The U.S. Department of State is expected to continue publishing the Monthly Visa Bulletin even if a government shutdown occurs, keeping applicants informed about priority dates and filing dates that control when they can move forward with immigrant visa cases and adjustment of status. Because most visa and passport operations are funded by fees and treated as essential, the bulletin’s release typically stays on schedule. Still, the real-world ability to act on those dates may be hampered by shutdown-related slowdowns at other agencies.
The most immediate pinch point is the Department of Labor. During a government shutdown, operations that rely on appropriated funds pause, including processing of Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for H-1B and related visas and PERM labor certification filings. That means even if the Monthly Visa Bulletin shows a category as current, some applicants and employers could be stuck waiting for DOL steps to restart before they can proceed with filings that depend on those certifications.
USCIS, like the Department of State, is largely fee-funded and generally stays open during a shutdown. But USCIS filings often rely on documents issued by other agencies. If a PERM application cannot be certified by the Department of Labor, the next step—such as filing an immigrant petition—will stall. In short, the bulletin brings clarity on eligibility windows, but agency slowdowns can still delay when a family or employer can practically take action.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Monthly Visa Bulletin’s continued publication offers essential guidance to families, students, and employers who plan their lives and budgets around priority dates. The bulletin’s role is to publish two sets of dates: final action dates (when a green card may be issued) and filing dates (when someone can submit an application for adjustment of status). Even during a government shutdown, those dates remain the roadmap. The challenge is that some of the turns on that roadmap may be temporarily blocked.
Operations during a shutdown
- The Department of State typically keeps the Visa Bulletin on schedule because fee funding supports these functions.
- Some consulates may reduce services or limit appointments, focusing on urgent or emergency cases, depending on local staffing and fee availability.
- The Department of Labor stops processing LCAs and PERM cases during a shutdown, creating backlogs and timing issues for employers and workers.
- USCIS generally stays open, but cases that need DOL approvals or consular steps may still face delays.
If you plan to file based on current filing dates, remember that your ability to submit certain requests may rest on whether you already have the needed labor certifications in hand. For example, an employer who intends to file an immigrant petition for a worker in a category requiring PERM will need that certified PERM before moving forward, even if the Visa Bulletin shows a favorable date.
Impact on applicants and employers
For employment-based cases, the key concern is the Department of Labor pause.
- Employers should avoid starting LCAs or PERM steps right before an expected shutdown and should instead aim to file well ahead of time.
- If a shutdown begins and an LCA or PERM has not been filed or certified, the case will wait in line until the government reopens.
- That delay could cause missed start dates, extended gaps between steps, or lost momentum in recruitment and planning.
For family-based cases, the Monthly Visa Bulletin still matters greatly for deciding when a spouse, parent, or child can file for adjustment of status.
- When filing dates are current, applicants may be able to submit Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).
- If you are eligible and ready, acting quickly during an open filing window can help you lock in benefits, even if interview scheduling or other steps later move slower.
- You can find Form I-485 on the official USCIS website: Form I-485.
Employers preparing immigrant petitions generally use Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker).
- If the Department of Labor has already certified the PERM and the filing dates in the Visa Bulletin align, an employer may proceed with the Form I-140 filing and, in some cases, concurrent filing of the employee’s Form I-485, subject to eligibility and the filing chart in use.
- The Form I-140 is available here: Form I-140.
For temporary professional workers, the LCA is a gatekeeper.
- H-1B employers must secure an approved LCA before filing.
- During a shutdown, LCA processing at the Department of Labor is paused, which means new H-1B or H-1B transfer filings wait.
- Employers should front-load LCA submissions before any shutdown deadline to reduce risk.
- The Department of Labor’s LCA form is ETA 9035, and PERM uses ETA 9089 in its modernized form; details and filing are handled through DOL systems when operational.
Applicants should also be aware that even when filing dates are current, consular posts may run with limited staff, meaning fewer routine visa appointments and longer wait times. Emergency cases usually take priority. If you are abroad and moving through consular processing, build extra time into your plans and monitor messages from your consulate.
The Department of State’s official page for the Visa Bulletin provides current and archived editions, including the monthly charts that determine when you can file and when final action can occur. Readers can track updates directly on the State Department site: Visa Bulletin. These charts govern when USCIS accepts adjustment filings based on either the “Dates for Filing” chart or the “Final Action Dates” chart, as announced each month.
Practical steps to take now
- Prepare filings early.
- If you need a Department of Labor step, submit it well before any expected shutdown date.
- Gather documents.
- Have civil records, medical exams, financial evidence, and any PERM-related documents ready so you can act as soon as filing windows open.
- Monitor both sources.
- Check the State Department Visa Bulletin and USCIS monthly updates to see which chart USCIS will use for adjustment filings.
- Coordinate with stakeholders.
- Communicate with HR, immigration counsel, and family members to manage expectations and timelines.
Warning: The Monthly Visa Bulletin should continue during a government shutdown, and its filing dates remain authoritative. However, the ability to act on those dates may be constrained by halted Department of Labor services and limited consular capacity. Plan ahead and file early to protect your place in line.
What to expect when the government reopens
- Backlogs at the Department of Labor can trigger surges when processing restarts.
- Having job postings, recruitment records, and prevailing wage data in order for PERM cases—and having LCA details ready—can save days or weeks.
- For family cases, keeping documents and medical exams current matters because timing affects eligibility and processing.
The message is steady but cautious: the Monthly Visa Bulletin should continue during a government shutdown, and its filing dates remain authoritative. But the ability to act on those dates may be constrained by halted Department of Labor services and limited consular capacity. Plan ahead, file early, and watch official updates closely to protect your place in line.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
The Department of State typically continues publishing the Monthly Visa Bulletin during a government shutdown because many visa functions are fee-funded. The bulletin still lists priority dates, filing dates, and final action dates that guide when applicants may submit adjustment of status or immigrant visa applications. However, processing at the Department of Labor — including LCAs and PERM labor certifications — often pauses in a shutdown, blocking key employment-based steps. USCIS generally remains open but may be unable to proceed when it needs DOL certifications or consular action. Applicants and employers should file early, assemble documentation, and monitor State Department and USCIS updates to reduce delays and manage backlogs once agencies reopen.
