US Shutdown: Implications for Immigrants, Students, and Visa Holders

(UNITED STATES) The US Government Shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025 is already reshaping how federal agencies serve immigrants, international students, and visa holders across the United States 🇺🇸. With Senate Democrats blocking a Republican-backed funding measure, non-essential federal operations have paused and agencies are working from contingency plans. The Senate vote failed 55–45, short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates up to 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed, with lost compensation nearing $400 million per day. While national security, air traffic control, and Social Security continue, many immigration-related services are slowing and some are halted.

For families waiting on green cards, students planning for Optional Practical Training (OPT), and employers with pending petitions, the shutdown means uncertainty and delay. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, most core immigration enforcement functions continue, but adjudication and support services—the day-to-day processing that keeps cases moving—are vulnerable when funding stops.

Immediate effects on immigration services

USCIS is largely fee-funded, so many applications will keep moving. However, reduced staffing and ripple effects across partner agencies will slow timelines. Expect longer waits for biometrics appointments, interviews, and case updates.

The Department of State’s consular posts abroad remain open, yet visa interviews can be pushed back if posts face staffing shortages or limited resources. This will affect tourists, students, scholars, and employment-based applicants waiting for stamping or renewals.

A major choke point is the Department of Labor (DOL). Because DOL is not fee-funded:

• The online systems for Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) and PERM labor certification are shut during the funding lapse.
• This blocks new H‑1B and E‑3 petitions that need certified LCAs.
• It freezes employer-sponsored green card steps that require PERM.

Even after funding is restored, backlogs typically take weeks or months to unwind.

Other immediate impacts:

• Premium processing at USCIS may be delayed if staffing is thinned, even though the service is fee-funded.
• E‑Verify is offline during the shutdown. Employers must follow DHS guidance on handling hiring and Form I‑9 timing when E‑Verify is unavailable, and STEM OPT employers should keep extra records in case of future audits.
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are essential, so international students on F‑1 or J‑1 visas will still cross the border. However, longer lines and more secondary inspections are possible if support staff are furloughed.
• University international offices will keep advising students but may not be able to resolve federal casework quickly. OPT and STEM OPT applications can still be filed and processed, but delays are likely if the shutdown lasts.
• Passport services continue domestically and at some consulates, though turnaround times may stretch.
• The Internal Revenue Service may delay ITIN applications, tax refunds, and correspondence, affecting immigrants who need IRS decisions to complete benefit or immigration paperwork.

Key note: USCIS fee-based petitions—such as Form I-129 (work visas), Form I-140 (employment-based immigrant petitions), and Form I-539 (changes/extensions of stay)—can continue to be filed and adjudicated, but any step that requires a certified LCA or a PERM approval is paused until DOL reopens. Consular visas may face scheduling delays even when posts remain open.

What applicants should do during the shutdown

• File early and expect delays:
  1. Students should file OPT or STEM OPT with complete, accurate packets. Use the official Form I-765 to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Link: Form I-765.
  2. Workers and employers should prepare petitions ahead of time so they are ready to submit as soon as required certifications are available. For H‑1B, use Form I-129: Form I-129.
  3. For employment-based green cards, employers may still prepare packages for later filing. The immigrant petition uses Form I-140: Form I-140. Family members should plan for status steps using Form I-539 when needed: Form I-539.
• Keep status valid:
  • Do not let your I-94, visa status, or EAD lapse if you can avoid it. File extensions early.
  • If a step depends on DOL systems, document your attempts and keep proof for later.
  • For students on OPT or STEM OPT, keep careful logs of employment, training plans, and hours. If E‑Verify is down, keep extra documentation to show good‑faith compliance.
• Monitor official updates:
  • Agencies post shutdown notices and service changes. For a central overview of what a funding lapse means for federal services, see USA.gov’s government shutdown page.
  • Check the websites of your local U.S. embassy or consulate for visa appointment status and emergency contact instructions.
• Adjust travel plans:
  • If travel is non-urgent, consider waiting until after funding is restored.
  • If you must travel, allow extra time for interviews, stamping, and airport inspections.

• Talk to an attorney if timelines are tight:
  • If you’re approaching a status expiration, juggling a job start date, or stuck between DOL and USCIS steps, get legal advice to avoid falling out of status or missing windows.

Broader outlook and recovery timeline

Shutdowns affect the immigration ecosystem unevenly: enforcement keeps going; adjudication slows. The longer a shutdown lasts, the deeper the backlog—and that backlog ripples across semesters, hiring cycles, and family timelines.

Impacts by sector:

• Universities:
  • Pauses in federal research funding and certain grants can strain labs and cross-border collaborations.
  • Students near graduation may wait longer for OPT approval, delaying job starts.
• Employers:
  • A freeze on LCAs and PERM acts like a red light for new H‑1B onboarding and many employment-based green card cases.
  • An engineer on an H‑1B transfer could face uncertainty if consular slots tighten overseas.
• Families:
  • A couple finalizing a spousal green card may see interviews rescheduled.

Historical context: In previous shutdowns, agencies needed weeks to reschedule canceled appointments, restart paused systems, and reassign staff. Even after lawmakers reach a deal, clearing the backlog takes time—especially at DOL, where a complete pause today becomes a queue tomorrow.

Policy environment: Ongoing policy debates can add pressure. Recent proposals to fix maximum terms and shorten grace periods for certain student categories drew opposition from higher education groups, who warned such changes could deter international talent. Any new rulemaking would follow notice-and-comment steps, giving affected groups chances to respond.

Practical guidance for institutions:

• Map dependencies: If a case needs an LCA or PERM, assume no movement until funding returns.
• For cases purely within USCIS and fee-funded, expect slower but ongoing processing.
• For consular visas, watch post-specific notices—staffing and local conditions vary widely.
• Keep stakeholders informed with realistic timelines and backup plans.

Human stories sit behind these policies. A researcher waiting on a J‑1 renewal, a nurse on an H‑1B transfer, a couple finalizing a spousal green card—delays carry real costs. Housing deposits, school start dates, and job offers often hinge on government timetables. When those timetables slip, people scramble.

Practical checklist — immediate steps to take

• File forms early and completely; keep copies of everything submitted.
• Save proof of any system outages or closures that block filings.
• Maintain meticulous records of employment, training, and communications.
• If E‑Verify is unavailable, gather alternative verification documents and extra evidence of good-faith compliance.
• Communicate proactively with employers, schools, and family members about realistic timelines and contingency plans.
• Seek professional legal advice when in doubt.

There is no set end date. Lawmakers may pass a short-term funding bill or a full-year deal. Until then, agencies will work from contingency plans and delays will likely grow. Once funding is restored, watch for agencies to announce extended hours, added appointments, and guidance on handling missed deadlines during the shutdown period.

For now, focus on what you can control: file early, keep status valid, and stay informed through official channels. When in doubt, seek professional advice tailored to your situation.