2025 Government Shutdown
At 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on October 1, 2025, the U.S. government officially shut down, as congressional leaders remain at an impasse over funding legislation. When this happens, many federal agencies must cease non-essential operations. However, the impact on immigration services varies significantly depending on how each agency is funded. Here is a quick overview of the potential impact.
USCIS
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to operate as the majority of its functions are fee-driven. Some operations, such as relying on the FBI for background investigations, may be slowed down. The Conrad 30 program, which helps bring doctors to rural America, could be suspended. But the most significant impact would be a shutdown of the E-Verify system, which is funded by Congress and provides one method for determining whether a prospective employee is legally authorized to work in the U.S.
DOL
Congressional appropriations fund the Department of Labor (DOL), and it is not considered an essential service. As such, the DOL will most likely suspend the following activities:
- Labor Certifications for green card sponsorship and H-2A/H-2B work visas
- Labor Condition Application (LCA) Certifications for H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 work visas
- The DOL’s Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system, which is used for filing and processing, will be shut down.
IMMIGRATION COURT
Will experience a reduction or a cessation of activities as this executive office requires congressional funding for operations.
CONSULAR PROCESSING
Services may be reduced during periods of government shutdown. This includes visa applications and visa interviews. Emergency consular services for US citizens will not be affected.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE DURING THE 2025 GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Stay in touch with your immigration attorney at Gunn-Menefee. We are monitoring this situation closely and will keep this article updated.
Cover photo credit: Photo by Quick PS on Unsplash