Are USCIS Fees Processed During Government Shutdowns? Fee-Funded

(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.

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.

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.

• 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:

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.