Sports teams, entertainment groups, and individual athletes can keep filing P-1 visa petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during a federal government shutdown, because USCIS is fee-funded and remains open. That core point matters for clubs with mid-season signings, tours, and competitions already on the calendar.
The main pinch point will come later in the process: consular visa appointments abroad may slow if the Department of State faces staffing limits. And while the Department of Labor stops most work during a funding lapse, P visas do not rely on labor condition applications, so initial filings should move forward.
USCIS filings and processing during a shutdown
USCIS confirmed in past funding lapses that core casework continues when fees cover the service. In a shutdown, that means new P-1, P-2, and P-3 filings can enter the pipeline, and USCIS processing of those cases should continue.
- Petitioners still file Form I-129 to classify athletes or entertainers in P status, and they can submit support evidence about international recognition, contracts, and event schedules.
- Petitioners who choose premium service file Form I-907 to request faster action.
- According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the biggest practical risks are longer consular wait times and event-by-event timing crunches rather than a halt to filings themselves.
USCIS processing remains only one part of the trip. Artists and athletes outside the United States 🇺🇸 still need visa stamps at a U.S. consulate before travel.
The State Department typically keeps consular sections open, but a prolonged government shutdown can produce reduced staffing and longer interview waits. That can squeeze teams and promoters on tight timelines, even when USCIS has already approved the petition.
USCIS is also known to exercise some flexibility after past shutdowns. When delays were clearly tied to the lapse in funding, the agency has accepted late filings with supporting proof. This is not a blanket promise, but it is a helpful safety valve for groups whose tour dates, playoffs, or festivals land near filing windows.
Agency operations during a funding lapse
- USCIS: Open. Fee-funded casework generally continues, including P-1, P-2, and P-3 petitions. Petitions for teams, entertainment groups, and individual athletes should keep moving.
- Department of State: Open but may slow. Consulates keep issuing visas, but applicants may see longer waits for appointments and processing during a prolonged shutdown.
- Department of Labor: Closed for most functions. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification halts work. That hits categories like H-1B that need Labor Condition Applications. P visas don’t require DOL certification, so the shutdown’s DOL impact is indirect.
- Downstream services tied to appropriations: Some programs that support immigration operations can pause during a shutdown. For P cases, these are usually side effects rather than core requirements.
What the P categories cover
- P-1: Internationally recognized athletes (individuals and teams) and established entertainment groups.
- P-2: Artists and entertainers coming under reciprocal exchange programs.
- P-3: Performers in culturally unique programs.
For groups, support personnel can be included when they are needed for the performance. For many teams and promoters, the draw of P classification is its fit to event schedules and the lack of DOL labor certification, which reduces shutdown exposure at the filing stage.
Practical steps for teams and performers
To reduce risk during a government shutdown, organizers should plan around what continues and what may slow:
- File early.
- Even with steady USCIS processing, consular backlogs can become the choke point.
- Build in extra weeks for interview scheduling and visa issuance.
- Use clear event timelines.
- Include contracts, league or tour schedules, and letters from promoters to show the need for timely processing.
- Track agency updates.
- USCIS and the State Department issue public notices on service changes.
- The State Department’s general visa page at U.S. Visas posts links to operational updates that affect interviews and processing.
- Document shutdown impacts.
- If a deadline slips because of the shutdown, keep proof. USCIS has previously accepted late filings with evidence that the lapse caused the delay.
- Coordinate with venues and leagues.
- If a consulate appointment pushes past an event date, a rescheduled match or tour leg may be better than risking a no-show and a sunk cost.
Key filing notes for petitioners
- Use Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) for P classification. File with the correct P supplement and all required evidence. Link: Form I-129.
- To request faster service, file Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing Service) with the required fee and receipt information. Link: Form I-907.
- Include written consultation from the relevant labor organization, if required for your P subtype. While P cases do not need DOL certification, many still need a union advisory opinion.
- For teams and entertainment groups, list full rosters and support staff who are essential to the performance. Keep consistency across contracts, itineraries, and consultation letters.
Timing, extensions, and common scenarios
Event planners often ask whether a shutdown changes the rules for P-1 visa petitions. The answer is no: the rules stay the same, but time cushions get tighter. Extensions also continue to be available.
- Individuals in P-1 can request more time up to standard limits.
- Groups and support personnel are typically limited to one-year increments tied to ongoing events.
The main difference in a shutdown is not eligibility—it’s the calendar pressure.
Two common scenarios:
- A European club signs a striker in the winter window and files a P-1 for a U.S. tour in January. USCIS processing continues, but a consular post facing staffing cuts offers the next interview after the first friendly. The fix: earlier filing and immediate interview booking once the approval comes through.
- A festival books an international act for a March lineup, files in good time, but the act’s drummer (essential support staff) is stuck in a later consular slot. The solution: add buffer time for each traveler, not just the lead artist, to prevent a partial band arrival.
VisaVerge.com reports that during prior funding lapses, some consular sections kept near-normal operations while others stretched appointment times. That uneven picture means teams should check the specific post where artists or athletes will apply. If a post allows interview waivers for certain renewals, that can help, but waiver programs are limited and vary by post.
The bottom line in a government shutdown is straightforward: you can file, and USCIS keeps working, but the rest of the journey may slow. Keep your paperwork tight, file early, and build margin for consular steps. If the shutdown ends before travel dates, some delays may ease, but don’t count on last-minute openings. For high-stakes events—playoffs, opening nights, or one-night-only shows—front-loading the filing and consular scheduling is the safest play.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
During a federal government shutdown, USCIS—which is primarily fee-funded—typically remains open and continues processing P-1, P-2, and P-3 petitions, so teams, artists, and athletes can file Form I-129 and include supporting evidence. Petitioners may use Form I-907 for expedited handling. The larger risk comes from the Department of State’s consular operations: staffing limits can lengthen interview wait times and delay visa stamping abroad, potentially disrupting travel for scheduled events. The Department of Labor largely pauses during funding lapses, but because P visas generally do not require DOL certification, initial filings are usually unaffected. Practical steps include filing early, documenting shutdown impacts, coordinating with leagues and venues, and monitoring USCIS and State Department updates.
