Will My Pending I-485 Continue During a Federal Shutdown?

USCIS will keep processing pending adjustment of status cases even if Congress fails to pass a funding bill, as most USCIS operations are paid by application fees rather than annual appropriations. That means a pending Form I-485—the application to become a permanent resident—should move forward during a federal government shutdown. Premium processing and other fee-based services also continue.

Agencies that rely on appropriations, including parts of the Department of Labor (DOL), face pauses that could slow some new case steps tied to labor approvals, but those stoppages do not halt an already filed Form I-485 at USCIS.

Why USCIS continues working during a shutdown

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, applicants with a pending Form I-485 should not expect delays solely due to a shutdown. USCIS continues to accept and adjudicate cases because its work is primarily fee-funded.

• The agency does not depend on Congress to release new funds to review most petitions and applications.
• This fee-funded model allows USCIS casework to proceed while other parts of the federal government pause.
• USCIS officials have repeated this message during past budget standoffs: core case processing remains active.

For thousands of families, employees, and employers, this distinction matters. A pause at one agency can upend plans, but the fee-supported structure insulates many immigration benefits, including green card applications filed inside the United States through Form I-485.

What continues at USCIS during a shutdown

• USCIS operations continue, including acceptance and adjudication of Form I-485 cases.
• Premium processing remains available for eligible classifications.
• Other fee-funded services continue, unless USCIS announces specific exceptions.

For applicants, this means USCIS can still receive filings, review evidence, and issue decisions. If you already filed Form I-485, the case stays in the queue and continues through normal steps. USCIS may still issue requests for evidence, make decisions, and take action on related benefits that the agency controls.

Key takeaway: USCIS keeps adjudicating Form I-485 cases during a government shutdown. If your case is already pending, you should not expect a delay caused solely by the funding lapse.

You can find the official Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, on the USCIS website at the Form I-485 page, which includes instructions and the latest edition date for filing: Form I-485. Always use the current form and follow the posted guidance.

Where applicants could see indirect delays

While a pending Form I-485 keeps moving at USCIS, some related steps outside USCIS may pause:

• DOL processing stops for Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) and PERM labor certifications during a shutdown.
• E‑Verify is unavailable while the government is closed.
• Essential operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue, so core travel and port-of-entry functions remain active.

The most common ripple effects come from DOL. Many employment-based green card cases start with a PERM labor certification at DOL, followed by a petition with USCIS, and then Form I-485 if a visa number is available. During a shutdown:

1. DOL suspends LCAs and PERM processing.
2. New filings that depend on those approvals may be delayed.
3. USCIS continues to work on already-filed Form I-485 applications.

Similarly, employers who use E‑Verify will find the system offline during a shutdown. That does not affect a pending Form I-485 directly, but it can complicate new hires, onboarding, or reverifications that rely on digital checks. When the government reopens, E‑Verify usually returns to normal and employers follow any posted catch-up steps. For program details, see the official E‑Verify website: E‑Verify.

CBP’s essential work continues: ports of entry and primary inspection functions stay open, which helps keep travel and trade moving. While CBP may adjust nonessential activities during a funding lapse, the core mission carries on and reduces uncertainty for families and workers crossing borders during this period.

Practical guidance for applicants, employers, and community groups

• If your Form I-485 is already pending:
  • Continue to respond to USCIS notices on time.
  • Monitor your case and follow USCIS instructions.
  • Expect adjudication, requests for evidence, and potential decisions to proceed.
• If your case depends on new DOL actions (LCAs, PERM):
  • Prepare for delays while DOL is paused.
  • Adjust start dates and timelines as needed.
  • Anticipate backlogs when DOL reopens.
• If you are an employer:
  • Plan for E‑Verify downtime and potential onboarding issues.
  • Expect a surge of filings once DOL resumes operations.
• If you work with community groups:
  • Share the clear message that fee-funded USCIS services (including Form I-485) continue during a shutdown.
  • Help applicants understand the distinction between USCIS-controlled steps and actions controlled by other agencies.

USCIS posts updates on agency operations and fee-funded services during funding lapses. The agency’s fee-funded structure allows it to maintain most services even when other agencies pause. That model is why applicants can expect continuity on pending Form I-485 cases despite a government shutdown.

Summary — What stays open and what pauses

• USCIS operations continue (including processing of pending Form I-485 cases).
• DOL labor filings pause (LCAs and PERM).
• E‑Verify is offline during the shutdown.
• CBP keeps essential work going (ports of entry and primary inspections).

For a pending Form I-485, the path forward remains open at USCIS even as other parts of the system wait for funding to resume.