Proposed Rulemaking on OPT Fee – Public Comments Open

• October 9th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

Proposed Rulemaking on OPT Fee – Public Comments Open (UPDATED 10/08/2026)

On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published 91 FR 64566 a proposed rule to introduce Optional Practical Training Fees of $70,000 for initial OPT Recommendation and $30,000 for subsequent OPT Recommendations.

IMPORTANT: Please note, this rule is not in effect and is only a proposal. 

Resource Links:

• Read: Proposed Rule on OPT Fees.
• Read: DHS Press Release.
• Read: NAFSA Press Release.
• See NAFSA’s Proposed OPT Fee Page.
• See International Student Resource Center Proposed OPT Fee Page.

Fee Proposal Overview

Proposed Fee Amounts – $70k & $30k
If finalized as proposed, the rule would require the school/institution who hosts the F-1 student to pay [emphasis added]:

• A one-time initial fee of $70,000 for each F-1 student the first time that the school recommends the student to participate in OPT of any kind under section 214.2(f)(10)(ii).
  • Proposed 8 CFR 214.13(i)(1) reads: “(1) An SEVP-certified educational institution must pay a one-time initial fee of $70,000 for each F-1 student the first time that the alien is recommended to participate in OPT under section 214.2(f)(10)(ii). This payment must be made prior to the DSO recommending a student for OPT, pursuant to section 214.2(f)(11)(ii).”
• A $30,000 fee for a subsequent recommendation for OPT of any kind under section 214.2(f)(10)(ii) by that school for that student.
  • Proposed 8 CFR 214.13(i)(1) reads: “(2) An SEVP-certified educational institution must pay the amount of $30,000 for each F- 1 student prior to a subsequent recommendation of the alien to participate in OPT under section 214.2(f)(10)(ii) if the alien has previously participated in OPT and paid the initial OPT fee of $70,000. This payment must be made prior to the DSO recommending a student for OPT, pursuant to section 214.2(f)(11)(ii).”

Who must pay the fee?
The proposed rule would require the school that recommends the OPT (or STEM OPT) to pay the applicable $70k or $30k OPT fee prior to recommending OPT and issuing an I-20 with OPT recommendations.

However, the proposal does not dictate how an institution must manage the fee source. Even though it is the obligation of the school to process payment of the fee and attest to its payment, DHS says in the preamble to the proposed rule:

“this proposed fee rule does not propose the imposition of specific limitations or restrictions on how the schools should collect or source the requisite funds to make the fee payments for each student engaged in OPT, to the extent that the school complies with all other applicable laws, including reporting foreign gifts and contracts under 20 U.S.C. 1011f. DHS acknowledges that the schools may pass the financial obligation of this proposed fee onto F-1 nonimmigrant students, all students, or employers.”

When would these fees go into effect?
Remember that this is a proposed rule, not a final rule.

Publication of the proposed rule 91 FR 64566 on October 8, 2026 began the notice-and-comment process under the Administrative Procedure Act.

After the comment period closes at the end of the day on November 9, 2026, DHS will first have to review the comments, develop a final rule, and then send the final rule back to OMB/OIRA for review. After that review is completed, DHS could publish a final rule in the Federal Register, which would specify any revisions to the proposal and when the final rule would be scheduled to take effect.

Rule Making Process Overview
Below is a brief overview of the rule making process which is a broad 5-Step Process:

1. A proposed rule is published in the Federal Register and the public can comment. (We are currently here in the Rulemaking Process).
   • Comments can be submitted through the “Submit a Public Comment” link on the proposed rule page 91 FR 64566 or directly at Regulations.gov.
   • The comment period will end on November 9, 2026 for this proposed rule.
2. After comment period ends, DHS is required to review public comments and prepare a response to all substantive comments.
3. DHS sends either the same rule or the rule with changes to the OMB for review.
4. The OMB completes their review of the rule.
5. The final rule is published with an effective date.

