As the federal government shutdown continues, the UW–Madison community should be aware of the potential impact on immigration processes and international travel.
Changes to some immigration services are likely, including:
- Fee-based immigration processing – including the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) benefit and State Department visa and passport processing – are likely to continue, but with potential delays if a shutdown is lengthy.
- USCIS E-Verify, EB-4 non-minister religious worker, and Conrad 30 programs will expire if Congress fails to extend them.
- Department of Labor immigration functions, such as Labor Condition Application and Permanent Labor Certification processing, and prevailing wage processing, are suspended.
The shutdown may impact domestic and international air travel in the following ways:
- Longer security lines at airports across the United States, with impacts on departures and indirect effects on the international air transport system.
- Potentially decreased route schedules due to the impact on air traffic control and FAA safety/worthiness inspections.
- Weakened ability for airports and airlines to deal with the impacts of weather challenges.
- Customer-facing services at major airports may be decreased.
- During past shutdowns, TSA officers have continued to work without pay.
Travel tips during shutdown
- If departing by air in the United States, arrive at the airport well in advance, as you may experience unexpected delays reaching your departure gate in many cities due to slower/fewer security lines.
- Check your flight status prior to leaving your home or hotel.
- Remain polite with personnel, as the situation and its effects may heighten the stress/tension levels among airport employees, including TSA and airline gate agents.
We will update this page as new guidance is available.