The US Embassy in India has issued an official clarification about how passport and visa services will be impacted in light of the United States government shutting down early Wednesday morning (US time).
After the US President Donald Trump and Democrats failed to agree on a deal to keep the government funded, the US Embassy in India’s official X account pushed put an update for applicants consumed by uncertainty. Officials have since confirmed that while their social media channels will mostly remain dormant until full operations are resumed, urgent safety and security information would still be sent out as exceptions.
But what about visa and passport services?
US Embassy in India issues update on visa, passport services amid govt shutdown
In an official statement shared online, the embassy said, “At this time, scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at US Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits.”
Moreover, the US State Department is currently flashing a notice on its website, saying that consular operations, both domestic and abroad, will continue to be operational. These include: Passports, visas, and assisting American citizens aboard. However, “certain domestic support for consular operations will be suspended,” it stated.
At this time, scheduled passport and visa services in the United States and at U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits. We will not update this account until full operations resume, with the exception of…
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) October 1, 2025
US govt shutdown: Services, federal employees affected
In what marks the first government shutdown in the USA in nearly seven years, federal agencies have had to temporarily halt or limit some services. According to the Congressional Budget Office, about 750,000 government employees are facing being furloughed. Although workers critical to essential services’ operations will stay on their post, they will not be paid until a funding agreement is reached.
While Democrats and Republicans play the blame game, Vice President JD Vance indicated in his conversation with reporters that if the shutdown continues, they would be left with no choice but to “do layoffs.”
“We’re going to do everything that we can over the coming weeks, if the shutdown lasts that long, to ensure that people get the essential services that they need, despite the fact that Chuck Schumer has shut down the federal government,” he said, as per CBS News. “It’s not going to be perfect. Because we are in a government shutdown, we are going to have to lay some people off if the shutdown continues. We don’t like that, we don’t necessarily want to do it, but we’re going to do what we have to do to keep the American people’s essential services continuing to run.”
Meanwhile, the US Postal Service said its services were still functional, with all post offices being open, despite the current circumstances. Medicare’s services will also go on uninterrupted, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Although economy data will not be collected or published, the judiciary will remain open with paid operations through October 17.
The Department of Education in the US further noted that federal student loans still need to be paid. On the other hand, applications for loan forgiveness may encounter delays. Additionally, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments will continue, but local offices will offer reduced services.