Important Announcements

Announcements 2026

May 5	Proposed Rule F-1 & J-1 D/S Duration of Status Summary: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media
March 31	USCIS Completes FY 2027 H-1B Initial Registration Selection Process
March 30	Update on USCIS’ Strengthened Screening and Vetting Impact on F-1 related petitions as well i.e. OPT/STEM OPT, reinstatement, change of status.
March 23	Broadcast Message: STEM OPT Employer Fraud
February 19	Beware of DHS Imposters: Protecting Foreign Students from Scams
February 9	Quick-Reference Country Restriction Table Table prepared by NAFSA shows recent country-specific policies that continue to impact visa or immigration benefits for nationals of the listed countries. It is meant for quick-reference only.
February 2	Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of U.S. Public Benefits Reliance
January 30	FY 2027 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 4 Applicable to cap-subject H-1B filings.
January 22	Hold and Review of USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Aliens from Additional High-Risk Countries Impact on F-1 related petitions as well i.e. OPT/STEM OPT, reinstatement, change of status.
January 9	USCIS Premium Processing Fees Increase

Announcements 2025

December 17	Travel Restrictions Update 12/17/2025
December 12	Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Photo and Biometrics Update
December 12	Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Applicants in Their Country of Residence
November 18	State Department to Lead Additional International Education Programs Under New Interagency Partnership
October 29	Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension - STEM OPT applicant 180 day automatic extension is still in effect and not impacted by this new USCIS rule
October 20	USCIS Guidance on When the $100K H-1B Proclamation Will and Will not Apply
September 19	DOS Global Visa Wait Times Page Updated
September 9	DOS Announces NIV Applicants Should Schedule Visa Interview Appointments in Country of Nationality or Residence
September 3	DHS Proposes Significant Expansion of Data Collected on Forms I-17 and I-20
August 27	DHS Proposal to Replace Duration of Status
July 15	NAFSA lists countries impacted by recent visa reciprocity reductions
June 19	Student and Exchange Visitor Visa Appointment Capacity and DOS Guidance on Expanded Social Media Screening
June 18	Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants
June 17	Possible Expansion of Travel Ban
June 5	Proclamation Orders Travel Bans on 19 Countries
May 27	Visa Appointment Availability Pause
May 16	SEVP Sends Notices to OPT Students Without Employer Information in SEVIS
May 15	USCIS Authority to Request Interviews and Biometrics
May 7	TSA Begins REAL ID Full Enforcement May 7, 2025
April 28	New F-1 Cap-Gap Extension Dates
March 11	Spring Break Travel Reminders for International Students
February 27	New Immigration Registration Requirements: Key Points
February 3	Executive and Regulatory Actions Under the Second Trump Administration

Announcements 2024

December 23	USCIS Final Rule on H-1B Modernization and F-1 Cap-Gap Flexibility
November 14	Requirements to Carry Immigration Registration Document and Report Change of Address
September 13	NAFSA Comments on Revised F Content in USCIS Policy Manual
August 26	DOS Clarifies That J Visa Can Be Used Following Standard Program Transfer
July 22	SEVP extends SSR for Somalian F-1 Students
June 21	NAFSA Advocacy on International Student Visa Delays and Denials
June 6	SEVP Updates SSR Fact Sheet
May 9	CIS Ombudsman New Features to Improve the Case Assistance Request Experience
May 7	DHS Tweaks F and M Medical Reduced Course Load Language
February 14	Frequently Asked Questions on the USCIS Fee Rule
February 1	USCIS Premium Processing Fee Hike Effective February 26, 2024
January 30	USCIS announced a final rule to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees
January 29	DHS Extends Syria Special Student Relief until September 30, 2025

