What Happens to Pending RFE Responses Due During the 2025 Shutdown

USCIS stayed open through the 2025 federal shutdown, and applicants with a Pending RFE that came due during the closure were still expected to send their documents by the date printed on the notice. That policy has driven a tense few weeks for families, students, and employers who feared that a stalled government meant stalled cases. It did not. Because the agency is funded by filing fees rather than annual budgets, it kept reviewing cases, issuing decisions, and taking deliveries even while other parts of the government paused.

For those with time-sensitive requests, the most important point has been clear: submit the RFE response by the original deadline if at all possible.

Why USCIS remained open — and why it matters

USCIS’s operational status matters because the shutdown affected other systems people often need when answering an RFE. Past closures have shown that when the Department of Labor’s portals or E-Verify pause, employers can struggle to get wage data, labor condition filings, or work verification letters on time.

This year brought similar stress, but USCIS did not shut its doors and adjudicators kept working. That meant:

• Most cases moved forward.
• The clock on RFE deadlines kept ticking.
• Applicants were urged to check online accounts often, watch for updates, and respond quickly with full packets, not piecemeal submissions.

Deadlines, extensions, and discretion

Even with systems running, people asked whether deadlines would slide because of the shutdown. The short answer is no: USCIS rarely grants extensions for RFE due dates, and the agency did not issue a blanket delay during the 2025 lapse in funding.

The longer answer is more nuanced:

• In earlier shutdowns, USCIS used discretion in limited situations when the shutdown itself clearly made a timely filing impossible—especially in work visa cases tied to Department of Labor certifications.
• That history suggests possible case-by-case flexibility if a person can show the shutdown was the direct cause of delay.
• However, such relief is not guaranteed and not automatic.

The standing rule remains: the printed deadline controls unless USCIS says otherwise.

Practical steps if an RFE response was late because of the shutdown

Immigration lawyers recommend these actions if your response was delayed for shutdown-related reasons:

1. Submit the RFE packet as soon as possible.
2. Include a short cover letter explaining what system was down and for how long.
3. Attach proof of the outage, for example:
   • Screenshots of an outage notice
   • Dated emails from a vendor that could not operate during the closure

If a case is denied because an RFE response missed the date, attorneys can request that USCIS take another look. Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates these requests tend to receive a fair review when the record shows a direct link to the shutdown, but they still depend on officer discretion and the specific facts in the file.

Funding differences that caused uneven effects

The difference between USCIS and other agencies during a shutdown is rooted in funding:

• USCIS is fee-funded, so it continued to function while many appropriations-based programs paused.
• That split created uneven pressure: people could file with USCIS and receive RFEs, yet sometimes could not access other government tools needed to answer those RFEs.

USCIS has accepted late filings in narrow situations tied to clear, documented shutdown delays, but the standing rule has not changed: the printed deadline controls.

Mail, online tools, and continuity

Applicants were also concerned about mail and online case tools. During this shutdown:

• USCIS case status systems, online accounts, and intake of mail generally continued.
• People reported normal deliveries and receipt notices.
• Processing centers continued working through their queues.

This continuity helped avoid a major backlog and prevented the kind of pileup that follows a full stop. It also meant that a Pending RFE could not be treated as automatically excused because the core USCIS process never paused.

Employer, school, and family impacts

Several employers said the shutdown put their teams in a bind when they needed third-party evidence quickly. One HR manager described calling vendors daily for credential checks and payroll records while waiting for government databases to return.

Common practical advice used by employers and HR teams:

• Collect what you can control immediately.
• Explain what you could not get because of the shutdown.
• Send the packet promptly with supporting proof.

USCIS expects complete responses, but detailed and credible proof of a shutdown barrier can influence an officer’s decision on whether to accept a late filing in the interest of fairness.

For students and families, the stakes were often personal. A parent responding to an RFE about financial support described fear that a missed bank letter—delayed by holiday staffing and the shutdown ripple—could derail a child’s status. Community clinics and legal aid groups reported increased calls from people trying to piece together timely responses.

Their consistent message: act fast, keep records, and do not assume the deadline moved. When in doubt, send what you have before the due date and supplement later if USCIS asks for more.

Best practices for RFEs

RFEs are time-sensitive. USCIS expects a full answer by the date on the notice. The safest approach:

• Build a complete packet early.
• Track delivery and keep copies.
• Document any external failures (e.g., vendor outages) in plain terms.

Officers review the whole record, but they are bound by rules that set firm deadlines. People who assume they can wait until after a shutdown often find that assumption costly.

Official guidance and resources

USCIS has posted general information about operations during funding lapses on its website, explaining that most services continue because fees pay for them. Readers can review the agency’s updates at the official USCIS.gov site for government-wide funding lapses and operational continuity at USCIS.gov. That resource helps separate rumor from reality and links to case tools and account services that stayed online during the closure.

What to expect going forward

As Congress continues budget talks, questions remain:

• Will USCIS show broad flexibility later this year? Typically, officers decide based on individual files, not sweeping policy shifts. No broad extension has been announced.
• Will decisions be delayed because of the shutdown? So far, the agency reports continuity and case movement appears steady in most categories.

The bigger theme is steady hands on both sides: USCIS kept adjudicating, and applicants with a Pending RFE were expected to keep their end of the schedule.

Key takeaways

• USCIS continued to accept and decide RFE responses during the 2025 shutdown.
• Original due dates generally held; extensions are rare.
• Late filings tied to documented shutdown barriers may be considered, but only on a case-by-case basis.
• Act quickly, document disruptions, and submit the most complete response possible by the printed deadline.

The 2025 shutdown reminded everyone that immigration depends on many moving parts. When one part slows, pressure lands on people’s lives. For now, the course remains steady: USCIS continues to accept and decide RFE responses, original due dates hold, and late filings tied to shutdown barriers may get a fair hearing if supported by clear proof. These points have guided thousands of decisions and helped keep many cases on track despite the uncertainty.