I understand the frustration with strict deadlines, but there are also good reasons why deadlines are necessary. Some key points:
- Deadlines ensure forward progress and prevent cases from languishing indefinitely. Without deadlines, some cases may never be completed.
- Strict deadlines motivate everyone on the team to work efficiently so that cases don't get delayed. This helps applicants/petitioners get timely responses.
- Emergency situations indeed require quick turnarounds, so deadlines help prioritize those cases.
- Backups are important so that cases don't stall if someone is out. Deadlines help distribute work and prevent overloading any one person.
Perhaps the deadlines could be reviewed and adjusted in some cases