Immigration Updates & Resources for International Students, Scholars, Faculty, and Staff

International Student & Scholar Services, together with other University offices, closely monitors changes that could affect our international community. This could include F-1/J-1 students, J-1 scholars, H-1B, TN, and O-1 employees, and their dependents. 

We encourage you to bookmark this page, as we will keep this page and the ISSS site updated. 

The information on this page represents our office’s advising as of the time of posting. We strive to provide accurate and reliable information; however, this information is not intended to constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such (see: ISSS Disclaimer).  

If you are concerned that the information here does not reflect your immediate circumstances or if you need more specific advising, please contact ISSS.  

If you are seeking legal advice regarding your current immigration status or other factors that might affect your immigration status, consult an experienced immigration lawyer or recognized/accredited organization or representative for legal advice or for legal assistance. 

You are also encouraged to independently stay abreast of developments that may impact you based on your specific situation. As you do this, however, please remember that social media and news outlets may report incorrect information.  

Advising & Assistance

ISSS is always available to assist and connect you with resources.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at international@ua.edu; come to us during drop-in advising 11 am – 3 pm, Monday through Thursday; or booking an appointment to see an advisor.

Other offices at UA are here to help you be successful on campus, including the following:

• Counseling Center
• Student Care and Well-Being
• Psychology Clinic
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for Faculty and Staff

Evidence of Status – Carry Copies/Scans Daily

Anyone on a non-immigrant visa should be able to present proof of their legal status within the United States at any time, and Alabama state law (Act 2011-535) requires that you be able to document your lawful status.

Keep documentation of your visa status up-to-date and always carry proof of status, such as a photocopy or scan/digital copy of your primary immigration documents.

F-1 and J-1 Students – Documents to Carry Daily

We recommend students on F-1 or J-1 student visa status carry copies/scans of your:

1. main passport page
2. current I-94 Record
3. most recent I-20/DS-2019
4. most recent visa
5. I-797 Approval Notice (for those who have changed to F-1 or J-1 status inside the U.S.)

Note: It may also be helpful to have a copy of your class schedule (from the student tab of MyBama) or Enrollment Verification.

J-1, H-1B, TN, and O-1 Scholars – Documents to Carry Daily

We recommend scholars, faculty, and staff carry copies/scans of your:

1. main passport page
2. current I-94 Record
3. I-797 Approval Notice (if on H-1B, TN, or O-1 status)
4. most recent DS-2019 (if on J-1 status)
5. most recent visa

Other Visa Holders – Documents to Carry Daily

For those students in a visa status other than F-1 or J-1 and those scholars, faculty, and staff in a visa status other than J-1, H-1B, TN, or O-1, you should carry scans/digital copies of the primary documents which support your visa status.

For maintenance of status questions, please also see the following pages:

• F-1 and J-1 Student Maintaining Student Status Page
• J-1 Scholar Page
• H-1B Worker Page
• TN Worker Page

Domestic Travel

If you will be traveling within the United States – driving on major highways, or riding on buses, trains, or planes – you should carry both scans/copies of your documents and the original physical documents.

F-1 and J-1 Students – Documents to Carry when Traveling Domestically

We recommend students on F-1 or J-1 student visa status traveling domestically within the continental U.S., carry your:

1. original, physical passport
2. most recent visa
3. printout of your current I-94 Record
4. printed copy of your most recent I-20/DS-2019
5. printed copy of your I-797 Approval Notice (for those who have changed to F-1 or J-1 status inside the U.S.)
6. printed copy of your class schedule (from the student tab of MyBama) or Enrollment Verification.

J-1, H-1B, TN, and O-1 Scholars – Documents to Carry when Traveling Domesticall

We recommend scholars, faculty, and staff who are traveling domestically within the continental U.S., carry your:

1. original, physical passport
2. most recent visa
3. printout of your current I-94 Record
4. printed copy of your I-797 Approval Notice (if on H-1B, TN, or O-1 status)
5. printed copy of your most recent DS-2019 (if on J-1 status)

Other Visa Holders – Documents to Carry when Traveling Domestically

For those students in a visa status other than F-1 or J-1 and those scholars, faculty, and staff in a visa status other than J-1, H-1B, TN, or O-1, you would want to carry the primary documents which support your visa status.

