Can Religious Organizations File R-1 Petitions During a Shutdown?

(UNITED STATES) As of October 1, 2025, the federal government shutdown has not halted most USCIS processing, because the agency runs primarily on application fees rather than annual congressional funding. That means religious organizations across the United States 🇺🇸 can still file R-1 Religious Worker petitions, and the agency will continue to accept and adjudicate them. USCIS confirms that core services funded by filing fees, including nonimmigrant worker petitions, remain open and active during a funding lapse.

At the center of this is the Form I-129, the petition used to request R-1 status for ministers and other religious workers coming to the United States for a temporary period. According to agency practice and current guidance, these cases keep moving even while other parts of the federal government pause certain work. Religious employers may file new I-129 petitions, respond to agency requests, and receive decisions. USCIS will also continue to accept related filings that are part of its fee-funded workflow.

However, not every immigration-related program keeps running during a shutdown. Some services rely on annual appropriations and may pause until Congress restores funding. Two programs stand out in this context:

• E‑Verify, the online system some employers use to confirm a new hire’s work authorization, may be suspended during a shutdown.
• The Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program (the immigrant/permanent resident track for certain religious workers) faces both potential shutdown-related pauses and a firm timeline: it is set to sunset on September 30, 2025, unless Congress passes an extension.

Policy operations during funding lapses

USCIS is a fee‑funded agency. Most of its budget comes from the payments that applicants and petitioners submit with their forms. Because of that, USCIS operations continue even when many other federal services close.

For religious communities, the practical result is clear: they can keep filing R-1 Religious Worker petitions, and the agency will keep processing them.

Key points:
– Petitions filed on Form I-129 for R‑1 workers can be submitted and adjudicated during a shutdown. Link to the official form: Form I-129.
– Routine steps inside USCIS that depend on fee funding continue.
– Programs that depend on annual appropriations, such as E‑Verify and certain special immigrant classifications, may pause.

Note the distinction between the temporary R‑1 classification and the Special Immigrant Religious Worker (an immigrant category). The R‑1 route remains available through the fee‑funded pipeline. The Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program is subject to both appropriations and statutory deadlines and can be affected by a shutdown or by Congress allowing the program to expire.

For official overview and details on eligibility and filing, see USCIS R-1 Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Workers.

Impact on religious organizations and workers

Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and related nonprofit bodies can continue with planned hiring of ministers, cantors, missionaries, and other religious staff through the R‑1 category. During a government shutdown:

• Religious employers may prepare and file new Form I-129 petitions for R‑1 roles.
• USCIS will accept and process these filings as part of its normal, fee‑funded operations.
• Case steps that rely on other agencies funded by appropriations could face pauses, but the core USCIS adjudication of R‑1 petitions remains active.

Important considerations:
– While E‑Verify may temporarily suspend service, that does not block an employer from filing an R‑1 petition with USCIS.
– Employers that normally use E‑Verify should plan for the system to return after funding is restored and follow Department of Homeland Security guidance on handling hiring steps affected by the pause.
– The immigrant pathway (Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program) is set to end on September 30, 2025, unless Congress renews it. Because that program depends on appropriations, a shutdown can complicate implementation even before the sunset date.

Practical steps for applicants and petitioners

For applicants and petitioners, the practical steps during a shutdown are straightforward:

1. Keep filing R‑1 petitions on Form I-129 with full supporting evidence. Use the current edition of the form from the official USCIS website and follow all instructions. Form I-129
2. Watch for any USCIS notices. Respond to agency requests for evidence or other deadlines as usual, since USCIS processing continues.
3. If you rely on E‑Verify, document hiring timelines and follow post‑shutdown guidance from DHS on resolving tentative nonconfirmations or timing issues caused by the pause.
4. If you are considering the Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program, track congressional action closely and be ready to respond quickly if lawmakers extend or modify the program.

Suggestions to reduce disruption:
– Organize internal paperwork early.
– Schedule leadership reviews of job descriptions.
– Ensure employment letters match USCIS requirements.

These proactive steps help keep cases moving while broader government functions restart.

“The fee‑funded structure at USCIS has historically allowed the agency to continue processing many case types during prior shutdowns, even as other federal tools or programs paused.”
— Analysis by VisaVerge.com

Risks, timelines, and monitoring

• The current shutdown does not close the door on R‑1 filings. With USCIS processing ongoing, organizations can continue to bring in needed workers and stabilize their schedules.
• Critical deadline: The Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program is slated to sunset on September 30, 2025, unless Congress acts to extend it. This affects the immigrant/permanent resident track—not the temporary R‑1 category.
• Shutdowns can still create ripple effects if other linked services pause. Planning ahead reduces the chance of delays that impact time‑sensitive ministry work (seasonal programs, holidays, pastoral coverage).

USCIS urges the public to rely on official updates for any change in operations. During fast‑moving budget events, guidance can shift quickly once Congress acts. Check USCIS pages frequently to ensure filings meet the latest standards and editions:

• R‑1 details and filing instructions: USCIS R-1 Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Workers
• Form I-129 (petition link): Form I-129

In short, during the government shutdown, religious organizations can keep moving forward with the R‑1 category. USCIS remains open for fee‑funded cases, including R‑1 petitions, while certain programs tied to appropriations—such as E‑Verify and the Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program—may pause. The immigrant religious worker route also faces a separate, statutory deadline on September 30, 2025, unless extended by Congress. Staying alert to official updates, filing complete petitions, and preparing for temporary pauses in related programs will help religious employers and workers continue their mission during the funding lapse.