I have an EB-5 I-485 interview scheduled at USCIS for late January. But I have not received any email about cancellation due to the government shutdown. Should I still prepare to attend?
Answers
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Julia Roussinova
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersYes, you should still attend the interview.
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Ed Beshara
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersStill plan to attend. Otherwise, if you do not, the USCIS may deny your application. It is always easier to attend a rescheduled interview.
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BoBi Ahn
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersYes, it should still be valid. Our understanding is that USCIS operates on its own funding (from fees, etc.), so when the last government shutdown happened, the USCIS (and IRS) continued to function without any interruption.
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Charles Foster
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersYes, you should definitely show up for your interview unless you receive a notice to the contrary. USCIS is funded by filing fees and they should remain open.
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A Olusanjo Omoniyi
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersYes, you should be prepared to attend the interview as scheduled. Do not second guess the USCIS. The only thing that should change your schedule is a written cancellation notice.
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Marko Issever
EB-5 Broker DealersYou should be fine. According to the official USCIS website, the EB-5 program will continue to operate. They continue to say that the current lapse in annual appropriated funding for the U.S. government does not affect USCIS' fee-funded activities. Their offices will remain open, and all individuals should attend interviews and appointments as scheduled. USCIS will continue to accept petitions and applications for benefit requests. Some USCIS programs, however, will either expire or suspend operations, or be otherwise affected, until they receive appropriated funds or are reauthorized by Congress. But again, this does not affect the EB-5 program. So please continue to prepare to attend.
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Jinhee Wilde
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersUSCIS is a fee-based agency, which means they receive fees from the applicants and do not need the appropriation from Congress to operate. Thus, it is still operating through the shutdown, and your interview should proceed as scheduled.
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Lynne Feldman
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersYes, USCIS is mostly working, as they are fee-based.
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Laily Boutaleb
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersYes. If you have a scheduled interview, your interview will go forward. Yes, prepare and attend.
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Salvatore Picataggio
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersAbsolutely! USCIS is even accepting new I-526 petitions (even though they will not process them until reauthorization).
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Stephen Berman
Find the Best EB5 Visa LawyersYes, USCIS is conducting interviews now during the shutdown. I personally attended one this week.
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