Special Note for F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders on Domestic Travel Outside of the Continental U.S. (i.e. to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands)

For those on F-1 or J-1 visas traveling domestically outside of the continental United States (i.e. to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands), ISSS also recommends having a current, valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 as a precaution.  If your I-20 or DS-2019 does not have a travel signature, or your travel signature will be more than 12 months old at the time of your planned return, please submit the Travel Signature Request Form (DOCUSIGN) to obtain a new travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 prior to travel.

International Travel

For ISSS international travel advising, please see the following ISSS pages:

• UA Travel Policies for university-sponsored travel
• F-1 and J-1 Student Travel Guidance
• J-1 Scholar Travel Guidance
• H-1B Travel Guidance
• TN Travel Guidance

Special International Travel Considerations

If traveling internationally, please keep in mind the following information. 

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection screenings: All international travelers are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when arriving at both air and land ports of entry. CBP will screen travelers to determine whether they are “admissible.”
• CBP officers may question you about your travel, inspect your personal belongings and electronic devices.
• In some cases, they may request access to your social media accounts or may copy data from your devices.
• Travelers, including U.S. citizens, have limited constitutional protections (e.g., privacy and due process, including right to legal counsel) during these inspections.
• Refusal to cooperate may result in delays, seizure of devices, and for non-U.S. citizens, denial of entry.

Proclamation on H-1B Entry & Requirement of $100,000 Fee (Updated 10/20/2025 – see more in USCIS Updates below)

Read: Proclamation and White House Fact Sheet

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 at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025.

Clarifications on International Travel for Current H-1B Employees (Updated 09/20/2025)

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.

Current H-1B employees and those who are sponsored for an H-1B change-of-status within the U.S. are not impacted and will not be subject to the $100k Fee.

Travel Bans & Visa Suspensions

Travel Bans Expanded (Updated 12/16/2025)

The Presidential Proclamation 10998 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 (10998) 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 date –  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.
  • **Note: Turkmenistan to have B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J ban lifted but will remain subject to ban on immigrants 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:

Suspension of Visa Issuance to 40 Travel Ban Countries (Updated 12/19/2025)

Read:

• December 12, 2025 DOS Visa News Posting
• June 7, 2025 DOS Visas News Posting 

Resource: NAFSA: Association of International Educators

On December 19, 2025, the Department of State issued a posting suspending visa issuance in line with the Presidential Proclamation which instituted expanded travel bans for 40 countries.

Effective January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the Department of State is fully suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries – Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – and to individuals traveling on any travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority, for all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories with limited exceptions for:

• Certain diplomatic and official visas
• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
• Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension
• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
• Participants in certain major sporting events
• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)

Also effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions for:

• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
• Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension
• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
• Participants in certain major sporting events
• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)

As of January 1, 2026, the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of Turkmenistan for all immigrant visas with limited exceptions for:

• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
• Dual nationals applying with a passport nationality not subject to a suspension
• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
• Participants in certain major sporting events
• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)

Also, with Presidential Proclamation 10998, as of the effective date of January 1, 2026, the following categorical exceptions provided in Presidential Proclamation 10949 for nationals subject to the suspension on entry are no longer available under the PP:  immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5); adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4); and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas.

The posting clarifies that this does not apply to those who hold valid visas, issued before January 1, 2026, and it does not prevent anyone from submitting visa applications (bolded in the original):

“Presidential Proclamation 10998 only applies to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date AND do not hold a valid visa on the effective date (January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST).

Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998.  No visas issued before January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation.

