Potential Government Shutdown And The Impact On U.S. Immigration Processes

As the possibility of a federal government shutdown looms, employers should prepare for disruptions to key immigration processes. A shutdown affects federal agencies differently depending on their funding sources and operational mandates. Below is a summary of the anticipated impact on some of the immigration-related agencies.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – USCIS is primarily fee-funded, which allows it to continue most operations during a shutdown.

• Impact on employers:
  • Form filings (H-1B, L-1, I-140, I-485, etc.) will continue to be accepted and adjudicated.
  • Premium Processing is expected to remain available.
  • However, functions reliant on appropriated funds—such as the E-Verify system—will be suspended. Employers will be unable to initiate new E-Verify cases, though employees should not face penalties for delays caused by the shutdown.