2025-26 U.S. Ice Dance News, Updates & Discussion - Backstreet Boys & Spice Girls

[Karen-W]

I don’t remember throwing out December as the deadline. Isn’t Jan 6 and the end of December just a matter of days?

I do remember mentioning this being a tight deadline which it is, especially not knowing when the government will reopen.

Also I can’t help but wonder if Z/K’s score boosts may have something to do with them now being eligible. Again, I will be the one to say I have no insider knowledge but just reading tea leaves which we all do to some extent here.

Also I like C/p and they have carried US ice dance quite a bit the last two years and I hope they get to go.

I realize this article is about a month old now, but...

What the government shutdown means for your passport plans

Travelers shouldn't be too worried about getting their passport in time, even during the government shutdown.

www.usatoday.com

"Consular operations domestically and abroad, including passport and visa services and assistance for American citizens abroad, will continue during a lapse in government funding," the State Department told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.

Passport processing times remain the same as before the shutdown: Applicants will wait an estimated four to six weeks for routine service and between two and three weeks if they pay $60 to expedite it (excluding mailing times).

And from this Newsweek article around the same time - https://www.newsweek.com/government-shutdown-passport-applications-10839735

Despite the widespread disruption caused by the shutdown, U.S. citizens applying for or renewing a passport are largely in the clear. The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services is classified as essential. Because it is funded through passport fees rather than congressional appropriations, its operations will continue even while most government offices remain closed.

This means that passport services, both in the U.S. and overseas at embassies and consulates, should remain open. However, travelers are advised to plan ahead, as some delays in processing may occur due to reduced interagency support or staffing disruptions elsewhere in the government.

Those applying through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) are also not expected to face any changes. The Postal Service is independently funded through sales of postage and other products, so it is not affected by the federal shutdown. Passport acceptance appointments at local post offices will continue without interruption.

I hope this puts an end to the misinformation being spouted in this thread that Carreira's passport application is going to be delayed due to the government shutdown.

 

[jlai]

I didn't say anything at all about the passport application in particular in my last post. Anyway, let's hope all that is sorted out anyway. I like them.

eta: we do all kinds of speculation in this thread for all sorts of reasons as long as we made it clear these are opinions

 

[Karen-W]

I didn't say anything at all about the passport application in particular in my last post. Anyway, let's hope all that is sorted out anyway. I like them.

eta: we do all kinds of speculation in this thread for all sorts of reasons as long as we made it clear these are opinions

I get it, I just wanted to clear up some of the misinformed speculation that others have been making about what is and isn't shut down right now. FWIW, USCIS is also considered an essential service and continues to process immigration/citizenship applications as well as hold naturalization ceremonies within pre-shutdown timeframes (easily Googled information). Plus, as I mentioned before, the USOPC has a liaison with the State Dept who can help facilitate some things if there are unexpected delays or rush requests.

Christina & Anthony themselves seemed very confident that all will be taken care of within a few weeks which matches up with what other, sourced posters have said they've heard regarding Christina's timeline - November 2025.

 

[ice coverage]

I found it reassuring that Carreira had good feelings about her own citizenship timeline, in the Tatjana Flade interview after Skate Canada. I look forward to hearing happy news from Christina.

As for possible effects of the shutdown on the naturalization process in general, an X post from the Director of USCIS on Oct 2 said:

"Public facing interactions such as interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and contact center responses may also be delayed. USCIS regrets any negative impacts caused to aliens and Americans seeking benefits from the agency but must ensure that it complies with the law."

https://x.com/USCISJoe/status/1973829618952974772

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I look forward to hearing how Alex spins the video when he’s being grilled by Christine Brennan at Nationals.

Alex and Maia might simply refuse to go to any press conference prior to the competition at Nationals (if there is one). And aren't only the top three teams invited to the press conference after the RD/FD? Because if they go to Nationals, I'm having serious doubts that the Shibs will even be in the top 4, let alone top 3.

 

[Tinycities]

I think the issue is that the USCIS also has holiday closures. If she’s using a visa agency for expediting that also has closures. The most safe time to have her passport by is mid December.

 

[Spikefan]

Just because federal workers are excepted and have to work doesn’t mean they aren’t calling out sick or requesting to be placed on furlough. It doesn’t just happen at ATC or TSA. The shutdown does cause a slowdown whether most feel it or not. So yes, the shutdown is concerning but hopefully things work out.

 

[jlai]

So yes, the shutdown is concerning but hopefully things work out.

Thx, this sums up what I was trying to say all along

 

[Karen-W]

Just because federal workers are excepted and have to work doesn’t mean they aren’t calling out sick or requesting to be placed on furlough. It doesn’t just happen at ATC or TSA. The shutdown does cause a slowdown whether most feel it or not. So yes, the shutdown is concerning but hopefully things work out.

The two articles I linked about the State Dept's passport/visa agency, and all of the information I've seen about USCIS, indicate those agencies are still fully funded (by application & processing fees rather than Congressional appropriations) which would mean that workers at those agencies would have no fears of not being paid and no valid reason to call out sick or be placed on furlough beyond usual employee attrition/seasonal staffing needs.