Visa applicants who are subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.“

USCIS Pauses Application Processing Submitted by Citizens of 19 Countries on Travel/Visa Ban (Updated 12/02/2025)

On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued a policy memo, halting all applications submitted by citizens of the 19 Countries covered under Presidential Proclamation 10949: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

This impacts 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, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Please note, cases may still be filed with USCIS despite the processing pause, and ISSS encourages students and scholars from impacted countries to make sure to continue timely filing of petitions.

Visas – Applications and Renewals

ISSS Visa Application and Renewal Guidance

1. Student Visa Application Info:
   • Applying for a First-Time Visa
   • Visa Interview Preparation
   • Visa Renewal Information
2. H-1B Visa Application Info
3. J-1 Scholar Visa Application Info
4. TN Visa Application Info

State Department Expands Screening for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applications to Include Social Media (Updated 12/03/2025)

See: DOS Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for H-1B and Dependent H-4 Visa Applicants

Beginning December 15, 2025, applicants for H-1B and H-4 visas will have to facilitate social media vetting by setting all social media profiles to “public.” (note: this mirrors requirements put in place for F, M, and J visa applicants on 6/18/2025).

Consular Officers are being instructed to:

• “Request that the applicant set all of his social media accounts to ‘public’ and”
• “[R]emind the applicant that limited access to, or visibility of, online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.”

Furthermore, the DOS guidance cable tells Consular Officers that:

• If an applicant’s social media accounts are “set to ‘private’ or otherwise limited, you should treat the case as any other where an applicant fails to provide certain information on request” and
• “You must consider whether such failure reflects evasiveness or otherwise calls into question the applicant’s credibility.”

Although the detection of any of the above factors would not immediately result in a denial of a visa application, it could lead the consular officer to conduct an additional review that could delay visa issuance or ultimately result in a visa denial.

Please Note: After your visa interview, your visa application will be “Refused” under INA 221(g) and placed into Administrative Processing to conduct a Social Media review.  A 221(g) Refusal is a normal part of visa processing and is not the same as a denial or rejection.

Visa Appointments Must Be Done in Country of Nationality or Residence (Updated 09/09/2025)

See: Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence – September 6, 2025

Resources: NAFSA – DOS Announces NIV Applicants Should Schedule Visa Interview Appointments in Country of Nationality or Residence

In a September 6, 2025 news posting, the Department of State announced that effective immediately, “[a]pplicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence,” and that “[a]pplicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency.”

Generally, this means that it will not be possible to apply for a visa or visa renewal in a third country (a country where you are not a citizen or legally residing).  DOS says that “[r]are exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons.”

The announcement also lists “Designated Locations for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing” for nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations as outlined below

Visa Interview Waiver Policy Changes (Updated 09/02/2025)

See: Interview Waiver Update July 25, 2025

Effective September 2, 2025, the Department of State updated the categories of applicants that may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview when renewing a visa. All nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer, with only a few exceptions.

Under the new policy effective September 2, 2025, F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2, H-1B/H-4, O-1/O-3, and most other nonimmigrant visa categories will no longer be able to waive the in-person visa interview requirement when renewing their visa.  Visa renewals will require scheduling an in-person visa appointment.

Visa Integrity Fee Introduced (Updated 07/22/2025)

See: TITLE X, Subtitle A, Part I, Section 100007, Visa Integrity Fee, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R.1, 119th Cong. (July 4, 2025)

Resources: NAFSA – Budget Law Imposes New Immigration Fees and NAFSA – Budget Law Imposes Nonimmigrant “Visa Integrity Fee”

H.R.1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law on July 4, 2025, imposes a new “visa integrity fee” to be paid upon the issuance of any nonimmigrant visa. For fiscal year 2025, the fee will be set at the greater of $250 or an amount established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through regulation, with automatic annual adjustments for inflation beginning in fiscal year 2026.

The statute is effective as of the date it was signed into law, July 4, 2025, but time will be needed to implement the necessary collection mechanisms. It is not yet possible to pay the nonimmigrant visa integrity fee.  Another updated publication on 7/22/2025 clarified “The VISA INTEGRITY FEE requires cross-agency coordination before implementing; the fee will be implemented in a future publication.”