Submitting a Public Comment
Comments can be submitted through the “Submit a Public Comment” link on the proposed rule page 91 FR 64566 or directly at Regulations.gov.

The comment period will end on November 9, 2026 for this proposed rule.

If making a public comment, see the below tips from Johns Hopkins University’s “Tips for Submitting Effective Comments”

1. Identify the rule you are commenting on and provide the Regulation Identifier Number (RIN), plus any word, column, or paragraph citation from the federal register document to clearly identify the issues or parts of the proposed regulation on which you are responding.
2. Be constructive and offer an alternative or modified approach to meeting the same objective or, if you disagree with the action, suggest not regulating at all.
3. Use data and evidence to support your argument, including relevant personal or professional experience, if appropriate.
4. Avoid jargon and acronyms; use plain language and headings to group information into meaningful chunks.
5. Use a disclaimer i.e. “The views expressed are my own not on behalf of my employer/school.”
6. Distinguish your comment from others by identifying your credentials and expertise – avoid form letters.
7. Know your audience and demonstrate the ways in which your recommendation reflects the best interests of the federal government and federal taxpayers.
8. Be aware of deadline; you have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on November 9, 2026 to submit your comment.
9. Comments become a matter of public record. The comment, attachments, and supporting materials will be posted without change to Regulations.gov.

ISSS will continue to monitor the situation and update the Immigration Updates Page with information as it becomes available.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Changes – UPDATED 10/05/2026

• October 5th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Changes – Effective 08/31/2026 (UPDATED 10/05/2026)

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently issued two Broadcast Messages to SEVP-certified schools regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations.

The Broadcast Messages (BCM Numbers: 2608-01 and 2608-02) direct institutions to review their CPT processes and policies, and the Messages clarify that SEVP only considers valid CPT engagement to be that which is an integral part of an established curriculum. Regulatory Citation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i).

According to this new SEVP guidance, International Student Advisors should authorize CPT “only when the training is an integral part of an established curriculum and is directly related to the student’s major area of study.”  The SEVP directive provides further clarification regarding CPT eligibility:

• CPT must be a core and essential part of a student’s established curriculum, without which, they would be unable to complete the degree.
• CPT cannot be authorized solely for the purpose of employment or for experiences that are not required or otherwise formally recognized as part of the academic program.
• CPT cannot be authorized if it is only required as part of an elective course. The CPT must be an integral part of an established curriculum, and the practical training must be required for all students participating in that curriculum, regardless of citizenship.
• CPT authorization must be granted only where its absence would make the attainment of the degree an impossibility and the experiential learning associated with the CPT is required for all students pursuing this degree, regardless of citizenship.

Moving forward, International Student & Scholar Services will require academic departments to respond to additional questions when submitting a CPT recommendation for an F-1 international student, including:

1. Will the student be able to earn this UA degree without engaging in the CPT experience?
2. Is the academic basis for the CPT experience required of all students enrolled in the degree program or the degree program track?
3. For thesis-track Master’s and Doctoral students, is the CPT experience required to complete the thesis or dissertation?

If the experience and engagement in CPT is required for the degree, this must be evidenced within the respective academic catalog.

More stringent CPT eligibility review will begin immediately.

The CPT Application Packet and CPT section of the student employment page have been updated to reflect these additional requirements.

The content of this message has been excerpted from SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-01, August 12, 2026 – Reminder of Liability for DSOs Regarding CPT Authorization and SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-02, August 24, 2026 – Guidance for Designated School Officials Regarding Curricular Practical Training.

PRE-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) – ALTERNATIVE TO CPT

An alternative to CPT, for work experiences that are related to a degree program but not required for the degree, is Pre-Completion OPT.

The process of applying for Pre-Completion OPT is similar to the standard OPT application process, but it takes time and will require filing fees.  Students who wish to explore Pre-Completion OPT should book a OPT advising appointment to discuss this with an International Student Advisor.

