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Immigration

Are USCIS Fees Processed During Government Shutdowns? Fee-Funded

Because USCIS is about 96% fee-funded, it continues core processing—accepting filings, taking fees, scheduling biometrics and interviews—during government shutdowns. Filings with incorrect fees will be rejected. Programs needing congressional appropriations may still be delayed. Applicants should confirm fees, use online filing, keep payment records, and attend appointments unless USCIS cancels in writing.

Last updated: October 1, 2025 7:00 pm
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Key takeaways
USCIS funds about 96% of its budget from application fees, so core services continue during a shutdown.
USCIS will accept filings, schedule biometrics and interviews, and issue decisions even if other agencies furlough.
Filings with incorrect or outdated fees will be rejected; the agency enforces fee updates during shutdowns.

(UNITED STATES) As Congress edges toward another funding standoff, the nation’s immigration agency says most of its work will keep going. The reason is simple yet often misunderstood: USCIS is a fee-funded service and continues to accept and process applications during a government shutdown, even when other federal agencies limit operations.

The agency, which runs most of the United States 🇺🇸 legal immigration system—from family petitions to work authorization and naturalization—receives about 96% of its budget from application fees rather than from annual congressional spending. That structure means USCIS generally remains open, schedules interviews, takes biometrics, accepts filings, and issues decisions while other parts of the federal government pause or slow down.

Are USCIS Fees Processed During Government Shutdowns? Fee-Funded
Are USCIS Fees Processed During Government Shutdowns? Fee-Funded

What filers should do now

Applicants and employers who need to file should proceed as planned. USCIS will still accept submissions by mail and through its online system, and the agency will continue to apply the fee rules in place at the time of filing. That includes any new fee schedules that took effect before the shutdown.

  • Proceed with filings: Submit paper packets by mail or file online as usual.
  • Double-check fees: Forms sent without the correct fee will be rejected—even during a shutdown.
  • Attend appointments: If an interview or biometrics appointment is scheduled during a shutdown week, attend unless USCIS sends a specific notice saying otherwise.

Important: USCIS will reject filings sent with old fee amounts and will not “hold” improperly paid applications to wait for corrected payment later.

⚠️ Important
Double-check the exact filing fee before submission; using an outdated amount will cause rejection even during a shutdown.

Why USCIS keeps working during a shutdown

USCIS’s resilience stems from a funding model built around user fees: immigrants and petitioning employers pay for services, and those funds cover the agency’s salaries, rent, and technology. Because the money comes from applicants rather than appropriations, USCIS can keep casework moving when other agencies face furloughs.

  • Agency functions that generally continue:
    • Intake and acceptance of filings
    • Fee processing
    • Scheduling and conducting interviews and biometrics
    • Issuing decisions and notices
  • Potential indirect disruptions:
    • Delays when other agencies involved in a case (background checks, medicals, etc.) are affected by a shutdown

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this structure has allowed USCIS to run through past shutdowns with limited service disruptions, though some knock-on delays can occur when other agencies play a role.

Fee updates and enforcement during a shutdown

USCIS officials have said that fee-related updates remain enforceable even during a shutdown window. For example, if a new fee schedule took effect earlier in the fiscal year—or on a set date such as July 22, 2025—it remains enforceable.

📝 Note
If a program relies on appropriations (like EB-5 or Conrad 30), expect potential delays—plan timelines with this risk in mind and consult your attorney for next steps.
  • USCIS will:
    • Reject filings with incorrect fees
    • Not hold improperly paid applications for later correction
    • Continue to use its online payment system and notify applicants of new add-on fees through official channels

Example: If a filing requires the $100 asylum application fee effective in FY 2025, USCIS will notify eligible applicants and expect that fee to be paid when filing.

Online filing and case tracking

USCIS’s online systems remain active during a shutdown.

  • Benefits of online filing:
    • Pay fees electronically
    • Receive electronic notices, biometrics requests, and RFEs
    • Track case status from anywhere
  • Practical tips:
    • Keep copies of payment receipts and delivery confirmations
    • Check your online account often for new messages

For official fee information and payment guidance, consult the agency’s fee page: USCIS Filing Fees.

Programs that are vulnerable to shutdowns

Not everything tied to immigration is shielded from a shutdown. Some programs depend on congressional appropriations or specific legislative authorization.

  • Examples of at-risk programs:
    • EB-5 Regional Center Program — historically required congressional action to remain in force
    • Conrad 30 physician waiver — dependent on legislative authority

When appropriations lapse, these programs can slow down or suspend parts of their work, affecting investors, hospitals, and rural communities. Applicants in these lanes should monitor official notices and contact attorneys or program sponsors for updates.

Appointments, interviews, and what to expect

USCIS interviews and biometrics appointments generally proceed as scheduled. Applicants should:

🔔 Reminder
Keep a copy of every payment receipt and delivery confirmation; monitor your online USCIS account for new messages or appointment updates.
  1. Show up at the time and place on the notice.
  2. Bring required identification and supporting documents.
  3. Assume appointments are on unless you receive written cancellation.

Missing an interview without good cause can cause months of delay or risk denial for failure to appear. In rare cases, local conditions or closures could force rescheduling; USCIS will issue a new notice if that happens.

Employer considerations

For employers planning filings, the main risks relate to timing and external dependencies:

  • Risks:
    • Downstream steps that require other agencies (e.g., labor certifications, federal background checks) may be delayed.
    • Programs reliant on appropriations may pause.
  • Recommendations:
    • Build extra cushion into start dates and onboarding.
    • Document any shutdown-related delays for compliance or audit purposes.

