Featured

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that would establish new fees for Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT. Under the proposal, institutions would be responsible for paying a $70,000 fee for an initial OPT recommendation and a $30,000 fee for subsequent recommendations, including… Read More

President Trump has extended a September 2025 proclamation that imposes a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B petitions, through September 21, 2027, but that fee policy is currently blocked by court order. Because the September 2025 H-1B proclamation fee policy is currently vacated, the extended fee policy should also be blocked,… Read More

On September 18, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order directing the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL), Homeland Security (DHS), and State to coordinate more closely on H-1B program administration and take into consideration employers’ recent or planned layoffs. The executive order calls for layoff-related information to… Read More

The U.S. Department of State has temporarily paused immigrant visa interview appointments worldwide so its consular officers can undergo training on new public charge screening guidance—an assessment used to determine whether someone seeking to immigrate is likely to become dependent on government assistance. Nonimmigrant visa appointments and their application processing… Read More

Starting October 1, 2026, TN and TD (US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA) professionals and their dependents), and I (foreign media representatives) applicants will undergo a review of their online presence as part of their visa applications at U.S. consulates abroad, according to a State Department announcement. A visa applicant’s online… Read More

The Department of Labor (DOL) has initiated the process to propose a new regulation that would revise the PERM labor market test and other aspects of the labor certification program; the proposal is under review at the Office of Management and Budget. Read More

Under the proposal, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would eliminate the discretionary, maximum 60-day grace period currently accorded to E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1 and TN nonimmigrants (and their dependents) whose employment ceases. If the rule is finalized, it will mean that nonimmigrants whose employment has ceased… Read More

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently issued guidance clarifying the requirements for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). In response, Vanderbilt has updated its CPT practices to align with this guidance and narrower interpretation of what constitutes “integral” training. ISSS will only be able to authorize CPT for… Read More

A federal court in Boston has postponed the effective date of, and preliminarily enjoined implementation of, the new rule that was scheduled to take effect on September 15 and eliminate Duration of Status (D/S) for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors. As a result, the existing D/S framework remains… Read More

USCIS recently reinforced its authority to deny immigration benefit requests without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) when required initial evidence is missing. This is particularly relevant under the new D/S rule, as students and scholars will rely more heavily on USCIS to adjudicate I-539 extension-of-stay applications, making complete… Read More