CPT GUIDANCE – LEGAL CHALLENGES (UPDATED 10/05/2026)

On October 5, 2026, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Indpendent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), and the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration filed a lawsuit seeking to restore prior framework for Curricular Practical Training in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

• Read the Press Statement
• Read the Complaint

Federal Court Pauses $100,000 H-1B Fee

• September 30th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Issues Injunction on $100,000 H-1B Fee while Case is Pending (Updated on 09/30/2026)

On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an injunction to both Presidential Proclamations on the $100,000 H-1B Fee in the court case Global Nurse Force, et al v. Donald J. Trump.

The next hearing on Global Nurse Force v Trump is scheduled for October 27, 2026.

First Circuit Court Denies DHS Motion – Strikes down $100,000 H-1B Fee while Case is Pending (Updated on 07/24/2026)

On Friday, July 24, 2026, the First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Department of Homeland Security’s motion to stay (pause) the June 8 decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Until a final decision in the case, the $100,000 fee cannot be charged.

The July 24, 2026 denial reverses a temporary stay issued on June 12, 2026 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, which stayed the June 8 decision that vacated the $100k Fee for H-1B Visas.

Read the June 8 Court Order.

Read the July 24 First Circuit Court Denial.

ISSS will continue to monitor the situation and update the Immigration Updates Page with information as it becomes available.

Understanding the Proclamations on H-1B Entry & Requirement of $100,000 Fee (CURRENTLY PAUSED UNDER 07/24/2026 FIRST CIRCUIT COURT DENIAL & 09/30/2026 U.S. DISTRICT COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA INJUNCTION)

Read: First Proclamation, Second Proclamation, and White House Fact Sheet

Read: NAFSA Information on 100K Fee on H-1B Petitions (accessible with free NAFSA Account)

On Friday, September 19, 2025, President Trump signed a Proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.   The proclamation sets out to restrict the entry to the United States of H-1B specialty occupation workers unless employers pay a $100,000 fee per petition, with limited national-interest exemptions, starting on September 21, 2025.  This proclamation was set to expire September 21, 2026.

On Friday, September 18, 2026, the President signed a second Proclamation, renewing and extending the the $100,000 fee on new H-1B Petitions through September 21, 2027.

Both Proclamations are currently paused.

Through separate updates from  US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS),  Customs and Border Protection (CBP) , and Department of State (DOS), issued on 9/20/2025 and 9/21/2025, it was made clear that the new proclamation only applies to new H-1B petitions for international employees who were outside of the U.S. at the time of filing.

On Monday, October 20, 2025, USCIS posted an update that outlines how petitioners may pay the $100,000 fee and clarifies that proof of payment or evidence of an exception from the fee must be included with the I-129 petition submitted to USCIS.

On the USCIS H-1B Page, USCIS has updated their section on the payment under “Presidential Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” clarifying which cases the fee applies to and which cases are exempt.

USCIS clarifies that the fee applies to:

1. H-1Bs for Consular Processing, Port of Entry Notification, and Pre-Flight Inspection
2. H-1Bs for those who USCIS determines are ineligible for Change-of-Status, Amendment, or Extension of Stay

USCIS clarifies that the fee DOES NOT apply to:

1. Those with previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas and approval notices,
2. Petitions submitted prior to September 21, 2025,
3. Sponsorship of an employee within the U.S. for an H-1B Change-of-Status, H-1B Amendment, or H-1B Extension, and
4. Those who are beneficiaries of a Change-of-Status, Amendment, or Extension who subsequently depart the U.S. and apply for an H-1B Visa and/or seek to reenter the U.S. on a current H-1B visa.

H-1B sponsors/petitioners must include either proof of payment or proof of exemption at the time of filing.

USCIS has stated that exceptions to the $100k fee for H-1Bs for Consular Processing, Port of Entry and Pre-Flight Inspection cases may be granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security if the case meets a number of criteria.  Employers must submit supporting evidence to DHS to obtain an exception.

