LATEST NEWS ALERT: Government Shutdown and Artist Visa Processing - (10/1/25)
Following the partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government as of midnight, October 1, 2025, those engaged in the artist visa process are of course watching for even longer potential delays in procedures. Because U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services is largely fee-based, many services, including processing O and P artist visas, are expected to continue and USCIS reports that field offices are open. The U.S. Department of State has announced that consular processing of visas remains operational. Even as basic USCIS and consular operations are expected to continue, overall staffing conditions may produce delays as the shutdown continues, so petitioners and artists should continue to navigate procedures as early as possible.
U.S. employers should be aware that due to the shutdown, E-Verify services are unavailable. However, 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 Form I-9 requirements.