Potential Government Shutdown 2024

Greetings,

The Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services would like to extend the following information to you regarding a potential U.S. government shutdown, at midnight, on Friday, December 20, which may affect the availability of various government offices if it occurs. We have included in this newsletter information on several immigration-related agencies and the status of their services in the event of a government shutdown.

Social Security Administration Offices

During a government shutdown, the Social Security Administration will continue to issue original and replacement Social Security cards.  See the SSA website for the latest information about office closings and delays.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

USCIS’ funding is not dependent on annual appropriations from Congress and, therefore, it is largely unaffected by a government shutdown. USCIS will continue processing petitions and applications during a shutdown, without interruption. Further information on the status of USCIS services will be announced through USCIS Alerts.

E-Verify

The E-Verify system is unavailable during a government shutdown.  As a result, E-Verify employers will not be able to verify employment eligibility or take any other action that requires access to an E-Verify account. They may be able to utilize alternate document review processes.

Department of State Visa and Passport Services

Visa and passport operations are fee-funded, so there is no interruption to these services during a government shutdown. While consulates should not shut down, they may be affected if there is inadequate funding. If the current funds are exhausted, consular services could be reduced or halted for non-emergency visa services and non-U.S. citizen services. If you have a scheduled appointment at a U.S. consular office, you may wish to confirm their open hours prior to your scheduled appointment.

CBP

CBP, like all law enforcement, is deemed ‘essential’. All U.S. ports of entry will be open, and routine processes for admission to the U.S. will continue.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The IRS may remain partially or fully operational. However, tax obligations remain in place whether the IRS is operational or not. For general information about filing 2023 taxes, you may visit the International Center Taxes webpage.

Texas Department of Public Safety

The Texas Department of Public Safety is a state agency and is not directly affected by a government shutdown. The ISSO provides general information on driving in the U.S. on the ISSO webpage.

Please check your UTD e-mail for updates on the status of the potential U.S. government shutdown and its’ impact on U.S. government services. Please refer to the OICS website for additional immigration advising. https://oics.utdallas.edu/immigration-advising/

Warm regards,

Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services (OICS)

The University of Texas at Dallas

Immigration Advising