U.S. Government Shutdown: What Stops, What Continues-and a Practical Guide for Korean Americans

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK - With federal funding set to lapse at 12:01 a.m. ET on Oct. 1, Congress is racing to pass a short-term measure but has not yet reached agreement. If no deal materializes, agencies will begin executing "lapse in appropriations" plans-furloughing non-excepted staff while keeping life-and-property functions running. Social Security payments and mail delivery continue, but many administrative services would pause or slow until funding is restored.

What a shutdown actually means. Under federal law, when appropriations lapse, each department implements a contingency plan that distinguishes "excepted" work (e.g., air traffic control, certain law-enforcement and safety operations) from non-excepted activities. Excepted employees continue working without pay until Congress acts; non-excepted employees are furloughed and barred from working. The Office of Personnel Management has issued special instructions for agencies on how to conduct an orderly shutdown, including guidance for employees who were scheduled to be on leave when a lapse begins.

Immigration and visas. Most USCIS casework is fee-funded and is expected to continue-filings such as H-1B amendments, I-140s, and I-485s should be accepted and adjudicated, with premium processing generally available. By contrast, employers normally cannot open new E-Verify cases during a shutdown; federal guidance has historically paused deadlines tied to the outage. At the State Department, passports and consular visas typically proceed because they are paid by fees, though posts can slow or triage services if local fee balances run low. Note that the Special Immigrant Religious Worker program sunsets on Sept. 30 unless Congress passes a CR or omnibus-separate from the shutdown mechanics.

Parks and public lands. Recent contingency plans indicate most national parks would close or operate with sharply limited services during a lapse. Even if gates remain open at some sites, visitor centers, restrooms, permits and trash collection may be suspended; travelers should check park alerts before departure.

Small business, courts, and other services. A broad shutdown would curtail certain grants and permits, slow some courts and administrative tribunals, and delay new awards or inspections that depend on annual appropriations. Industry groups and officials have warned that these knock-on effects grow with each day of a lapse; current Hill negotiations revolve around a short-term bill to push funding into November.

For Korean Americans and Korean nationals in the U.S.: what to do today. If you have time-sensitive filings with USCIS, file as planned and consider premium processing where appropriate. Employers should plan for E-Verify unavailability and document good-faith efforts once the system returns. International travelers should allow extra time for passport and visa appointments and carry proof of fee payments and itineraries. Families planning to visit national parks should confirm each site's operating status the day of travel and have contingency options ready. If you or your business rely on federal grants or certifications, check the relevant agency's contingency page and document any deadline impacts for later relief.

Bottom line. A shutdown would be uneven by design: safety and fee-funded functions continue, while many back-office services pause. For households and small businesses, a little preparation-filing early, printing confirmations, and bookmarking official status pages-goes a long way until Congress resolves funding.