The potential government shutdown is due to a lack of agreement on budgeting in Congress. The government shutdown begins at 12:01 am October 1, 2025 if there’s no agreement on budgeting. Below is a brief overview of how a government shutdown impacts immigration-related services, specifically visa processing.

Impact on Immigration Agencies

Continuation of visa processing depends entirely on the type of visa. For example:

• The Department of Labor (DOL) does not operate during a shutdown.
  • Filing for Labor Condition Application (LCA) and labor certifications for permanent residency (PERM) are unavailable.
• S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does operate during a shutdown.
• E-Verify is not active.
• The Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) won’t operate during a shut down.
• The Department of State (DOS) does operate during a shutdown.
  • Visa processing at consulates and embassies may see longer wait times.
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will stay open.

Agencies like CBP stay operation due to their essential status. Others, like the DOS, operate at a reduced capacity. It’s important that individuals know which agencies manage the processing of their visas.

How Employers can Prepare for a Government Shutdown

Considering the following practices helps employers mitigate the impact of a government shutdown:

• Communicate with stakeholders about expected processing delays.
• Rectify any upcoming gaps in status for foreign workers.
• Anticipate additional expenses for foreign worker programs when allocating the organization’s budget.
• Contact appropriate Congressional representatives and inform them of the shutdown’s impact on the organization.

As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, please contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws and policy updates. In an ever-evolving immigration landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.