Earlier this month, there were doubts about if and when the November 2013 visa bulletin would be released due to the shutdown. As we enter the third week of budget talks in Congress with no apparent end in sight, USCIS continues to process visas and the Department of State continues to publish their visa bulletin.

The November 2013 bulletin reveals slight progress in most family green card categories and advancements for a select few employment-based green card categories. It's safe to expect progress to slow down for the December bulletin, since by next month USCIS and the State Department will be able to more fully evaluate the impact of the shutdown on visa processing times.

Family visa priority dates in the November 2013 visa bulletin

Priority dates for employment-based green cards

Possible problems ahead with future visa wait times

This month has seen minimal impact from the government shutdown, but in the coming months employment-based visa wait times will likely increase significantly owing to the fact that the Department of Labor is closed. Any work visa requiring use of the PERM or iCERT system will not be processed until the government restores its services. Unfortunately, these delays will complicate the already long, complex road to obtaining a work-based green card.

Family visas don't generally rely on certifications from the Department of Labor, so theoretically they should fare much better in the midst of a shutdown. However, even though USCIS is still running, the shutdown has an effect on every branch of government. There is no guarantee that family visa priority dates won't also stall while the government attempts to recuperate.

We are hopeful that the shutdown's overall impact on visa processing times is minimal, and we will keep updating the blog with more news as we receive it.