US: Government Shutdown To Affect H-1B Processes

[Anta Assamey]

The US is headed toward a government shutdown this weekend unless Congress acts soon. Government funding expires on Sunday and the lawmakers are divided over spending levels and also about giving more aid to Ukraine.

Government Shutdown

Congress makes decisions on government funding as the Constitution gives it the power. The spending bills must be passed before October 1 or the government runs out of money to keep functioning. If Congress fails to act before September’s end, the funding will stop and all nonessential government functions must stop.

Well, the shutdown will affect immigration services which further disrupt many visas, extentions, PERM, etc. of foreign employees. Though US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is funded by fees paid by stakeholders, there are certain services that might be affected due to the possible government shutdown.

The services that could be hit by the shutdown are H-1B extensions, and US labor applications for H-1B, E-1, and H-1B1, which are likely to face long delays. The processing of PERM, labor certification, and other operations of the US Department of Labor (DOL).

These delays or lack of responses could be seen in inquiries, filing, status checks, document upload, and other visa and passport operations through the State Department.

There will be no impact on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and it will be operational as it is funded by the fees.