Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Changes – Effective Immediately

• August 31st, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Changes – Effective Immediately (08/31/2026)

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 will be 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.

Elimination of Duration-of-Status for F & J Visa Holders

• August 18th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

ELIMINATION OF DURATION-OF-STATUS FOR F & J VISA HOLDERS (UPDATED 08/18/2026)

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 will go into effect on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

• 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.
• Visit ISSS’ standalone page for the Final Rule Ending D/S and Restricting Academic Mobility.

Litigation filed on August 18, 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.

• 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.

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 15, 2026 – the final rule goes into effect

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

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

• July 24th, 2026
• in Capstone International Services

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.

History of Proclamation on H-1B Entry & Requirement of $100,000 Fee (CURRENTLY PAUSED UNDER 07/24/2026 FIRST CIRCUIT COURT DENIAL)

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)

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.

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

UA News Highlight: Study Abroad on Peru’s Inca Trail

• July 15th, 2026
• in International Main

This summer in a faculty led Study Abroad program, 11 UA students hiked with pack mules on a 500-year-old Inca Trail across the Andes Mountains in Peru as they explored the history and culture of the Inca Empire.

Click here to the article or copy the following text into your web browser!

https://news.ua.edu/2026/07/traversing-history-ua-students-take-on-perus-inca-trail/

Former ELI Fulbright Student

• July 8th, 2026
• in English Language Institute

Abdoulaye Ouologuem was a Fulbright student from Mali at the English Language Institute for six months in 2023 before attending Kansas State University and earning a master’s degree in public health. Looking back on his Fulbright experience, Abdoulaye said, “I gained valuable experience from my Fulbright journey that has completely changed my perception of health and will positively impact my future actions. I have improved my leadership skills, and I have built the self confidence that allowed me to run the Secretary General position of the African Student Association on my campus”.

Abdoulaye is currently working as a doctor part-time at a private clinic and is about to set up a public health unit with another Fulbright alumnus. They plan to spread health-related messages and conduct research. Abdoulaye also enjoys working little by little on a small piece of farmland and spending time with his wife and two children.

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.

UA students offered Fulbright awards for 2026-2027

• June 30th, 2026
• in International Main

The Fulbright Program selected 10 University of Alabama students for various awards for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program broadens perspectives through academic and professional growth and cross-cultural exchange. In partnership with more than 140 countries, it offers opportunities for graduating seniors, graduate students and young professionals to study, conduct research or teach English abroad. The program also supports knowledge, innovation and solutions to complex global challenges.

In February, UA was recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Students for the ninth time in 11 years.

Sage McCann, of Boaz, was offered a Fulbright Student Research Award to research “The Development of Vehicle Body Modeling and Simulation” at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences in Esslingen, Germany, under the mentorship of Dr. Alexander Müller in the Laboratory for Vehicle and Body Design. McCann graduated summa cum laude in May with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in German with a minor in liberal arts through the Blount Scholars Program.

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Awardees

Luke Bowman, of Brentwood, Tennessee, graduated magna cum laude in May with a Bachelor of Arts in history and German and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. Bowman was a member of the Honors College and Phi Beta Kappa. He was selected to teach English in Germany.

Isabelle Cahill, of Goshen, Kentucky, graduated summa cum laude in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in criminology and a minor in the Blount Scholars Program, as well as a Bachelor of Science with double majors in psychology and Spanish. She will earn a master’s degree in criminology in December. She was selected to teach English in Argentina.

JJ Chehab, from Evanston, Illinois, graduated from the Honors College summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, and a minor in history in May. During his time at UA, he served on the Student Government Association Belonging & Wellness Committee, participated in the Honors Action and Engaged Tuscaloosa volunteer programs, and was the secretary for the Theta Xi Fraternity. He was selected to teach English in Galicia, Spain.

Lauren Chumbley, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a May summa cum laude Honors College graduate and member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society. She received bachelor’s degrees in English and German. She was selected to teach English in Germany.

Aidan Flynn, of Katy, Texas, is a 2026 summa cum laude Honors College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in international studies and political science with minors in German and French, along with a master’s degree in public administration. He has been selected to teach English in Germany.

Emily Graciela “Eggie” Gil, a Miami-born writer of Cuban descent, earned a Master of Arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages and Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from UA. She taught advanced composition as an instructor of record for the First-Year Writing Program in the department of English and volunteered at La Escuelita de Inglés, a community-based ESL program for the Hispanic/Latino population of Tuscaloosa. After serving as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Madrid, Spain, Eggie will pursue a doctoral degree in teaching and learning with a concentration in language, literacy, literature and culture at Florida International University.

James Golen, of Elmhurst, Illinois, will be spending next year at the Białystok University of Technology in Białystok, Poland, teaching English. He graduated summa cum laude in 2025 with a double major in economics and history with a minor in mathematics and a Master of Arts in quantitative economics. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Jason Templeton, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in music technology and culture with a minor in Spanish. Since January 2025, he has been working towards master’s and doctoral degrees in Spanish linguistics. He has been selected to teach English in Argentina.

Maggie Zavgren, of Wilton, New Hampshire, earned a Bachelor of Arts in written arts and literature from Bard College in 2018. She graduated from the UA in 2026 with a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and Master of Arts in German. For her MFA thesis, Zavgren translated the collected works of poet Georg Trakl. She was selected to teach English in Germany.

Additionally, four students were awarded alternate status in this year’s national competition and may have the opportunity to serve abroad if more funding becomes available or if a finalist is unable to participate. They are Aubrei Grisaffe (Slovak Republic), Eoin O’Hearn (Argentina), Perrin Larkin (Brazil) and Luke Richardson (Luxembourg).

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.

Japanese Exchange Student at UA

• April 14th, 2026
• in English Language Institute International Main

“Since I was little, I have been interested in different cultures,” said Akari Nakajima, Japanese exchange student from Kansai Gaidai University (KGU) in Osaka, Japan. Akari has spent two semesters at UA taking classes ranging from Macroeconomics to Religions of the World. Wanting to improve her writing skill, she also chose to take Undergraduate Academic Writing, a three-hour credit class offered at the English Language Institute (ELI) for international students. At UA, Akari noted, “students can chase their dreams” due to the wide variety of opportunities. She will return to Japan this summer to find a part-time job because her “bank account is crying” and then complete her final semester at KGU.