Did USCIS Processing Slow During the 43-Day Shutdown Despite Fees?

(UNITED STATES) The 43-day federal government shutdown from October 1 to October 30, 2025 left a mark on immigration cases across the United States 🇺🇸, even though U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services remained open. USCIS is funded mainly by filing fees, so it did not close its doors. But key parts of the system did slow down.

The core reason: many immigration steps rely on other agencies that were closed or limited during the shutdown. As a result, USCIS processing times slipped for many applicants, especially those whose cases depend on the Department of Labor or involve background and security checks that rely on interagency cooperation.

What USCIS kept doing — and where it hit limits

USCIS continued to accept and process most applications for visas, green cards, and naturalization. Staff worked, forms were receipted, and case status tools stayed online. Still, the agency faced knock-on delays it could not control.

• The Department of Labor (DOL) suspended normal operations, pausing:
  • Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) required for H‑1B workers and some other categories.
  • PERM labor certifications, used for many employment-based green cards to test the labor market before an employer can sponsor a worker.

Without those DOL approvals, employers couldn’t finish parts of filings and USCIS couldn’t complete many related adjudications. When a front-end process stops, a backlog forms and spreads — which is what applicants and employers observed in October.

E-Verify and Form I-9 disruptions

Another key system affected was E‑Verify, the federal electronic system employers use to confirm new hires’ work authorization. E‑Verify was offline during the shutdown.

• USCIS allowed alternate approaches for Form I-9 (the required document review step for new employees).
• Employers followed special guidance and relied on paper-based I‑9 checks until E‑Verify returned.

This created confusion for HR teams and new workers, contributing to the impression that — despite USCIS being open — the wider immigration system was moving slower than usual.

Resource shifts inside USCIS

USCIS officials redirected staff during the shutdown. USCIS Director Joe Edlow said the agency reprioritized staff to focus on national security and threat vetting.

• More resources were devoted to background checks and risk screening.
• Fewer resources were available for front-line services like interviews and oath ceremonies.

The tradeoff reflected the reality of a partial government stoppage: when partner agencies reduce capacity and security checks take longer, time is pulled away from other services. Applicants reported interview rescheduling and slower file movement, even on cases that did not require DOL steps.

Impacts on families, seasonal employers, and workers

Delays affected multiple groups:

• Family-based applicants experienced slower progress when their cases required interagency checks.
• Naturalization ceremonies were postponed in some locations, causing frustration and extra costs for families.

Seasonal sectors were hit in real time:

• Agriculture and hospitality groups depending on H‑2A and H‑2B workers needed quick Labor certifications for harvest and holiday demand.
• With the DOL not adjudicating, hiring calendars broke down. Employers used temporary staffing, cut shifts, or left vacancies unfilled. Workers abroad saw start dates shift.

These stresses translated into further petition filings and paperwork adjustments at USCIS, adding to the slowdown in USCIS processing times.

Recovery after the shutdown

When the federal government reopened on October 31, 2025, the DOL resumed LCAs and PERM processing. That restart allowed stuck applications to move again, but recovery had two stages and faced a surge:

1. DOL had to clear a backlog of pending requests.
2. USCIS then had to catch up with petitions that could finally be filed or completed after DOL approvals arrived.

The result: the slowdown lingered even after the official end of the shutdown. For many applicants, the question became how long it would take to regain normal pace.

USCIS flexibility and guidance

USCIS tried to mitigate harm where possible:

• The agency indicated it would accept late filings in limited cases where the shutdown caused the delay, including some I-129 extensions for workers needed to maintain status.
• This flexibility was treated as extraordinary circumstance relief. Applicants were urged to:
  • Explain the delay in writing
  • Include proof of the shutdown’s effect on their filing timeline

Despite these measures, flexibility did not erase the backlog — it mainly helped people avoid falling out of status for reasons outside their control.

Why fee funding didn’t prevent delays

Fee-based operations let USCIS keep many functions running: lights stayed on, forms were accepted, and many adjudications continued. But the shutdown showed how tightly linked the immigration system is to other agencies.

• Background checks, data sharing, and Labor certifications are statutory and procedural requirements.
• Even if USCIS is operational, a shutdown elsewhere causes delays that show up in processing time estimates.

Applicants checking the USCIS processing times page saw longer estimates in some categories, reflecting real backlogs that grew with each day partner agencies stayed closed or short-staffed. For official estimates, applicants can consult the USCIS processing times tool.

Human stories that illustrate the delays

• A software engineer waiting on an H‑1B extension couldn’t file an LCA during the shutdown; his employer paused a client rollout.
• A nurse awaiting PERM certification to adjust status saw onboarding stall; the hospital struggled to cover shifts.
• A naturalization candidate had an oath ceremony postponed past a planned family trip; rebooking cost money she did not have.

Each case turned on a simple issue: even when one office is open, the path to an immigration result runs through several doors.

Policy takeaways and future risks

Analysts note this episode mirrors prior shutdowns: fee-funded agencies can resist closure but cannot avoid ripple effects. VisaVerge.com summarized the lesson as “inter-agency dependency” being the weak point for immigration timelines.

Practical implications:

• Future shutdowns or funding gaps will again slow USCIS outcomes, especially when the Department of Labor or security vetting partners are involved.
• Employers planning hiring cycles should anticipate delays if DOL stops taking applications — H‑1B start dates and green card steps can slide even if USCIS is ready.

Recommendations for applicants and employers

USCIS advised steps to reduce harm and speed recovery:

• Document any shutdown-related delay thoroughly.
• Act promptly once DOL decisions arrive and submit filings without delay.
• Return to standard E‑Verify routine and Form I-9 rules when systems restore:
  • USCIS maintains a guidance page for employers on Form I-9.
  • Instructions for I-129 are available at Form I-129.
• Consider premium processing where appropriate — it can help after upstream approvals arrive but cannot erase prior upstream delays.

Important: The agency’s focus on national security and threat screening suggests that during any future funding lapse, public-facing services (interviews, ceremonies) may slow first while screening continues. Dependencies — especially on the Department of Labor — will keep shaping how USCIS processing times move during a government shutdown.

The 2025 shutdown showed resilience matters, but dependencies rule the clock. Keep paperwork organized and be prepared to act the moment partner agencies resume so filings can proceed and backlogs can be reduced.