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On July 17, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to publish a final rule that replaces “duration of status” for F and J visa holders with fixed admission periods. If the final rule is published as scheduled, this… Read More

On June 5th, a federal judge vacated several USCIS policies affecting foreign nationals from countries and areas subject to the current travel ban. This includes the USCIS pause on adjudicating benefits requests such as OPT, STEM OPT, change of status, etc. from citizens of countries impacted by a travel ban. … Read More

A federal district court in Massachusetts has invalidated the USCIS policy implementing the $100,000 H-1B fee established by a September 2025 presidential proclamation. The court found that the fee exceeded executive authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act, resulting in a nationwide vacatur of the policy. As a result, USCIS… Read More

USCIS has issued a new policy memorandum on Adjustment of Status. The memo asserts that USCIS adjudication of adjustment of status applications is discretionary, and that the agency is not required to review all applications, reserving the… Read More

On May 5, 2026, DHS submitted the final rule that will eliminate F and J “duration of status” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Once OMB’s review is complete, the final rule will be published in the Federal Register. ISSS will review the final rule once… Read More

Effective March 1, 2026, all requests for USCIS’s Premium Processing Service must include the new fee. See here. The premium processing fee for Form I-129 nonimmigrant worker petitions requesting classifications such as E-3, H-1B, L-1, O-1, and TN increased to $2,965. The premium processing fee for Form I-140 immigrant petitions… Read More

Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State is pausing issuance of immigrant visas for applicants who are nationals of certain countries. This pause applies only to immigrant visas for permanent residency processed through U.S. consulates and does not affect nonimmigrant visas, including B, F, J, or H categories. The… Read More

Diversity visa issuance and related adjustment approvals are temporarily paused while additional security reviews are conducted. The visa lottery provides a limited number of immigrant visas each year to those from countries with low U.S. immigration rates. No approvals will be issued during this pause. Find more information … Read More

The Department of State expanded the visa bond program for certain nationalities, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Nigeria, for B-1/B-2 visas only. While F/J students and scholars are not impacted, the policy may affect family visits and short-term academic… Read More

On Dec. 5th, USCIS announced a new Vetting Center to centralize and enhance screening of immigration applications, including expanded background checks and interagency review. This may add scrutiny and longer processing times for immigration benefits. The change follows broader shifts in USCIS adjudication practices, including the… Read More