting to be rescheduled now
as they reopen. But what the practical reality of this is that it's going to add a few months
to the wait time. So, if there was a normal way time of let's say, 5 months, 6 months
from the time NVC finished processing applications until they went to the interview queue, it
will add a few months to the process. People were supposed to get scheduled for interviews
and the interviews were rescheduled. It probably will take a few more months before New interviews
will be assigned. Hopefully, it will be sooner but we know that the backlog is huge and embassies,
coming back to work, are going to be more careful as to how many people that can see
at the same time. One of the things that we hear from our resources is that if at any
given time, at the consulate post would see, I don't know, 20, 25 interviews a day, that
number may be cut by half. And so, we know that that's going to obviously, increase the
delay in waiting for an interview to be scheduled. But it's normal because they also want to
stay safe. They also don't want to overcrowd the facilities. And so, expect delays. Even
when they reopen and people who are scheduled to go, let's say in April, now, they're going
to be keeping the same order. I mean, they're not going to be just choosing randomly. They're
going to probably go back to the same order and start scheduling people to go back to
their interviews the way it should be but expect delays, expect to know that you're
going to have to wait. And people that were scheduled before and normally anticipate to
see a consular officer in a particular time, now, they're going to have to wait much longer
because the capacity of the consulates is going to be definitely different right now.
They're going to see less and less people. But they will continue to reschedule the interviews
in the order that they're received. What about people that are about to file their application?
So, people always ask me, “Can I file my cases now that the US embassies are closed,
now that USCIS is closed?” Remember that while they're closed, they're closed to the
public to see people for appointments but they're still working. So, if you're about
to file an I-130, or an I-140, or any application, you can file it now. In fact, it's better
that you file now and not wait because once they reopen, there's definitely going to be
more delayed. And we also expect to see delays with applications that are actually currently
being filed. So, if you have a case that is ready to go, make sure you file it, there's
no reason for you to wait because they are working in the back end. What's going to happen
in reality is that work permits that used to take 5 to 6 months before the pandemic,
now, you're going to see maybe 2 or 3 months added to that wait time. So, instead of waiting
5 months to get a work permit, you may be waiting 8 months to get a work permit. If
you had to wait 11 to 14 months for your interview to arrive and finish your case, and 3, 4 months
now to the process, you may have to wait 16 to 18 months. We know that that's going to
happen in the USCIS once they reopen. It’s just the fact. It's a simple fact that they're
also not going to be able to see people in full capacity. They're going to have procedures
as to how many people are going to be able to come to the office, how many people they
are going to be able to interview, what interviews are going to be able to actually take place
while they're waiving some other interview. So, what we see is that cases that are being
filed, they are going to be delayed. And benefits that normally took X amount of time, like
a work permit or a travel permit, now, add 3, 4 months to that process, as well as to
when you actually get your final interview. So, cases that are currently being processed,
for sure are going to be delayed. And also, once they reopened, expect delays in new rescheduling,
just because of the new way for them to be able to see people. It’s going to be a little
bit different with the new procedures. And also for cases that are here in the US. Once
they reopened. We do expect delays in rescheduling, but also in benefits being received just because
of the fact that they're not able to accommodate everybody. So, hopefully, that information
is helpful. Leave me a comment with any questions. Once again, if you’re here for the first
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