The following chart may help to understand the fee structure:

* Fee does not apply to petitions filed prior to September 21, 2025

**Consular Processing includes port-of-entry and pre-flight inspection notification cases.

IMPORTANT NOTE: International travel when H-1B petition is pending will negatively impact change-of-status petitions and may impact extension, amendment, and change of employer cases.  International travel while H-1B petition is highly discouraged.

ISSS will continue to monitor the situation and update the Immigration Updates Page with information as it becomes available.

Elimination of Duration-of-Status for F & J Visa Holders – PAUSED BY INJUNCTION

• September 30th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

ELIMINATION OF DURATION-OF-STATUS FOR F & J VISA HOLDERS – PAUSED BY INJUNCTION (UPDATED 09/30/2026)

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its Final Rule Ending D/S and Restricting Academic Mobility, which among other things, eliminates “duration of status” for individuals in F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 visa categories.

This rule was set to go into effect on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.  It is currently under injunction.

• Read the Final Rule (published 07/17/2026).
• Read the ISSS Message to the International Student & Scholar Community of UA (sent 07/17/2026).
• See the Webinar held by ISSS (recorded 08/07/2026) – Zoom Recording & Slides.
• See the Webinar held by ISSS (recorded 09/04/2026) – Zoom Recording & Slides.
• Visit ISSS’ standalone page for the Final Rule Ending D/S and Restricting Academic Mobility.

Injunction Issued (UPDATED 09/30/2026)

On August 18, 2026, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and other organizations filed a complaint and a motion for preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule ending the Duration of Status (D/S) framework for international students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign media.

On September 3, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts heard arguments on the motion for preliminary injunction.

On September 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a nationwide order, pausing the D/S rule from going into effect.  Full text of the Memo and Order on the motion for preliminary injunction is available here.

On September 30, 2026, the Deparment of Homeland Security filed a Notice of Appeal to the September 14 Injunction.

Please note, there has not been a final ruling on the lawsuit itself.  Even with the Appeal, The Department of Homeland Security is currently enjoined from implementing the D/S rule. The next hearing is scheduled for October 2, 2026.

• See NAFSA’s Legal Challenge Page.
• See NAFSA’s and the Presidents’ Alliance joint press release.
• See NAFSA’s litigation update page.
• Read the full complaint.
• Read the motion for a preliminary injunction.
• Read the Memo and Order on the motion for preliminary injunction.

For more information see:

• NAFSA Analysis: https://www.nafsa.org/dsfinalruleanalysis
• DHS Study In The States Quick Facts: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/elimination-of-duration-of-status-quick-facts 
• DHS Study In The States FAQs: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/final-rule-establishing-a-fixed-time-period-of-admission-and-an-extension-of-stay-procedure-faq

Brief Timeline of the Rulemaking:

1. August 28, 2025 – the Department of Homeland Security published 90 FR 42070 a proposed rule to eliminate “duration of status.”
2. September 29, 2025 – the open comment period ended.  DHS was required to review public comments and prepare a response to all substantive comments.
3. May 5, 2026 – DHS sent the rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.
4. June 17, 2026 – OMB completed their review of the final rule – https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=1370061.
5. July 17, 2026 – OMB published the final rule to the Federal Register with an effective date 60 days into the future.
6. September 14, 2026 – U.S. District Court of District of Massachusetts issues preliminary injunction
7. September 15, 2026 – the final rule was supposed to go into effect
8. September 30, 2026 – DHS files a Notice of Appeal

For the latest information on Regulatory Actions, please see the following resource: 

1. NAFSA: Association of International Educators – Executive and Regulatory Actions Page
2. International Student Resource Center – Updates Page

Chiba University Student Shares Study Abroad Experience

• July 1st, 2026
• in Capstone International Services English Language Institute International Main

Read the Chiba Press Article!

Yuma Mita studied at the University of Alabama during the 2024-2025 academic year and shared his experience with his school, Chiba University, in order to prepare and encourage his peers. Studying abroad is a requirement for all students at Chiba University, which has been partnered with UA for four decades.

