Government Shutdown Halts H-1B Visa Processing: Indian Professionals Face Uncertainty

The recent US government shutdown has triggered a range of operational disruptions, impacting numerous government services. Among the most affected areas is the processing of H-1B visas and green cards, crucial for many Indian professionals. The US Department of Labor, central to the H-1B visa process, has been affected by funding cuts, thereby halting the processing of Labor Condition Applications (LCAs). Employers must secure LCA approval before sponsoring an H-1B visa. The Department of Labor’s halt impacts both new H-1B applications and those seeking to change employers or status. PERM certification, required for employment-based green cards, is also on hold. This situation has left applicants whose LCAs were pending prior to the shutdown stuck in limbo. Processing of H-1B visas is expected to remain suspended until the Department of Labor resumes its normal activities after the government reopens.