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DHS Proposes $70,000 Initial OPT Fee: What F-1 Students and Employers Need to Know
On October 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed significant new fees for F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT). Under a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2026, DHS proposes a $70,000 fee for initial OPT a...
New Adjustment of Status Policy
As you may be aware, on May 22, 2026 USCIS published a new Policy Memorandum relating to adjudications of Adjustment of Status filings. While media coverage may suggest otherwise, the memorandum does not create new law or alter the statutory eligibility requirements for AOS. Rather, it reiterates...
GENERAL TRAVEL ADVISORY
Please notify the firm immediately if you have been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense, so we can assess the impact on your travel eligibility and provide appropriate guidance. H-1B and H-4 visa appointments require online presence review: As of December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department...
DHS makes changes to Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals
October 29, 2025, USCIS announced that EAD filings on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD while the renewal application is pending. The new rule is effective October 30, 2025, and applies to individuals who file to renew their EADs on or after that...
Government Shutdown Immigration Report
IMPACT ON IMMIGRATION MATTERS IF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OCCURS Though Congress is continuing to negotiate on the FY2026 budget, if no agreement is reached, and/or no other stopgap method implemented, we will unfortunately be faced with a government shutdown on October 1, 2025. While there is hope...
TRUMP ISSUES PROCLAMATION REQUIRING $100,000 FEE FOR NEW H-1B PETITIONS
President Trump issued a proclamation on Friday imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. According to the White House, the fee does not apply to existing H-1B visa holders or those already selected in the 2025 lottery. The proclamation is aimed...
Registration Requirements for all Non-US Citizens
What Is Registration? Registration is the process of notifying the U.S. government of your presence as a noncitizen. Although this requirement existed in the law, it has rarely been enforced in the past. In an effort to enforce the above provisions of the regulation, the current administration has...
National Interest Exceptions for Certain Travelers from China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland
Effective April 26, 2021, the State Department published its expansion of national interest exceptions (NIE) to for Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa. Furthermore, NIE eligibility now is automatic for F and M students, certain academics covered by exchange...
USCIS to Suspend Biometrics Requirement for Certain I-539 Applicants Beginning May 17, 2021
On May 3, 2021, USCIS announced, through a declaration submitted in the Edakunni v. Mayorkas litigation, that it will suspend the biometrics requirements for certain I-539 applicants for a two-year period beginning on May 17, 2021. The biometrics...
USCIS Reinstates Deference to Prior Nonimmigrant Petition Adjudications
On April 27, 2021, USCIS is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual instructing officers to give deference to prior determinations when adjudicating extension requests involving the same parties and facts unless there was a material error,...
Biden Revokes Trump’s Pause on Green Cards
President Biden revoked former president Trump’s immigrant visa ban, rejecting the previous administration’s proclamation that the entry of immigrants presents a risk to the U.S. economy during the pandemic. However, he did not take action to revoke the entry ban on...
AILA and Partners Send Letter Demonstrating that Nonimmigrants Are Vital to Our COVID-19 Recovery
On May 21, 2020, AILA joined 323 U.S. employers and business-related groups in sending a letter to President Trump and the Secretaries of the Department of State, Department of Labor, and Department of Homeland Security highlighting the importance of highly skilled nonimmigrant professionals to America’s economic recovery. The letter cautions that excessive constraints on these highly skilled professionals may further deepen unemployment and undermine our economic recovery.
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