Yuma talks about how he came to choose UA, what he studied while he was here and what life was like in Tuscaloosa. The article provides a window into his experience studying abroad detailing his perspective and analyzing his growth as he plans his future path.

Federal Court Overturns USCIS Pause on Application Processing Submitted by Citizens of 39 Countries on Travel/Visa Bans – UPDATED

• June 12th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

Federal Court Overturns USCIS Pause on Application Processing Submitted by Citizens of 39 Countries on Travel/Visa Ban (Updated 06/12/2026)

UPDATE 06/12/2026: A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a Court Order on June 5, 2026, overturning recent USCIS policies, including:

• The adjudication pause on USCIS applications for nationals from ‘travel ban’ countries
• The hold on asylum applications
• The use of one’s country of origin as a negative factor in discretionary analysis
• The reconsideration of past benefits granted to nationals from ‘travel ban’ countries

Read the Court Order.

On June 11, 2026 the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a new order.  The Court issued a partial final judgement “vacating and setting aside agency policies have immediate effect once they are issued,” and then ordered that “Within twenty-four (24) hours, the Government shall file a status report, advising the Court as to what specific steps it has taken to comply with the Court’s [June 5] Order.”

On June 12, 2026, following the Court’s clarifying order, USCIS filed a notice of appeal of the decision and also posted a news alert stating,

“The Court entered its final judgment on June 11, 2026… USCIS strongly disagrees with the Court’s order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review… With entry of final judgment this order is effective immediately, and pursuant to the court-ordered vacatur, applies agency-wide. Thus, the vacatur applies to PM 602-0192, PM 602-0194, and PA 2025-26, which should be treated as if they are not in effect.”

Please note, this ruling only impacts petitions filed with USCIS.  It does not impact the travel or visa bans (outlined below).

For reference, the 06/05 Court Order and 06/11 Court Order overturn a policy memo from January 1, 2026 which expanded on USCIS’s prior 12/2/2025 policy memo.  The policy memo generally halted all applications submitted to USCIS by citizens of the 39 Countries covered under Presidential Proclamation 10998: Restricting And Limiting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of The United States.

This impacted all cases filed with USCIS, including Asylum and Permanent Residency case filings as well as I-765 Employment Authorization Applications, I-539 Petitions for Change-of-Status or Extension-of-Status, I-129 Petitions for H-1B, and other petitions filed with USCIS for citizens of Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burma, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

See: Immigration Updates Page for latest news

ISSS Awarded Sam S. May Commitment to Service Award

• April 27th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services International Main

The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) team has been awarded one of The University of Alabama’s highest honors, the Sam S. May Commitment to Service Award on April 22, recognizing their exceptional dedication to service.

The ISSS works tirelessly to process required immigration documentation for international students, faculty and staff as well as providing on-going support and social, intercultural programming.

“I am beyond grateful for the recognition of this team’s hard work,” said Charter Morris, director of ISSS. “We have an amazingly talented and dedicated staff here who support our students and scholars, and much of that work is unseen.”

Trang Nguyen, associate director of ISSS said she is “grateful to be part of a team that shares a genuine passion for this work.” With strong leadership and support, she said the team will continue making progress for the ISSS and UA community.

According to Associate Provost for International Education & Global Outreach, Dr. Teresa Wise, “the last year has presented many challenges to the ISSS office as immigration regulations have been changing and continue to change very rapidly and often with little warning,” and noted that the ISSS team has been unstoppable in their dedication and commitment to international students and scholars through all of these changes.

Established in 2000, the Sam S. May Commitment to Service Award recognizes campus teams or departments demonstrating exceptional commitment, innovation, or creativity in customer service. Each winning team is not only recognized for their achievements but also receives a $500 reward to their departmental account.

Sam S. May, a janitor in the School of Chemistry from 1911 to 1941, spent time during breaks and after work learning the subject while conducting his own research and experiments. Students sought his explanations in basic chemistry and referred to him as “Dr. Sam” as May gained respect in the department. He also discovered material uses for local plants and received national attention for his efforts.

