As employers turn to budgeting and headcount planning for 2027, there's a step worth adding to that process that doesn't usually make the list: a review of where your sponsored foreign national employees actually stand. This year alone has brought an unusual volume of change to employment-based immigration, and a number of...
There's a significant update to a rule we've been closely tracking: on September 14, 2026, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking DHS's rule ending Duration of Status for F, J, and I nonimmigrants — just one day before the rule was scheduled to take effect. The...
Major changes affecting F-1 international students and J-1 exchange visitors are set to take effect on September 15, 2026. The new rule replaces Duration of Status (D/S) with fixed periods of admission, introduces an “Admit Until Date,” reduces the F-1 grace period from 60 to 30 days, and creates new requirements for...
Back in July, we sent an initial alert letting you know that DHS had finalized this rule (you can revisit our original post, “It's Final: DHS Ends Duration of Status for F, J, and I Visa Holders,” here). Since then, several important developments have occurred, including a legal challenge to the...
Applicants pursuing a green card through a U.S. embassy or consulate are running into an unexpected roadblock this fall. A State Department official confirmed on August 25, 2026, that immigrant visa interview appointments have been paused across posts worldwide so that consular officers can go through additional training — leaving many families...
The Wall Street Journal reported on July 30, 2026 that the administration is considering a $100,000 fee tied to Optional Practical Training, the program that lets international students work in the United States for one to three years after graduating from a U.S. university. It's important to be precise about what this...
Once the DHS rule ending duration of status takes effect on September 15, 2026, the date printed on an F-1 student's, J-1 exchange visitor's, or I foreign media representative's Form I-94 becomes the hard deadline for their authorized stay. Anyone who needs more time to finish a program, complete Optional Practical Training,...
When DHS finalized its rule replacing duration of status with fixed admission periods for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, most of the attention went to the individual timelines: the four-year cap, the shortened 30-day grace period for F-1 students, and the new requirement to file for an extension of stay directly with...
DHS has published a final rule ending duration of status, D/S, for F academic students, J exchange visitors, and I representatives of foreign information media. This moves the change from proposal to reality. The rule was published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2026, and takes effect 60 days later, on September 15, unless Congress...
If you came to the United States on a student visa, fell out of status at some point, and are now married to a U.S. citizen and pursuing a green card — pay close attention. USCIS officers are now using a new policy memorandum to deny Adjustment of Status applications at the...
