Trump Warns of Likely Shutdown, Immigration and Travel at Risk

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) President Trump said a federal government shutdown is “probably likely,” and with Congress missing the October 1, 2025 deadline, the shutdown is now in effect. The lapse in funding is already reverberating through immigration systems that millions rely on—visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates, case work at USCIS, Department of Labor certifications for employers, and immigration court hearings. While some core functions will continue, applicants should brace for delays, reduced hours, and suspended services in key areas that affect travel, work, and family plans in the United States 🇺🇸.

Immediate effects on consulates, USCIS, DOL, courts, and CBP

U.S. embassies and consulates abroad will keep operating “as the situation permits,” but consular sections are scaling back. Non-urgent appointments may be limited, and wait times could grow as staff levels and resources tighten.

• Applicants hoping to enter this fall—students, H-1B workers, and tourists—may see interviews moved or slowed, especially in routine cases.
• Nonimmigrant visa applicants who have not yet filed their online Form DS-160 can still do so, but interview availability may shrink. The DS-160 remains available via the Department of State’s platform at DS-160 online application.

Most operations at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continue because the agency is largely funded by application fees rather than yearly appropriations. That means many filings tied to work permits, green cards, and naturalization remain receivable and adjudicable.

• Core USCIS forms that applicants can still file:
  • Form I-765 (employment authorization): Form I-765
  • Form I-485 (adjustment of status): Form I-485
  • Form I-140 (employment-based immigrant petition): Form I-140
  • Form I-129 (H-1B and related nonimmigrant workers): Form I-129

However, services that depend on other agencies or appropriated funds will be disrupted:

• E-Verify is suspended, affecting employers who rely on it to confirm new hires.
• Cases requiring external checks or coordination may slow down.
• The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) is offline during the shutdown. This freezes:
  • PERM labor certification filings and decisions
  • Prevailing wage determinations
  • New certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 filings

Since USCIS generally cannot accept H-1B petitions without a certified LCA, brand-new filings that depend on DOL will stall until the DOL reopens. For foreign nationals relying on timely extensions or new job starts, this can push back start dates and disrupt payroll and project plans.

Immigration courts are postponing many hearings, especially for non-detained dockets. Some detained cases may proceed as essential, but non-detained hearings are likely to be rescheduled—sometimes many months out—adding to existing backlogs.

At airports and land borders, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remains operational with essential personnel, but travelers should expect longer lines and slower processing due to limited support staff and shifted schedules. This can affect returning residents, students on F-1 visas, and work visa holders reentering after travel.

International students and researchers face special headaches:

• F-1 students filing Form I-765 for OPT or STEM OPT can still submit applications to USCIS, but any step dependent on DOL or other agencies can be delayed.
• Exchange visitors may see delays in travel document renewals or program-related updates.

Political standoff and timeline

Lawmakers failed to pass a continuing resolution by the October 1 deadline. The House approved a short-term bill to fund the government through November 21, 2025, but the Senate did not advance it, pressing for additions on healthcare and social safety programs.

• Republicans pushed for a “clean” extension.
• President Trump has argued that Senate Democrats are blocking a practical solution.
• Democrats say the majority party refused to meet them halfway.
• The White House message: the President wants a funding extension without policy riders.
• Senate Democratic leaders argue the shutdown is avoidable if Republicans accept broader talks.

The political fight lands hardest on people with time-sensitive cases. Example scenarios:

1. An H-1B engineer whose employer needs a fast LCA to file an extension before approval expires cannot get the LCA during the shutdown. If timing runs out, the worker may lose work authorization.
2. Hospitals recruiting E-3 nurses, universities onboarding H-1B researchers, and tech firms transferring staff under H-1B1 rules all face the same DOL-dependent delays.

History offers a clear warning: the last major shutdown (late 2018–early 2019) lasted 35 days, the longest on record. Backlogs grew across consulates and domestic agencies; some families lost travel windows for immigrant visa interviews; employers missed onboarding timelines; students waited longer for OPT cards. Analysis by VisaVerge.com showed those weeks left delayed start dates, rescheduled hearings, and ripple effects that took months to unwind.

As day one of this shutdown unfolds, there is no clear end date. Agencies are following “lapse in appropriations” plans: essential services continue, many staff are furloughed, and programs funded by yearly budgets are paused. For an overview of how shutdowns affect federal agencies, see USA.gov’s guide to government shutdowns.

What applicants can do now

• Build in extra time.
  • Assume slower visa processing and longer airport lines.
  • Keep flight itineraries flexible where possible.
• Watch your consulate’s posts.
  • Embassies often announce reduced hours or appointment changes on their websites and social channels.
  • If you completed the DS-160 but haven’t scheduled an interview, check openings regularly.
• File what you can with USCIS.
  • Submit cases that don’t depend on DOL or court scheduling.
  • Useful links:
  • Form I-765
  • Form I-485
  • Form I-140
  • Form I-129
  • Note: new H-1B filings usually require a certified LCA, which is unavailable until DOL reopens.
• Track E-Verify status with your employer.
  • Since E-Verify is down, employers should follow posted guidance on handling verifications once the system returns.
  • New hires shouldn’t be penalized for delays tied to the shutdown.
• Prepare for immigration court changes.
  • If you’re not detained, expect possible postponements.
  • Stay in touch with your attorney and check for notices about new dates.
• Students on OPT or STEM OPT should file early if eligible.
  • While USCIS continues fee-funded adjudications, school offices may be strained and any step involving other agencies can slow down.

Practical examples of real-world stakes:

• A graduate on F-1 STEM OPT may file the work permit through USCIS, but a consulate interview for an H-1B visa stamp could be unavailable if routine appointments are cut.
• A family abroad with an immigrant visa interview might face consulate schedule adjustments that push travel past the holidays.
• A small business waiting on a prevailing wage determination for PERM must pause recruiting timelines and set new hiring expectations.

Tips for travelers and employers

• Travelers:
  • Pack patience at ports of entry.
  • CBP officers remain on duty, but support shortages can increase inspection times.
  • Allow extra time for connections and carry originals and copies of important documents.
  • If reentering with advance parole tied to a pending green card, keep your Form I-485 receipt and identity documents handy.
  • If you changed jobs under a work visa, bring updated employer letters and approval notices.
• Employers and HR teams:
  • Prepare drafts and complete evidence packages now so you can file quickly when DOL reopens.
  • Finalize wage analyses and gather support letters in advance.
  • Universities should line up start dates that assume some slippage for research staff and teaching faculty on H-1B or E-3 visas.

Key takeaway and next steps

The shutdown is active with no confirmed end date. Agencies are operating under contingency plans that keep essential functions running, while furloughing many workers and pausing nonessential programs.

Practical priorities: stay alert, file what’s still open to file, and prepare for delays across multiple steps of your immigration, travel, and employment processes.

For many applicants, the distinction between fee-funded services (like most USCIS adjudications) and appropriations-funded inputs (like DOL certifications, consular staffing, and many court operations) will determine what moves and what stalls. Keep close contact with employers, schools, consulates, and attorneys; monitor official agency pages for updates; and allow extra time for every step that could be affected.