RAMADAN: Everything you need to know about your students observing Ramadan

• February 16th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

RAMADAN: Everything you need to know about your students observing Ramadan

This year, Ramadan takes place February 17 – March 19, 2026.

Ramadan stands as a sacred period in Islam, marking the revelation of the Qur’an. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, fostering closeness to God and nurturing qualities like self-discipline, gratitude, and empathy for the needy. It’s a time of spiritual renewal, characterized by increased Quranic recitation and prayer.

FASTING
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, about 12 hours daily over 29-30 days. It’s a time for spiritual and physical discipline, fostering self-reflection and moral growth. Fasting promotes God-consciousness and encourages good deeds.

• The first 6 days are typically the hardest.
• Students may be more tired than usual.
• They also may be homesick during this time.

WAYS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS DURING RAMADAN
Prayer Times: During Ramadan, students may prioritize prayer times, observing the five daily prayers at various intervals throughout the day.

• Consider allowing brief breaks during class, labs, seminars, or events for prayer or iftar.
• Additionally, be aware of evening activities that may coincide with worship times.
• Respect students who may pray in quiet area such as hallways or designated room.

Academics: Reasonable accommodations should be provided for fasting students during finals and exams, such as adjusting exam times or allowing students to eat during the exam if needed.

• It’s important to minimize stress by offering support and understanding the challenges students may encounter.
• Recognize that students may adjust their sleep schedules due to late-night prayers and early morning meals during Ramadan.

For more information visit:

• https://ing.org/resources/for-all-groups/calendar-of-important-islamic-dates/ramadan-information-sheet/
• https://oae.uic.edu/news-stories/ramadan/

Home Away From Home: Community at International Coffee Hour

• January 6th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services International Main

Home Away From Home: Community at International Coffee Hour

The University of Alabama Student Center is always busy at lunchtime, but if you walk by at midday on a Friday, you’ll see room 2100 is nearly packed. What is it — free football tickets? An unannounced appearance from Taylor Swift?

None of the above. The big draw is the International Coffee Hour.

“International Coffee Hour is really our premier event that our office puts on,” said Mitchell Wolf, international programs coordinator for the Office of International Student and Scholar Success.

“We really want to facilitate intercultural learning on campus,” Wolf said. “We want to expose University of Alabama students to what the world is like out there through meeting international students, to exposing them to culture, while also supporting our international students that are here far away from home.”

Launched as a small event more than two decades ago, International Coffee Hour now attracts close to 300 students every week – about 100 more than last year’s average.

Each week, the coffee hour salutes a different country. ISSS usually draws from the top ten countries where UA’s international students come from, plus a mix of other nations. A light lunch prepared by Bama Dining reflects the cuisine of that week’s country. This spring the global hopscotch includes Bangladesh, Nigeria, Canada and seven other nations.

Beyond the food, International Coffee Hour is like a town square, a place where people from Alabama, the rest of the U.S. and dozens of countries meet and build friendships. That’s what happened to Lucy Spear, a Fayette native who serves as a peer advisor for international students.

“I think there’s something so powerful about having a conversation with someone who grew up differently from you. It helps you understand people more,” Spear said. “Manogya Khanal, she’s one of my best friends, and she’s from Nepal. Without coffee hour, I wouldn’t have met her.”

Khanal came to UA to study mechanical engineering and serves on the International Peer Advisory Council board. She said she loves what International Coffee Hour brings to the campus.

“I think coffee hour, in its core, stands for the exchange of culture and diverse groups of people coming together, asking questions or sharing their knowledge, where you can just talk about your shared curiosity…I can teach you so many things about my country, and you can teach me so many things about living in the States,” Khanal said.

During the coffee hour, room 2100 is filled with students’ voices. The conversations can be about almost anything: big things, such as global current events, and small things, like weekend plans, classes, memes and jokes.

“I think that’s one thing I like about coffee hour: it could be as deep as you want it to be. You can get as much as you want from it,” Spear said.