The fee may not be waived or reduced, but a fee reimbursement can be authorized for nonimmigrants who comply fully with the terms of their visa, including avoiding unauthorized employment, and who either depart the United States promptly at the end of their authorized stay or obtain a lawful extension of nonimmigrant status or adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.

This page will be updated when there are more updates regarding the Visa Integrity Fee.

Visa Reciprocity Table Updates (Updated 07/15/2025)

See: DOS: Visa Reciprocity Tables

Resources: NAFSA – DOS Reduces Validity of New Visas for a Number of Countries, Maintaining Visa Status: Understanding Your Visa, and Maintaining Visa Status: Understanding Your Visa Status

Please be aware that the Department of State regularly updates Visa Reciprocity Tables, which impact the validity period of a visa, the number of entries allowed for a visa, and also include any additional costs/fees that may be required to apply for the visa.  These dates of validity and fees are all based on your country of citizenship and what type of visa you are seeking.

For a list of countries whose reciprocity tables were updated in July 2025, please see NAFSA – DOS Reduces Validity of New Visas for a Number of Countries.  Please note, the list NAFSA provides is a snapshot, meaning that the list may change.

For additional background on visa reciprocity, see the Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual at 9 FAM 403.8.

To determine your allowable visa validity, number of entries, and any required costs/fees, please check the Visa Reciprocity Table, select your country of citizenship and then select the visa classification (such as F for Student Visa, J for Exchange Visitor Visa, H for Worker Visa, etc.).

Also, please remember, the visa is required to enter the U.S. and doesn’t control your ability to stay in the U.S.  Please read our sections on Understanding Your Visa and Understanding Your Visa Status to understand the difference between visas and visa status.

Visa Application – Updated Social Media Requirements – Setting Social Media Profiles to “Public” (Updated 06/26/2025)

See: DOS Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants

Resources: NAFSA: Association of International Educators and NAFSA DOS Visa Appointment Page

Beginning June 18, 2025, applicants for F and J visas will have to facilitate social media vetting by setting all social media profiles to “public.”

According to media outlets, a June 18, 2025 DOS guidance cable directed consular officers to review online/social media presence for indications of a visa applicant’s:

• “hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States”
• “advocacy for, aid or support for foreign terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security”
• “support for unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence”
• “history of political activism” to “consider the likelihood they would continue such activity in the United States”

Consular Officers are being instructed to:

• “Request that the applicant set all of his social media accounts to ‘public’ and”
• “[R]emind the applicant that limited access to, or visibility of, online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.”

Furthermore, the DOS guidance cable tells Consular Officers that:

• If an applicant’s social media accounts are “set to ‘private’ or otherwise limited, you should treat the case as any other where an applicant fails to provide certain information on request” and
• “You must consider whether such failure reflects evasiveness or otherwise calls into question the applicant’s credibility.”

Although the detection of any of the above factors would not immediately result in a denial of a visa application, it could lead the consular officer to conduct an additional review that could delay visa issuance or ultimately result in a visa denial.

Please Note: After your visa interview, your visa application will be “Refused” under INA 221(g) and placed into Administrative Processing to conduct a Social Media review.  A 221(g) Refusal is a normal part of visa processing and is not the same as a denial or rejection.

USCIS Updates

USCIS Pauses Application Processing Submitted by Citizens of 19 Countries on Travel/Visa Ban (Updated 12/02/2025)

On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued a policy memo, halting all applications submitted by citizens of the 19 Countries covered under Presidential Proclamation 10949: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

This impacts 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, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Please note, cases may still be filed with USCIS despite the processing pause, and ISSS encourages students and scholars from impacted countries to make sure to continue timely filing of petitions.

Proclamation on H-1B Entry & Requirement of $100,000 Fee (Updated 10/20/2025)

Read: Proclamation and White House Fact Sheet

Late 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 at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025.

International Student & Scholar Services is carefully evaluating its implications.

CLARIFICATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FOR CURRENT H-1B EMPLOYEES (Updated 09/20/2025)

Late on Saturday, September 20, 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a memorandum clarifying that the proclamation only applies to petitions that have not yet been filed.  The memo states:

“The proclamation does not apply to aliens who: are the beneficiaries of petitions that were filed prior to the effective date of the proclamation, are the beneficiaries of currently approved petitions, or are in possession of validly issued H-1B non-immigrant visas.”

Separately, late Saturday, September 20, 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a memorandum to all Ports of Entry that states (bold from original):

“This Proclamation only applies prospectively to petitions that have not yet been filed.  It does not impact aliens who are the beneficiaries of currently approved petitions, any petitions filed prior to 12:01 AM ET on September 21, 2025, or aliens in possession of validly issued H-1B non-immigrant visas… The Proclamation does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to or from the United States.  CBP will continue to process current H-1B visa holders in accordance with all existing policies and procedures.”

And on Sunday, September 21, 2025, the Department of State posted guidance, consistent with the guidance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance, stating:

This Proclamation does not:

• Apply to any previously issued H-1B visas, or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025.
• Does not change any payments or fees required to be submitted in connection with any H-1B renewals. The fee is a one-time fee on submission of a new H-1B petition.
• Does not prevent any holder of a current H-1B visa from traveling in and out of the United States.

USCIS FAQ (Updated 09/21/2025)

On Sunday, September 21, 2025, USCIS published an H-1B FAQ on the Presidential Proclamation.

According to the FAQ, the $100,000 payment must accompany any new H-1B visa petitions submitted September 21 and later.

The FAQ states that the proclamation does not apply to any previously issued H-1B visas or petitions submitted prior to 12:01 am eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025.

It further states that this does not change payments or fees required for H-1B renewals.

USCIS UPDATES ON PAYMENTS OF $100K FEE AND EXCEPTIONS (Updated on 10/20/2025)

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.

LITIGATION AND COURT CHALLENGES (Updated on 10/16/2025)

On October 3, 2025 a coalition of labor unions, health care providers, schools, and religious organizations filed suit against Proclamation 10973. Read the complaint in Global Nurse Force et al v. Trump et al, Case # 3:25-cv-08454, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

On October 16, 2025, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against Proclamation 10973.  Read the U.S. Chamber of Commerce post and the complaint in Chamber of Commerce of The United States of America v. Trump et al, Case # 1:25-cv-03675, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

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

Registration Requirement for Children and Minors (Updated 4/11/2025)

USCIS guidance went into effect on April 11, 2025, which will require young nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the U.S. to “re-register” with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday, even if previously registered when entering the country. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, H-4 dependents and young F-1/J-1 students who entered before age 14. Most nonimmigrants who entered the U.S. at age 14+ are already automatically registered (as evidenced by their Form I-94) and DON’T need to re-register.

Read the USCIS page: Alien Registration Requirement (February 25, 2025, updated March 12, 2025); The USCIS guidance references statutes and regulations as well as Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025: Protecting The American People Against Invasion (see 90 FR 8443 (January 29, 2025)) as the legal basis for the agency action.

New requirement affects young people who turn 14 while staying in the United States:

• Those who turn 14 years old while in the U.S. must register again within 30 days of their 14th birthday; the USCIS Alien Registration Requirement page states that those who must register include: “Any alien, whether previously registered or not, who turns 14 years old in the United States, within 30 days after their 14th birthday.”
• This applies even for those who were properly registered when they first entered the country under age 14
• For example, this rule affects dependents with F-2, J-2, and H-4 status, as well as young students with F-1 and J-1 status (such as boarding school students) who entered the United States under age 14 and have remained in the U.S.; it also affects immigrants (green card holders) who acquired their lawful permanent residence under age 14 when they turn 14 years old

Regarding the 14-year-old requirement the USCIS Alien Registration Requirement page states: “This includes:

• “All aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the United States and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer. They must apply before the expiration of those 30 days;
• The parents or legal guardians of aliens less than 14 years of age: Parents or legal guardians must apply for the registration of aliens less than 14 years of age who have not been registered and remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, before the expiration of those 30 days; and
• Any alien, whether previously registered or not, who turns 14 years old in the United States, within 30 days after their 14th birthday.”

