January 22nd, 2018

Please find below information about the how the federal government shutdown, which is currently in effect, impacts immigration. While we hope it will be short lived, the following is some information about how immigration operations will be handled during the closure:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

The government shutdown does not affect USCIS's fee for service activities. USCIS offices will remain open, and all applicants should attend interviews and appointments as scheduled. Only USCIS's E-Verify (internet-based employment eligibility verification system) will shut down during the closure.

Department of Labor (DOL)

The DOL's Office of Foreign Labor Certification has suspended all operations. No Labor Condition Applications (LCAs), prevailing wage requests, responses to requests for information, or PERM applications will be processed during this time, and all BALCA dockets have been placed on hold. All online systems have been turned off and nothing will be processed until the government reopens. DOL announced that it expects to make late filing accommodations for certain submissions that miss their filing deadlines due to the closure.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Ports of entry are open; however, processing of applications filed at the border may be impacted.

Department of State (DOS)

DOS announced that scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at overseas posts will continue during the shutdown as the situation permits. If this changes and visa operations are impacted, consular posts likely will handle only diplomatic visas and "life or death" emergencies.

Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE)

Enforcement and removal operations will continue. As a fee funded program, the ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will be unaffected.

Categories: Immigration Law