US embassy to continue visa issuance despite govt shutdown

The US government shut down nearly all services early Tuesday October 1 after Congress failed to strike a deal to fund public spending before the deadline expired at midnight Monday. President Barack Obama has been in a battle with Republican Party legislators who refused to pass a bill to fund the government unless Democrats agreed […]

The US government shut down nearly all services early Tuesday October 1 after Congress failed to strike a deal to fund public spending before the deadline expired at midnight Monday. President Barack Obama has been in a battle with Republican Party legislators who refused to pass a bill to fund the government unless Democrats agreed to delay the president’s healthcare reforms known as Obamacare by a year. Many workers except those in military service are going without pay as the shutdown lasts.
The White House therefore ordered non-essential services to stop operating shortly before midnight local time on Tuesday, the first shutdown for more than 17 years. This has been on since then.
But the embassy says fee-funded activities such as visa and passport services will continue since fees are collected to finance these services.  
It says the State Department and USAID have taken steps to continue working to advance the national interest, regardless of the challenges created by the shutdown, and would continue to operate to advance the national interests and protect health and safety of US citizens abroad.
Certain Department of State and USAID operations according to the embassy can continue on a limited basis for a short period of time.  
“Certain multi-year State Department and USAID accounts have residual funds that remain available.  However, we are not conducting business as usual. The Department and USAID will not hire any new personnel and is severely constraining spending.  This includes avoiding new obligations; sharply curtailing travel and conferences; and avoiding making all but the most essential purchases”, it added in a statement yesterday.