Individuals who have not be registered must also now register. In addition to the requirement for 14-year-olds to re-register, the USCIS Alien Registration Requirement page states: “Anyone who has not applied to the Department of State for a visa, been issued one of the documents designated as evidence of registration under 8 CFR 264.1(b), or has not submitted one of the forms designated at 8 CFR 264.1(a) and provided fingerprints (unless waived) is not registered. Aliens who have not registered include:

• Aliens present in the United States without inspection and admission or inspection and parole who have not otherwise registered (that is, aliens who crossed the border illegally);
• Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration; and
• Aliens who submitted one or more benefit requests to USCIS not listed in 8 CFR 264.1(a), including applications for deferred action or Temporary Protected Status who were not issued evidence of registration listed in 8 CFR 264.1(b).”

How to complete the re-registration. See the USCIS Alien Registration Requirement page for instructions on filing Form G-235R. Form G-325R must be filed online through a USCIS online account. It cannot be filed by mail or in person.

Where can I get advice on my or my family’s obligations to register or re-register? Individuals with questions about their and their family’s legal obligations to provide information to the U.S. government can contact an experienced Immigration Attorney or assistance through the Immigration Advocates Network.

Resources:

• NAFSA Page on “Re-Registration of Nonimmigrants Reaching Age 14″
• USCIS: Alien Registration Requirement

Regulatory Changes

PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF DURATION-OF-STATUS FOR F & J VISA HOLDERS (UPDATED 9/30/2025)

On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security published 90 FR 42070 a proposed rule to eliminate “duration of status.” Please note, this rule is not final and has not gone into effect and we do not recommend making decisions based solely on this proposed rule.

For more resources see: https://www.nafsa.org/dsproposal2025.

Below is a brief discussion of the rule making process and a high-level overview of the proposed rule:

Rule Making Process:

1. A proposed rule is published in the Federal Register and the public can comment. The comment period ended on September 29, 2025 for this proposed rule.
2. DHS is required to review public comments and prepare a response to all substantive comments (this is where we are currently).
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.

Brief Overview of Proposed Rule

The new rule proposes to eliminate “duration of status” for individuals in F and J status. Currently, individuals in F and J statuses are admitted for “duration of status” which means they can remain in the United States if they are complying with their F or J regulations. There is not a fixed end date by which individuals in F or J status must depart the United States, rather this is tied to the individual’s Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 end-date.

The proposed rule would eliminate “duration of status” and replace it with a fixed end date of F or J status which is tied to their I-20 or DS-2019 end-date, not to exceed 4 years, plus a 30-day grace period. Individuals in F or J status would then need to file a formal extension of status request with USCIS in order to remain in the United States beyond their fixed end date.

Again, this is in the “Proposed Rule” stage. The public commentary period closed on September 29, 2025.  Comments will now go through review and a final rule will be drafted.  The final rule could have substantial changes or never take effect. This information is not law and is subject to change.

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

Executive Orders

For the latest information on Executive Orders (EOs), please see the following resources: 

1. NAFSA: Association of International Educators – Executive and Regulatory Actions Page
2. AILA: American Immigration Lawyers Association – Executive Actions Tracking

External Resources

1. Dept. of Justice – Recognized Organizations and Accredited Representatives
2. Immigration Attorneys
3. Immigration Advocates Network
4. International Student Resource Center

Be Aware of Scams Posing as Government Agencies

There have been multiple reports from students stating that they have encountered scam activity from scammers posing as DHS, ICE, FBI, etc.

Often the scams are by phone, with the callers spoofing official government phone numbers, or by email with spoofed email addresses.

As a reminder, Homeland Security, ICE, FBI, the Social Security Administration and other government agencies will never contact you by phone or email.

For resources, tips, reporting guidance, and more please see the ISSS Scam Resources Page, and for the latest guidance from UA about scams, please see the OIT Security Alert website.