H-1B Visa Processing Stops: Indian Professionals Hit Hard by Shutdown
US Department of Labor shutdown suspends H-1B and O-1 visa approvals. Thousands of Indian tech workers await indefinite clearance delays.
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The US government shutdown that began on October 1 has brought H-1B visa processing to a complete halt, affecting thousands of Indian professionals, who make up more than 70% of visa holders under the program. The Department of Labor (DOL), responsible for issuing the Labour Condition Applications (LCAs) required for all H-1B petitions, has suspended operations due to the lapse in federal funding.
Without active LCAs, new H-1B visa petitions cannot proceed. Employer transfers and status changes for existing visa holders are also on hold, unless the LCA was approved prior to the shutdown. Immigration attorneys say applicants initiating petitions now will face the longest delays, while those already in process may continue since the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) relies on filing fees rather than congressional appropriations.
Sophie Alcorn, an immigration attorney in Silicon Valley, was quoted as saying in Times of India that the suspension will particularly impact new applicants. “Anyone who hasn’t secured LCA approval before the shutdown cannot move forward with their visa application,” she said.
The DOL also oversees PERM certifications, essential for employment-based green cards, which are similarly affected. Tech workers, many with families reliant on their legal status, are facing uncertainty as the shutdown freezes government approvals critical to maintaining work authorization. Startups and other US businesses hiring high-skilled talent are experiencing workforce disruptions due to halted visa processing.
O-1 visa holders, designated for individuals with extraordinary abilities in science, arts, or business, are also experiencing delays. The shutdown affects broader immigration timelines, leaving applicants uncertain about approvals and renewals.
The visa processing halt coincides with ongoing policy changes. The administration recently proposed raising H-1B filing fees to $100,000 for new applicants and restructuring the lottery system to favor higher-wage workers. No timeline has been announced for the end of the shutdown, which began at 12:01 a.m. local time on October 1. The last prolonged shutdown during the Trump administration lasted 35 days, marking the longest federal funding lapse in more than four decades.
Until Congress passes a funding bill, Indian professionals seeking to work in the US face an indefinite wait, raising concerns across tech hubs and startups reliant on foreign talent.
