Can Family-Based Green Card Interviews Occur During a Shutdown?

(UNITED STATES) Family-based green card applicants with pending consular interviews face a new period of uncertainty if a U.S. government shutdown begins on October 1, 2025. The State Department’s consular sections abroad are likely to reduce or suspend routine visa services, which means interviews for IR-1, CR-1, F-1, F-2A, F-2B, F-3, and F-4 applicants could be delayed or canceled. Interviews are not automatically guaranteed to proceed during a shutdown. The degree of disruption will vary by post, and applicants should watch for official messages tied to their specific case and location.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, applicants should also plan for slower case movement even where posts try to keep some appointments, because staffing and interagency checks may be limited during a funding lapse.

Why funding matters

The core issue is funding. The Department of State runs consular operations at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, and during a government shutdown many routine services pause because they rely on congressional appropriations.

• Posts maintain emergency support for U.S. citizens, but immigrant visa processing is not treated as emergency.
• Therefore, consular interviews for family-based green card cases may be pushed back until normal operations resume.
• This affects both spousal/immediate relative categories and the broader family preference lines, many of which already have regional wait times.

Even a short delay can scramble travel plans, job transitions, and school timing for children — real disruptions with financial and personal costs (airline changes, expired medical exams, job offers that no longer hold).

Interview waivers and policy context

The policy environment has made in-person interviews more central. As of September 2, 2025, the State Department narrowed eligibility for interview waivers.

• In plain terms: far fewer applicants can skip an interview, even for renewals or strong prior records.
• That policy remains in force during a shutdown.
• However, whether interviews actually occur depends on staff and resources at each consulate.

Consular officers retain discretion to require interviews on a case-by-case basis, but discretion cannot overcome closures or reduced hours when funding stops.

What applicants should expect

Applicants should not assume every interview will be canceled. Some embassies and consulates may keep a limited set of operations depending on local conditions.

• There is no one-size-fits-all answer — watch official messages tied to your post and case.
• If you have a written appointment letter, hold your place in the process and prepare as if your date remains in effect unless you receive a cancellation or new appointment notice.
• The State Department advises checking the website for the specific U.S. embassy or consulate handling your case and reviewing any emails from the post.
• For general process information, see the U.S. Department of State immigrant visa guidance. That page explains normal consular processing and links to local post pages where shutdown updates would appear.

Key takeaway: missing an appointment because the consulate canceled it will not harm your case. Posts will reschedule. Keep proof of any cancellation notice and watch for the new date.

USCIS vs. State Department: the split that causes confusion

USCIS, which processes petitions inside the United States, typically continues work during a shutdown because it is fee-funded.

• Petition approvals (USCIS) may continue even when consulates scale back.
• But USCIS approvals do not restart consular interviews or speed immigrant visa issuance while posts abroad are constrained.
• Immigrant visa issuance depends on the State Department’s consular sections — a separate chain that can be paused during a funding lapse.

This split is a common source of confusion: it is normal for USCIS to be open while consular sections face limits.

Historical precedent

Past shutdowns offer a guide:

• Routine visa processing often paused and interviews were canceled or delayed.
• Emergency services for U.S. citizens continued, but immigrant visa work was not treated as emergency.
• When funding resumed, posts reopened calendars and prioritized files canceled during the lapse.
• Families who stayed alert to official notices moved faster than those who missed emails.

Practical checklist for families with pending consular interviews

For scheduled or soon-to-be scheduled interviews, follow this checklist to keep your case on track:

1. Check your email daily, including spam/junk folders — posts may send short-notice updates.
2. Monitor the consulate’s website for local notices about hours and services.
3. Prepare your case fully, as if the interview will proceed — avoid last-minute document hunts.
4. Do not travel long distances to the consulate until you confirm appointment status on the morning of your appointment.
5. If your interview is canceled, save the notice and record the date. Keep this with your case file.
6. Maintain contact with your attorney (if you have one) and save copies of all case-related emails and letters.
7. Avoid non-refundable travel or long-distance moves until you confirm your appointment close to the date.
8. Expect slower post-interview processing due to reduced staffing and interagency slowdowns.

Planning everyday life during uncertainty

Examples of adjustments families might consider:

• Ask landlords for flexible start dates or short-term extensions on leases.
• Talk to schools about mid-term enrollment or online options.
• Inform prospective employers about possible delays and request remote onboarding or later start dates.
• Build budget cushions for document renewals, travel changes, or temporary housing.

The guiding principle: keep plans flexible and communicate early.

Behind-the-scenes delays

Consulates rely on interagency systems for identity checks and security vetting. During a shutdown:

• Reduced staffing across agencies can slow identity/security checks even when interviews occur.
• Some applicants may complete interviews but then wait longer for final visa issuance.
• These lags reflect temporary capacity problems, not necessarily issues with individual files.

Does a shutdown change eligibility rules?

No. A shutdown does not change immigration law or eligibility requirements.

• IR-1, CR-1, and family preference applicants (F-1, F-2A, F-2B, F-3, F-4) remain under the same rules.
• The shutdown affects the pace and ability to deliver routine services, not qualification criteria.

Communications and when to contact the consulate

• Check consulate websites and follow posted guidance.
• Many posts ask applicants to avoid calling or emailing unless there is an emergency so staff can focus on core work and updates.
• If the consulate instructs you to wait for a new date, follow those instructions — passive monitoring is often the most efficient way to get accurate, post-specific information.

After the shutdown: backlog and recovery

When funding returns, posts will work to restore normal service, but expect:

• Backlogs that can last weeks or months depending on shutdown length and affected interviews.
• Priority may be given to canceled appointments and time-sensitive matters before new appointments.
• A staged recovery — the backlog won’t clear overnight.

Families that plan staged travel, flexible school starts, and budget for document renewals fare better during recovery.

Human impact and community support

Delays have real human costs:

• Spouses may remain abroad longer; parents and children stay separated.
• Care arrangements and employment opportunities can be disrupted.
• Community networks and immigrant support groups often share practical tips (childcare swaps, flexible housing strategies).

Final summary and action items

If a government shutdown begins on October 1, 2025, family-based green card applicants should prepare for possible delays or cancellations of consular interviews.

• Emergency services for U.S. citizens will continue, but routine immigrant visa work may pause.
• USCIS will likely remain open, but that does not unlock visa issuance abroad.
• The State Department’s narrowed interview waiver policy (effective September 2, 2025) remains in place, meaning more applicants need interviews.
• Consular officers have discretion, but reduced staffing and limited capacity may drive rescheduling.

Actionable steps:

• Monitor official consulate communications and the U.S. Department of State immigrant visa guidance.
• Keep documents current and organized.
• Save every official notice and keep a simple log of communications.
• Build flexibility into housing, employment, and school plans until the visa is issued.

Congress controls the funding that shapes consular operations. Once funding returns, posts will resume processing and issue new interview dates. In the meantime, stay informed, keep records, and be prepared to act quickly when your appointment is rescheduled.