U.S. Alert – Federal Government Shutdown: Agency-By-Agency Update
The partial federal government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m.
on Saturday, December 22, 2018, continues unabated. Several
departments have issued related announcements about the specifics
of which immigration services have closed and which remain open,
summarized below in alphabetical order:
Department of Labor. DOL’s announcement refers people to its
extensive contingency plan.
Department of Justice. DOJ released the following statement:
“Due to the lapse in appropriations, Department of Justice
websites will not be regularly updated. The Department’s
essential law enforcement and national security functions will
continue. Please refer to the Department of Justice’s
contingency plan for more information.” The contingency plan, dated September 2018
Department of State. DOS announced on December 22, 2018, that
scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at
U.S. embassies and consulates overseas will continue “during
the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits.” The
agency said it will not update its website until full operations
resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security
information. The National Visa Center, National Passport
Information Center, and Kentucky Consular Center will still accept
telephone calls and inquiries from the public.
All passport agencies and centers and acceptance facilities
(such as U.S. post offices, libraries, and county clerk’s
offices) are still accepting applications for U.S. passport books
and passport cards during the shutdown, and passports can be
renewed by mail, DOS said. Processing times remain the same: four
to six weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for
expedited service.
Those who have scheduled appointments at a DOS passport agency
or center should plan on keeping their appointments, the agency
said. Those who need to cancel their appointments at those places
may do so by calling 1-877-487-2778 or visiting the Online Passport Appointment System. Those who
have scheduled appointments at a passport acceptance facility and
need to cancel should contact the facility directly; click
here to search for a local facility.
Executive Office for Immigration Review—immigration
courts. With respect to the operating status of immigration courts
during the shutdown, EOIR said that detained docket cases will
proceed as scheduled. Non-detained docket cases will be reset for a
later date after funding resumes. Immigration courts will issue an
updated notice of hearing to respondents or, if applicable,
respondents’ representatives of record for each reset
hearing.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS said that the
shutdown does not affect USCIS’s fee-funded activities. USCIS
offices remain open and all applicants should attend their
interviews and appointments as scheduled, the agency said. The
lapse in government appropriations does not affect Form I-9
Employment Eligibility Verification requirements. Employers must
still complete Form I-9 no later than the third business day after
an employee starts work for pay, and comply with all other I-9
requirements.
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