What will be the impact of COVID-19 on I-526 availability approach starting 3/31?
There should not be any effect on the issue of pendency. However, the fact that most government agencies have been sporadically shutting down and reopened may affect processing times as many employees are required to work from home to avoid the disease. Advisably, consult your attorney on the calendaring issue.
USCIS has not announced a postponement of the new policy. The IPO staff is able to work remotely (they have in the past) though I suspect there will be delays related to file transfers that will take place.
I expect no change because of covid-19 but their resources may be reduced.
It appears fewer interviews will be scheduled abroad so I anticipate that there is a possibility the full quota may not be used unless things improve and visas are issued before September 30, the end of the fiscal year. Unused visas are lost so let us hope the U.S. government is able to ramp up and issue the full 10,000 quota. We may see more petitions approved but with fewer interviews being scheduled abroad more visas may be issued to people filing I-485 adjustment cases.
USCIS has not announced any changes to its processing relative to I-526. Premium processing is suspended, but that was never available for I-526s anyway. As for getting an immigrant visa from a consulate, that will be suspended until further notice.
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