Federal Shutdown Averted for One Week
April 28, 2017
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A continuing resolution passed by Congress on Friday will fund the federal government – including immigration operations – for an additional week, through May 5, while negotiations on the FY 2017 budget continue. The bill has been sent to President Trump, who is expected to sign it into law later today. The weeklong stopgap measure is intended to give lawmakers more time to settle on a spending bill that will fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
The short-term spending measure also provides a one-week extension for four immigration programs that were set to expire today: the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification system; the EB-5 Regional Center permanent residence program for foreign investors; the Conrad 30 waiver program for foreign medical graduates who will work in areas of the United States that are underserved by physicians; and the special immigrant non-minister religious worker permanent residence program.
What the Short-Term Spending Measure Means for Employers
The passage of the continuing resolution means that there will be no interruption of federal immigration operations for now, but a federal shutdown remains a possibility if there is no agreement on the FY 2017 federal budget by Friday, May 5.
To minimize the impact of a potential shutdown at the end of next week, employers should continue to work with their Fragomen team to assess their upcoming need for labor condition applications (LCAs), prevailing wage determinations and PERM filings, and submit applications next week if possible. If a budget agreement is not reached and a shutdown occurs, Department of Labor functions would be completely suspended, while State Department and USCIS application processing would continue but could be delayed.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
