We have now entered into the longest government shutdown in U.S. history with no end in sight. We have written previously about the shutdown’s impact on immigration. As previously stated, USCIS and visa operations continue to operate because they are fee-funded. This means that as of now, the shutdown should not directly affect most immigration applications. The Customs and Border Protection website continues to go without active management. This means your travel history and I-94 record on this website may not be up to date.
E-Verify and related services are generally suspended. Employers cannot access their E-Verify accounts to engage in activities such as enrollment, viewing or taking action on any case, editing company information, and running reports. For more information on these services and policies implemented to minimize impact, please visit the E-Verify website.
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program expired on December 21, 2018. All regional center applications and individual petitions are affected. Unadjudicated regional center-affiliated Forms I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur, and Forms I-485, Applications to Adjust Status, will be on hold for an undetermined length of time.
We will continue to monitor the government shutdown and its effects on our clients.