The U.S. government officially shut down on September 30th at midnight. This affects many federal services, though not all agencies will close entirely. Below is how immigration processes are impacted.
What Continues as Normal
● USCIS: Stays open, they will handle green cards, citizenship, and work permits as usual (fee-funded).
● Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Ports of entry remain open; border inspections continue. Some delays may occur for applications filed at the border.
● U.S. Embassies/Consulates: Visa and passport services continue for now (fee-funded), but some may experience staffing delays.
What May Be Disrupted
● Department of Labor (DOL): Key processes like LCAs and PERM labor certifications (needed for H-1B and green cards) may stop.
● E-Verify: Likely shuts down. Employers must still complete I-9 forms within 3 days and use E-Verify once it’s back online.
● Consular Services (Long-Term): If shutdown lasts, embassies/consulates may scale back to emergency and diplomatic services only.
Immigration Courts & Enforcement
● Immigration Courts: Hearings for detained individuals continue, and unlike in past shutdowns, hearings for non-detained cases are going forward as well and are not paused.
● ICE & SEVP: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue operating; the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) remains open as it’s fee-funded.
Most fee-funded immigration services continue, but employers and applicants should expect slower timelines for certain steps.
Contact An Immigration Lawyer Today
Reeves Immigration Law Group has decades of experience in handling visas and asylum applications and has successfully handled some of the most complex cases. Our team of immigration visa attorneys understands your concerns and will work with you to provide a personalized approach to meet your immigration needs.
Contact us today to speak with one of our immigration attorneys regarding recent legislative changes, and for help with setting up your case for success.