Each of the coffee hour events feels like a home away from home, Khanal said, because the conversations and camaraderie give her a chance to bond with students whose homes span the country and the world.

“Very lasting and meaningful relationships that I hope that I can carry on after college as well,” she said.

The International Coffee Hour’s future may include a bigger space and more cultural engagement, such as dance presentations or informal talks, Wolf said. But the bottom line will stay the same: getting people from different places into the same room to learn, discover and form strong, long-lasting bonds.

“We’ve got something good here at The University of Alabama and something that we should be proud of,” he said. “And we want more and more students to be able to experience it.”

The International Coffee Hour’s spring semester launches Friday, Jan. 16. The hour is held most Fridays in the UA Student Center, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information, including a schedule of the countries featured this year, can be found at UA’s Capstone International Center website.

Travel Bans Expanded

• December 16th, 2025
• in Capstone International Services

Travel Bans Expanded 

The Presidential Proclamation of December 16, 2025: Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of The United States expands the number of countries impacted by travel bans.  This proclomation adds 7 countries plus Palestinian Authority-issued travel document holders to the “full” travel ban list and 15 countries to the “partial” travel ban list.  These additional bans go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Previously, Presidential Proclamation 10949 of June 4, 2025: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats established a “full” travel ban on 12 countries and a “partial” travel ban on 7 countries, that went into effect on June 9, 2025.

Read:

• The December 16 Proclamation on whitehouse.gov
• White House Fact Sheet on the December 16, 2025 Proclamation
• The June 4 Proclamation (10949) on whitehouse.gov
• White House Fact Sheet on the June 4, 2025 Proclamation

Resource: NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Effective dates – 

• Original travel bans went into effect June 9, 2025.
• Expanded travel bans go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Full ban countries – A total of nineteen (19) countries plus holders of Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents are subject to a full ban that suspends “entry into the United States” of nationals of those countries as “immigrants and nonimmigrants.”

• The original 12 “full ban” countries which went into effect on June 9, 2025 are: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
• The expanded list of 7 countries plus holders of Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents who are subject to the “full ban” which goes into effect on January 1, 2026 are: Burkina Faso, Laos*, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone*, South Sudan, Syria and those holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.
  • *Note: Laos and Sierra Leone were previously on the “partial ban” list and have been added to the “full ban” list effective January 1, 2026.

Partial ban countries – A total of twenty (20) countries are subject to a partial ban that suspends “entry into the United States” as immigrants and of nonimmigrants “B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.”

• The original 7 “partial ban” countries which went into effect on June 9, 2025 are:  Burundi, Cuba, Laos*, Sierra Leone*, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela
  • *Note: Laos and Sierra Leone have been made subject to the “full ban” list effective January 1, 2026.
• The expanded list of 15 countries subject to the “partial ban” which goes into effect on January 1, 2026 are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Exceptions – The ban provisions are applicable only to nationals of the subject country who are outside the U.S. without a valid visa as of the effective date of the travel ban (i.e. June 9, 2025 for original travel ban countries and January 1, 2026 for expanded travel ban countries).

Individuals who are inside the United States on the effective date, or who are outside the United States on that date but have a visa that is valid as of the effective date, would not be covered by the ban.

Please note, the proclamation does not revoke visas issued before the proclamation effective dates. Both the June 4 and December 16 Proclamations state that “No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date of this proclamation shall be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.”

There are also a number of categorical exceptions, such as for lawful permanent residents, dual nationals who travel on passports issued by a non-ban country, asylees, refugees, diplomatic and international organization visas, and some other categories.

Case-by-case exceptions – Both the June 4 and December 16 Proclamations provide for case-by-case exceptions by the Attorney General and Secretary of State.

Advising – International Students, Scholars, Faculty, and Staff from the above 39 impacted countries and those holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents are strongly advised to consult with International Student & Scholar Services prior to any travel.  ISSS advising staff are available during drop-in advising 11 am – 3 pm, Monday through Thursday or by appointment.

The following chart may help understand the two Proclamations and their impact: