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How The US Government Shutdown Could Affect Travel And Visa Services Worldwide

A new US government shutdown officially began on October 1 after lawmakers failed to pass a short-term funding bill in time. While domestic and international travellers might not feel the impact immediately, history shows that prolonged shutdowns can disrupt everything from embassy services to airport operations.
What The Shutdown Means
When the US government runs out of funding, it forces federal agencies to suspend or scale back services. Some employees are sent home, while otherssuch as air traffic controllers and airport security staffcontinue working without pay until the situation is resolved.
The shutdown’s duration is still unknown, but the last one in 2018–2019 lasted a record 35 days. During that time, unpaid staff shortages led to cancelled flights, long queues at airports, and serious delays.
Global Travel And Embassy Services
The effects extend far beyond US borders. The US Department of State confirmed that consular serviceslike passport and visa processingwill continue, but with limited support. That means applications might move slower, and certain embassy operations could be delayed.
The US embassy in South Africa has already announced it will pause updates on its Facebook, Instagram and X pages until funding is restored, posting only urgent safety and security alerts in the meantime.
Visa and passport services managed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services will remain operational since they’re largely funded by application fees rather than government budgets.
Flights And Airport Operations
For now, US flights will continue as usual. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air traffic controllers remain on duty, but their pay is temporarily suspended. However, if the shutdown drags on, the travel industry could start to feel the strain.
During the 2018–2019 shutdown, unpaid TSA agents and controllers began calling in sick, leading to longer airport queues and flight delaysespecially at major hubs like New York’s LaGuardia and several Florida airports.
Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the US Travel Association, warned that the longer the shutdown lasts, the more travellers can expect to face “longer TSA lines, flight delays and cancellations, national parks in disrepair, and unnecessary delays in modernising travel infrastructure.”
What Travellers Should Know
For South Africans planning US trips, it’s best to double-check embassy updates and flight statuses before travelling. Those needing urgent consular help, like lost passports or emergencies, should still be able to get assistancebut non-essential services could slow down.
As the shutdown continues, the message from officials is clear: patience will be key. For now, travel remains possiblebut with uncertainty hanging in the air, a long political standoff in Washington could once again ripple across the skies.
{Source: Travel News}
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