Though the US Department of State and the USCIS will not be impacted by the government shutdown, it will slowdown processing of US visas. The shutdown will affect few immigration services and US employers will not be able to use E-Verify. The US Department of State (DOS) and the USCIS are self-funded and these immigration agencies will operate during the government shutdown. These agencies are funded by the fees submitted by the people who are applying for immigration benefits.
The US government shutdown may not impact the USA Green Card lottery program. The online registration for this program began on 1st October, 2013. Applications will be accepted only until 2nd November, 2013. The government shutdown will not slow this lottery program but a prolonged shutdown might impact this program.
This US Green Card lottery program also known as the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program, is a program that is being conducted every year by the US Congress. This program gives an opportunity to the people who belong to under-represented countries to get Green Cards. People who enter this program and win would become eligible for permanent resident status in America, if they are eligible.
This program would be eliminated if the version of the immigration reform bill that was passed by the US Senate is passed by the US Congress. In that case, DV 2015 would be the last Diversity Visa lottery program.
If you believe that you are eligible for a Green Card in the United States, you can enter this program now. You can now file your entry online for free. Prior to filing your entry, you must ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements set by the DOS. Despite the government shutdown, the lottery program is running and the DOS is accepting applications. Foreigners who wish to get US Green Cards need to remember the Green Card lottery deadline and the last date to file entries is 2nd November, 2013.
USCIS, US DOS and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have sufficient funds to operate throughout the government shutdown and this also applies to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).