I'd love for someone to find some actual proof that there have been appreciable delays and slowdowns in these specific services beyond the Director of USCIS saying, back at the beginning of October, that there "may" be cancellations or delays in some services. At this point, all I'm reading is speculation that maybe it's happening and anecdotes from well-meaning posters of their own experiences several years ago.

As one of the many CarPon ubers around here, the needless speculation is stressful & aggravating to read, especially when a basic Google search produces no factual reporting of delays with the two agencies Christina is working with to complete her naturalization process and receive her passport.

 

[Spikefan]

The two articles I linked about the State Dept's passport/visa agency, and all of the information I've seen about USCIS, indicate those agencies are still fully funded (by application & processing fees rather than Congressional appropriations) which would mean that workers at those agencies would have no fears of not being paid and no valid reason to call out sick or be placed on furlough beyond usual employee attrition/seasonal staffing needs.

He added that for the duration of the shutdown, USCIS will focus on “reviewing cases with national security concerns, vetting immigration backlogs to ID threats, & referring all threats to ICE.” But he acknowledged that “this reprioritization may impact processing times.”

Public-facing services will also be affected. “Public facing interactions such as interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and contact center responses may also be delayed. USCIS regrets any negative impacts caused to aliens and Americans seeking benefits from the agency but must ensure that it complies with the law,” Eldow posted.

USCIS warns govt shutdown to delay visas, interviews and naturalization ceremonies - BusinessToday

USCIS Director Joseph B. Eldow, in a series of posts on X, confirmed that resources are being redirected to prioritize national security concerns

www.businesstoday.in

 

[Karen-W]

He added that for the duration of the shutdown, USCIS will focus on “reviewing cases with national security concerns, vetting immigration backlogs to ID threats, & referring all threats to ICE.” But he acknowledged that “this reprioritization may impact processing times.”

Public-facing services will also be affected. “Public facing interactions such as interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and contact center responses may also be delayed. USCIS regrets any negative impacts caused to aliens and Americans seeking benefits from the agency but must ensure that it complies with the law,” Eldow posted.

USCIS warns govt shutdown to delay visas, interviews and naturalization ceremonies - BusinessToday

USCIS Director Joseph B. Eldow, in a series of posts on X, confirmed that resources are being redirected to prioritize national security concerns

www.businesstoday.in

The line I have bolded is incorrect. I realize you're only quoting a news article but the reporter makes a statement that is NOT backed up within the quote they are using from the USCIS official who says "MAY also be delayed."

Again, this article was written at the beginning of the shutdown and the warning issued was that there MAY be delays. I asked if anyone has seen any more recent information or news that confirms there HAVE been delays to these services as a result of the shutdown.

 

[PRlady]

Well fwiw here’s the AI summary:

Is USCIS experiencing delays?
AI Overview
+6
Yes, USCIS is experiencing significant delays and has a record backlog of 11.3 million pending applications due to a combination of factors including staffing shortages, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical records, and a recent suspension of the automated case processing system. These delays are affecting all types of applications, with some forms seeing processing times increase dramatically.

However it’s also been reported that since the backlog was cleared in 2023, naturalization times have stayed low, relatively speaking. That doesn’t take account of the layoffs and shutdowns, though.

 

[Karen-W]

Well fwiw here’s the AI summary:

Is USCIS experiencing delays?
AI Overview
+6
Yes, USCIS is experiencing significant delays and has a record backlog of 11.3 million pending applications due to a combination of factors including staffing shortages, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical records, and a recent suspension of the automated case processing system. These delays are affecting all types of applications, with some forms seeing processing times increase dramatically.

However it’s also been reported that since the backlog was cleared in 2023, naturalization times have stayed low, relatively speaking. That doesn’t take account of the layoffs and shutdowns, though.

That also doesn't mention any impact from the current government shut down which is the speculation that I'm challenging.

Last summer I did a bit of reading up on the processing times with USCIS and discovered that it varies quite a bit depending on which field office you're dealing with. Detroit, which is where Christina would likely be processed, is on the slower side, with it taking around 6 months. Given that you can submit your application 3 months before the date you become eligible, Christina would have been able to apply in May and November is 6 months later - which tracks with what @nylynnr said she'd heard from USFS folks awhile back about when Christina would get her citizenship - and with what Christina & Anthony seemed to imply in the SCI interview with Flade.

I don't get why people here are continuing to push the narrative that the shut down is impacting Christina's naturalization process when there's no information out there (either in actual news reporting or AI overviews) to indicate that assumption is in any way true.

 

[my little pony]

karen, respectfully, maybe close some tabs and just take comfort in the fact that Christina feels like it will work out. everyone here but me seems to really want this for them so much so that I am prob in danger for typing that. (I dont not want it I just dont care).