Trade-offs of the fee-funded model

The fee model offers advantages and drawbacks:

  • Pros:
    • USCIS can remain operational during government funding lapses.
    • Caseworkers continue adjudicating core petitions and applications.
    • Online filing and payment remain available.
  • Cons:
    • Sensitivity to surges or drops in filing volume (affects staffing and processing times)
    • Budget planning becomes harder when filings fluctuate

A shutdown doesn’t remove these structural pressures; it simply prevents a lapse in daily intake and processing caused by appropriations gaps.

Practical checklist for filers during a shutdown

  • Confirm the current fee on the official site on the day you file.
  • Use the payment method USCIS accepts for your filing channel (online or mail).
  • Attend all scheduled interviews and biometrics appointments unless USCIS cancels in writing.
  • Keep a copy of your filing, fee receipt, and delivery confirmation.
  • Check your online account messages often for any new notices.
  • If your case touches a program dependent on appropriations, contact your attorney or program sponsor to confirm the latest status.

Special considerations: asylum seekers and community support

The introduction of a $100 asylum application fee effective in FY 2025 raises affordability concerns for many asylum seekers. USCIS will notify applicants individually about new fee requirements by official channels.

  • Community groups and legal clinics can:
    • Help applicants gather documents
    • Provide budgeting and filing assistance
    • Offer multilingual support and clinics during high-demand periods

Indirect delays and real-world impacts

Even when USCIS keeps working, indirect delays can affect cases:

  • Examples:
    • Background checks or referrals that depend on another agency
    • Medical exams delayed due to local office hour changes
    • Civil documents taking longer to obtain

These are practical hurdles rather than formal shutdown closures, but they can be consequential for time-sensitive filings.

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • Filing with an outdated fee amount — leads to rejected packages and weeks-long delays.
  • Missing appointments because of mistaken assumptions about office closures.
  • Relying on headlines instead of checking USCIS’s official fee table and form pages.

Legal service providers advise planning well ahead and double-checking every line item: fee amount, signature, form edition date, and filing location.

Communication and security

Technology helps USCIS maintain continuity, but filers should remain vigilant:

  • Only trust notices sent through official USCIS channels or displayed in your secure online account.
  • Watch for phishing attempts and lookalike websites during high-news periods.

Final takeaway

The central question—“Will USCIS accept my money and process my case during a government shutdown?”—has a clear answer: Yes. USCIS application fees are processed and accepted during a government shutdown because the agency is primarily fee-funded.

  • Requirements that still apply:
    • Submit the correct fee in the accepted form.
    • Attend scheduled biometrics and interviews unless notified otherwise.
    • Expect that some programs dependent on appropriations may pause, and some steps that need other agencies could slow.

For up-to-date fee details and payment instructions, check: USCIS Filing Fees.

Stay organized, follow official guidance, and maintain contact information so you don’t miss any agency notices. In a political season full of uncertainty, USCIS’s fee-funded operations provide continuity that matters to families, workers, and communities relying on predictable immigration processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1
Will USCIS continue to accept and process my application during a government shutdown?
Yes. USCIS is largely fee-funded (about 96%), so it will generally accept filings, process fees, schedule biometrics and interviews, and issue decisions during a federal shutdown. However, delays can occur if other agencies involved in your case are affected.

Q2
What should I do to avoid my filing being rejected during a shutdown?
Confirm the current fee on USCIS.gov the day you file, include the exact required payment, use USCIS-approved payment methods, keep receipts and delivery confirmations, and file through the online system if possible to reduce errors.

Q3
Will new fee increases still apply if a shutdown happens after the fee change date?
Yes. Fee updates that took effect before the shutdown remain enforceable. USCIS will reject filings with outdated fees and will not hold improperly paid applications for later correction.

Q4
Are any immigration programs at risk of pausing during a shutdown?
Yes. Programs that depend on congressional appropriations—such as parts of the EB-5 Regional Center Program or the Conrad 30 physician waiver—may slow or suspend when appropriations lapse. Monitor official notices and consult attorneys or program sponsors for status updates.

VisaVerge.com
Learn Today
USCIS → U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency that manages lawful immigration processes.
Fee-funded → A financing model where an agency’s operations are primarily supported by user fees rather than congressional appropriations.
Biometrics → Collection of fingerprints, photos, and signatures used to verify an applicant’s identity for immigration processing.
EB-5 Regional Center Program → An investor visa program that can depend on congressional authorization and has faced lapses in the past.
Conrad 30 waiver → A waiver program allowing foreign medical graduates to work in underserved U.S. areas; sometimes requires legislative authority.
RFE → Request for Evidence; a USCIS notice asking applicants to supply additional documentation for their case.
Form I-485 → Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, commonly used to seek a green card from inside the U.S.

This Article in a Nutshell

USCIS operates largely uninterrupted during federal government shutdowns because it is nearly entirely fee-funded, receiving about 96% of its budget from application fees. This funding model allows the agency to accept filings, process payments, schedule and conduct interviews and biometrics, and issue decisions while other agencies may furlough staff. Applicants should proceed with filings, verify current fee amounts before submission, and attend scheduled appointments unless explicitly canceled. However, programs dependent on congressional appropriations—such as parts of the EB-5 Regional Center Program or Conrad 30 waivers—may face delays or suspension. Using USCIS’s online filing and payment systems, keeping receipts, and monitoring official notices helps minimize disruption during shutdown periods.

— VisaVerge.com
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Oliver Mercer
ByOliver Mercer
Chief Editor
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As the Chief Editor at VisaVerge.com, Oliver Mercer is instrumental in steering the website's focus on immigration, visa, and travel news. His role encompasses curating and editing content, guiding a team of writers, and ensuring factual accuracy and relevance in every article. Under Oliver's leadership, VisaVerge.com has become a go-to source for clear, comprehensive, and up-to-date information, helping readers navigate the complexities of global immigration and travel with confidence and ease.
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