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...
DOJ Opinion Expands Which State Agencies Must Report Undocumented Immigrants to DHS
A new legal opinion from the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has significantly widened which state government offices are required to report individuals known to be unlawfully present in the United States to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The opinion, issued September 1, 2026 and announced publicly on...
SEVP Tightens F-1 Visa CPT Eligibility Rules in 2026: What Students, Schools and Employers Need to Know
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has issued two significant updates concerning Curricular Practical Training (CPT), signaling increased scrutiny of when F-1 students may qualify for this type of practical training.
On August 12, 2026, SEVP issued Broadcast Message 2608-01, “Reminder of Liability for DSOs Regarding CPT...
USCIS Provides 30-Day Grace Period for New Form I-864 Edition
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has provided a 30-day grace period for the transition to the new edition of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA.
USCIS published the new edition of Form I-864 on August 31, 2026, with an edition date of 08/24/26....
September 2026 U.S. & Canadian Immigration Newsletter: H-1B Fees, F-1/J-1 Changes, Visa Delays & More
This edition of NPZ Law Group’s U.S. and Canadian Immigration Newsletter covers major developments affecting employers, international students, foreign workers, and families. Topics include the proposed $103,265 H-1B fee, new fixed admission periods for F-1 and J-1 visa holders, worldwide immigrant visa interview delays, increased scrutiny of remote H-1B work during international...
Federal Court Strikes Down 75-Country Immigrant Visa Ban: What CLINIC v. Rubio Means for Pending Cases
On August 21, 2026, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York struck down the State Department's ban on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, ruling that the policy exceeded the Secretary of State's authority and violated the nationality-discrimination prohibition built into U.S. immigration law.
Navigating the September 2026 Visa Bulletin: Major Family-Based Advances as Employment-Based India Remains Stalled
The September 2026 Visa Bulletin closes out Fiscal Year 2026 with significant forward movement in several family-sponsored categories, while the major employment-based categories remain largely unchanged from August. For applicants chargeable to India, EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved remain unavailable, EB-1 remains at October 15, 2022, and DOS continues to warn that additional...
Important Update for F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors: DHS Fixed-Period Admission Rule Takes Effect September 15, 2026
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...
Green Card Interviews Delayed Worldwide as State Department Retrains Consular Staff
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...
DHS Proposes New $103,265 H-1B Fee — Separate From (and On Top Of) the $100,000 Proclamation Payment
On August 24, 2026, DHS announced a proposed rule that would add a new $103,265 fee to all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2026. This is not the same as the $100,000...
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