 

[Karen-W]

karen, respectfully, maybe close some tabs and just take comfort in the fact that Christina feels like it will work out. everyone here but me seems to really want this for them so much so that I am prob in danger for typing that. (I dont not want it I just dont care).

Respectfully, mlp, maybe everyone else should stop their baseless speculation about the impact of the shut down unless they're willing to do the basic research about what is and isn't being affected. It's been going on for most of the past month and I'm insulted that the response from multiple posters is that I need to step away when I finally do said research and push back on the incorrect narrative that other posters appear desperate to cling onto despite no facts to support their baseless speculation. Perhaps those posters should step back and ask why it is that they are unwilling to accept any information that contradicts with what they want to believe is true about the shut down. But, yes, let's just disregard the fact that there is nothing to support our own views and instead tell the person who is challenging us to provide information to back up our claims (which doesn't exist) that they need to "step back and take a break." It's the internet equivalent of a toddler putting one's hands over their ears and saying "lalalalalalala - I can't hear you!"

 

[ice coverage]

As long as Carreira is sounding as if things are in good shape for her, then I continue to believe that things are in good shape for her.

At the same time, it unfortunately is true that the shutdown has affected naturalization ceremonies for some others on their path to U.S. citizenship. Some anecdotal reports from October:

California: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/federal-shutdown-cancels-naturalization-ceremony-221646234.html
Missouri: https://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/united-states-naturalization.htm
Virginia: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgywnjkrlqo​

 

[Karen-W]

As long as Carreira is sounding as if things are in good shape for her, then I continue to believe that things are in good shape for her.

At the same time, it unfortunately is true that the shutdown has affected naturalization ceremonies for some others on their path to U.S. citizenship. Some anecdotal reports from October:

California: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/federal-shutdown-cancels-naturalization-ceremony-221646234.html​

Missouri: https://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/united-states-naturalization.htm​

Virginia: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgywnjkrlqo​

Fair enough - though the California and Missouri ceremonies were special ones not held at a USCIS office and it makes sense that off-site ceremonies would be among those cancelled first due to the shut down.

 

[jlai]

Karen we all want this for the team. We just want this to discuss this like a hobby. Because this is a hobby for us after all. not our real life.

There is enough stress enough in our lives a skater’s citizenship shouldn’t add to this. (It will add to Christina’s for sure and kudos to her bearing with it)

 

[Rukia]

In the end I understand why people are worried, but I think we have to trust that Christina is in the best position to know what her situation is. She seems quite confident it will all be settled very soon, so I'm going to accept that unless I hear otherwise.

 

[jlai]

In the end I understand why people are worried, but I think we have to trust that Christina is in the best position to know what her situation is. She seems quite confident it waill all be settled very soon, so I'm going to accept that unless I hear otherwise.

Let’s just keep supporting her and wish her luck

 

[Allskate]

In the end I understand why people are worried, but I think we have to trust that Christina is in the best position to know what her situation is. She seems quite confident it waill all be settled very soon, so I'm going to accept that unless I hear otherwise.

I am, too. Federal judges are deemed essential workers and federal courthouses remain functioning. Although you can find specific circumstances of ceremonies being cancelled, especially if they are located at federal sites where the employees are not essential workers, that is not the norm. Also, although naturalization ceremonies generally take place with large numbers of people being naturalized at once, I know of no law that says it has to happen that way. I'm pretty sure that Christina would just have to find one judge or other proper official who would be willing to do it, and I have a hard time believing that she, USFS, and the USOC couldn't find someone happy to do it.

 

[Sylvia]

Christina & Anthony did a video interview with Tatjana Flade for Ice Skating International Online after their FD at Skate Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZKszXDRF6k

Last question of the interview is about her naturalization process - she sounds VERY hopeful that she'll have it completed within a few more weeks!

Here's the timestamped link to Christina's reply re. her naturalization process, along with Anthony's ringing endorsement of her efforts, from their interview in Saskatoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZKszXDRF6k&t=960s

Re-posting @ice coverage's link to Zingas/Kolesnik's post-Cup of China interview via ISIO (originally posted in their fan thread), ICYMI:

New 22-minute interview with Emi and Vadym is linked below, from Ice Skating International's channel.
Tatjana Flade spoke to them on Oct 26, the day after they won the silver medal at Cup of China.
(I think I hear Judith Dombrowski's voice too?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VIGEi1sQ-4 (published Oct 28)​

Congratulations to Emi and Vadym!

Eva Pate/Logan Bye won gold at IceChallenge in Graz, Austria (Senior B) earlier today - scores were 70.91 RD, 105.94 FD, 176.85 total (similar to their GP France scores of 71.32, 107.36, 178.68; ETA that their ISU SB scores are from their gold at CS Lombardia Trophy: 74.27, 112.69, 186.96).

 

[TanithandBenFan]

All the citizenship talk is taking me back 20 years ago to Tanith’s last minute bill saga. That was the first time in my life I watched C-SPAN lol.

 

[jlai]

Gosh, is it 20 years already?

eta: 19