(UNITED STATES) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said core operations will keep moving even as the federal budget lapse triggers a broader Federal Government Shutdown starting October 1, 2025. Because USCIS is funded mainly by application fees rather than annual congressional spending, the agency will keep taking and deciding cases — from family and humanitarian filings to employment petitions. That means USCIS continues processing most applications with only limited disruption, while other immigration-related agencies scale back.
Applicants with pending petitions should still attend scheduled biometrics and interviews. USCIS appointments should proceed as planned, and Premium Processing remains available unless the agency announces a pause. That continuity matters for employers trying to onboard workers, families mid-process, and students with time-sensitive needs. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the agency’s fee-funded model has shielded applicants during past lapses, and that same structure helps now.
Still, the shutdown affects the wider immigration system. E-Verify, which checks new hires’ work authorization and relies on appropriated funds, typically goes offline during a shutdown. Employers cannot start or finish new E-Verify cases until funding returns. Yet hiring rules do not stop: companies must still complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification for every new employee within normal deadlines. USCIS directs employers to continue following I-9 rules and keep copies as usual. The form and instructions are available on the agency’s site at Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
What stays open at USCIS
USCIS will continue to accept and adjudicate immigration Petitions and applications. That includes cases filed by mail and online. Lockbox intake and case processing centers remain staffed.
The agency has not announced any broad pause to Premium Processing, the expedited service that, for an extra fee, offers faster action on certain filings. Unless USCIS posts a change, Premium Processing continues under normal rules.
Key operational points:
– Petitions and applications: USCIS is continuing to receive and decide cases. Deadlines for responses, filings, and appeals remain in effect unless USCIS grants an individual extension.
– Biometrics and interviews: People should plan to attend as scheduled. If you cannot attend for a valid reason, contact USCIS as soon as possible.
– Premium Processing: The service remains available unless USCIS says otherwise. Applicants and employers should watch for official notices in case the agency adjusts timelines.
Applicants should also keep an eye on case notices. If the federal shutdown leads to local building access limits or staffing adjustments, USCIS may reschedule certain appointments. For now, the agency’s message is steady: business largely continues.
For official updates, USCIS advises checking its website, which posts alerts and contact options, at the USCIS home page: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The agency also keeps its customer line open. People with case-specific questions can call 1-800-375-5283 for help.
Ripple effects across other agencies
The shutdown does not hit every agency the same way. Some services are fee-funded and continue with fewer changes. Others depend on annual appropriations and scale down immediately. The result is an uneven impact across the immigration landscape that applicants and employers need to plan around.
- E-Verify
- The system usually becomes unavailable during a shutdown.
- Employers cannot open or finish new E-Verify cases until funding returns.
- Companies must still complete Form I-9 within normal time limits; keep records ready to run E-Verify cases later if required.
- Department of Labor (DOL)
- The DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification stops processing during a lapse in funding.
- That pause affects labor certification steps required for certain visa categories and can delay downstream filings.
- U.S. Department of State (DOS)
- Visa and passport services continue, but delays are possible.
- Consular posts may reduce staffing or slow appointment scheduling. Applicants should expect longer waits and watch for embassy or consulate notices.
- Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)
- Immigration courts hear only detained cases.
- Non-detained hearings are postponed and will be rescheduled; affected people should wait for new notices.
Because these agencies interact, a hold at one step can ripple into others. For example:
– An employer might be ready to file a petition with USCIS, but a required DOL certification is on hold.
– A family’s USCIS approval could sit while a consulate works through reduced schedules.
The continued strength of USCIS operations reduces disruption, but it does not remove bottlenecks outside the agency.
What applicants and employers should do now
Applicants can reduce stress by focusing on what they can control during the Federal Government Shutdown:
– Keep appointments and attend biometrics and interviews as scheduled.
– Save copies of every filing and receipt notice.
– Respond to USCIS requests by the stated deadline.
– If a needed step is on pause at another agency, gather documents now so you can act quickly when systems restart.
For employers, follow this simple checklist during the shutdown period:
1. Complete Form I-9 for every hire on time and keep copies. Use Form I‑9 on USCIS.gov for the form and rules.
2. Hold E-Verify submissions until the system returns; maintain a list ready to enter later.
3. Move forward with USCIS filings that are not blocked by DOL steps, and consider Premium Processing where speed is critical and eligible.
4. Communicate with foreign national employees about expected delays at consulates and with DOL-dependent steps.
Families can follow a similar checklist:
– Attend biometrics and interviews as scheduled unless USCIS tells you otherwise.
– Watch your mail and online account for notices.
– Prepare documents now for steps that may open again when other agencies restart.
Practical scenarios and examples
- A spouse of a U.S. citizen with a pending adjustment case receives a biometrics notice for next week. They should still attend. If USCIS later reschedules, the person will get a new notice.
- An employer ready to file a petition that depends on a DOL labor certification may need to wait until the DOL resumes processing. USCIS cannot accept filings that legally require a certification not yet issued.
- A student with a time-sensitive filing may choose to use Premium Processing if eligible, since it remains available unless USCIS announces otherwise.
- A family with an approved USCIS petition waiting for a consular interview should watch for embassy updates and expect slower scheduling.
The phone line at 1-800-375-5283 remains an option for case-specific questions. USCIS also encourages people to check their case status online and to follow official notices for any office-specific changes. While in-person services continue, local conditions can shift, and USCIS will notify people if their appointment date changes.
VisaVerge.com reports that in previous shutdowns, E-Verify went offline, the DOL halted certifications, and immigration courts kept only detained hearings, while USCIS carried on thanks to fees. The pattern this time tracks that history: the core application engine runs, while the edges slow or pause.
Deadlines, RFE responses, and timing
Workers and families should take care with deadlines. A government shutdown does not stop the clock on most immigration timelines.
– If USCIS sends a Request for Evidence with a due date, respond by that date.
– If you have a filing window for a benefit, submit it on time.
– If you need to reschedule an interview, contact USCIS quickly.
USCIS can make case-by-case adjustments, but applicants should not assume extra time unless USCIS states it in writing.
Where to get official, up-to-date information
For real-time updates during the shutdown, check:
– USCIS home page: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
– Form I-9 details: Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification
– USCIS customer service: 1-800-375-5283
When funding returns, agencies will announce restarts, catch-up plans, and any grace periods—especially for E-Verify users and employers facing missed DOL steps.
Bottom line
During this Federal Government Shutdown:
– USCIS continues processing filings; biometrics, interviews, and Premium Processing proceed unless otherwise announced.
– E-Verify is typically unavailable.
– DOL labor certification work stops.
– State Department consular services continue but may slow.
– Immigration courts hear only detained cases.
Applicants and employers who act on the parts that remain open, track official notices, and prepare for paused steps will be best positioned to move forward once full government funding is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Beginning October 1, 2025, the federal government shutdown will not halt most USCIS operations because the agency is largely funded by application fees. USCIS will continue to accept and adjudicate petitions and applications, conduct biometrics and interviews, and generally keep Premium Processing available unless the agency states otherwise. However, related agencies will scale back: E-Verify generally becomes unavailable, the Department of Labor pauses labor certification processing, and immigration courts hear primarily detained cases, while consular services may slow. Applicants should attend scheduled appointments, meet USCIS deadlines, save copies of filings, and monitor official USCIS updates. Employers must still complete Form I-9 on time and postpone E-Verify submissions until funding resumes. Coordination across agencies means delays in one step can ripple through others, so preparing documents and tracking notices will reduce disruption.