Announcements 2023

December 22	DOS Announces Revised Visa Interview Waiver Policy
October 31	DOS Extends SSR for J-1 Students from Ukraine
October 11	SEVP Reactivates 180-Day Requested Status Job on OPT and OCE Applications
September 22	CIS Ombudsman Corrects Tip Sheet on How F-1 Students Seeking OPT Can Avoid Form I-765 Delays
September 19	SEVP Policy on Form I-983 Training Plan Electronic Signatures and Transmission
September 7	DHS Extends SSR and TPS for Sudan, South Sudan, and Ukraine
August 24	F-1 Cap-Gap Employment Ends September 30 if COS to H-1B Still Pending
August 15	CIS Ombud Message on Timing of F-1 EAD Production After I-765 Adjudication
July 12	DHS Updates STEM Designated Degree Program List with Eight New Fields
June 10	EVP Guidance Directive 2023-01 Ends COVID-19 Flexibilities But Introduces New Interpretations on Hybrid or Virtual Work and Learning
June 6	E-Verify Records Disposal Scheduled for June 24, 2023
May 12	SEVP Terminates its COVID-19 Flexibilities on May 11
May 12	COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for International Travelers to the United States Ended on May 12, 2023
April 4	Special Student Relief for Ukrainian J-1 Students
April 3	New Filing Address for Courier Delivery Services to USCIS Phoenix Lockbox
April 3	Resources for Emergencies & Natural Disasters in the U.S.
March 23	CDC Terminates COVID Test for Passengers on Flights Originating in PRC
February 28	SEVP Continues to Assess Its COVID-19 Guidance
January 24	USCIS Extends COVID-19 RFE Response Flexibility until March 23, 2023.
January 5	CDC Requires COVID Test for Passengers on Flights Originating in PRC

Announcements 2022

December 23	DOS Extends Visa Interview Waiver Policy For Certain Nonimmigrants Until December 31, 2023.
October 21	DOS Update on Worldwide Visa Operations
October 11	DHS Extends Form I-9 Flexibilities until July 31, 2023
April 19	Special Student Relief For F-1 Students: Essential Concepts
April 18	SEVP COVID-19 Guidance for Academic Year 2022-2023
April 8	COVID Vaccine and Test Requirements for U.S. Entry
January 21	Expansion of STEM OPT Program and Other Initiatives to Attract STEM Talent

Announcements 2021

December 30	USCIS Extends COVID-19 RFE Response Flexibility until March 26, 2022
November 8	DHS Announces Fee Exemptions, Streamlined Processing for Afghan Nationals.
October 27	COVID Vaccine and Test Requirements for U.S. Entry
August 3	Special Student Relief for F-1 Students
April 22	Employment Authorization for Eligible Venezuelan F-1 Students
April 12	F-1 Students Seeking Optional Practical Training Can Now File Form I-765 Online
April 8	DOS Announces Blanket National Interest Exceptions for Immigrant Visas
March 18	COVID-19 Restrictions on U.S. Visas and Entry
February 26	Significant USCIS Lockbox Delays in Processing of Receipt Notices

Announcements 2020

September 30	USCIS Response to Preliminary Injunction of Fee Rule
September 24	DHS Proposed Rule to Replace Duration of Status
July 29	USCIS Filing Fee Increase Starting October 2, 2020
July 24	Broadcast Message: Follow-up: ICE continues March Guidance for Fall School Term
July 6	Broadcast Message 2007-01 - COVID-19 and Fall 2020

February 3	The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China will be closed February 3-7
January 27	Final Rules on Public Charge Determinations

Announcements 2019

June 19	USCIS Updates Fee Payment System Used in Field Offices
May 23	SEVIS F, M, and J Fee Adjustments - Effective as of June 24, 2019
April 2	Update: I-94 Numbers Will Be Alphanumeric Starting May 2019
March 8	New Version of Form I-539 and I-539A
March 5	Protecting Against Immigration Fraud Schemes Targeting Foreign Nationals
January 28	STEM OPT, E-Verify, and the Government Shutdown

Announcements 2018

December 4	NAFSA Regulatory Updates - Trending Topics
October 24	USCIS Simplifies Access to Online Data
August 27	Accrual of Unlawful Presence and F, J, and M Nonimmigrants
July 20	USCIS RFE and NOID Policy
July 16	Form I-765 Edition 05/31/2018 Required Starting 09/17/2018
March 23	New portal allows international students to send updates to SEVIS
March 5	Temporary Protected Status Update for TPS Students
January 2	US Resumes Visa Processing in Turkey
January 2	H Non-Immigrant Category Reform

Announcements 2017

August 30	Additional Step for Employment Based Permanent Resident Applicants
August 3	Special Instructions for B-1/B-2 Visitors Who Want to Enroll in School
June 29	United States: Travel Ban Expected to Take Effect on Thursday, June 29

June 13

Ninth Circuit Upholds Injunction Against Entry Ban Alert

Mar 16

Executive Order litigation and the March 16, 2017 effective date

Mar 6

USCIS Cancel H1B Premium Processing

Jan 28

Travel Advisory for Nationals of Certain Countries Pursuant to Executive Order