Category: Government Update

On September 06, 2025 the Department of State announced updated guidance on the adjudication of nonimmigrant visas including F and J student categories. Applicants for these visas should now schedule and attend their visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Applicants of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at a designated embassy or consulate. While this guidance has been recently updated by the Department of…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed rule that would eliminate the current “duration of status” (D/S) policy for F and J international students, replacing it with a specific length of time and a fixed end date. Any updates or changes such as an extension, transfer, or change of academic program, would then require government approval. This is only a proposed rule at this stage and is not in effect. The federal government is currently accepting public comments…

On August 19, 2025 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated policy guidance that clarifies how officers evaluate discretionary factors when adjudicating certain immigration benefit requests. This  includes applications for changes of status, reinstatement, and employment authorization. What are the key updates? Anti-Americanism as a Negative Factor: USCIS now explicitly considers whether an applicant has “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused the views of a terrorist organization or group, including those who support or promote anti-American ideologies… or antisemitic…

Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will significantly reduce the scope of the visa interview waiver program that has been in place in an expanded form since the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, most nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those renewing F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 visas, will be required to attend in-person interviews at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad. This change marks the end of the broad flexibility previously available to many international students. Changes will likely…

The U.S. Department of State has made recent updates to the visa reciprocity schedule that may impact F and J visa holders from certain countries. These updates change the validity period of visas and the number of permitted entries for citizens of certain countries. What Is Visa Reciprocity? Visa reciprocity refers to the practice of the U.S. government setting visa validity periods, number of entries, and associated fees based on how other countries treat U.S. citizens seeking similar visas. When…

On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued updated guidance implementing expanded screening and vetting procedures for nonimmigrant visa applicants, including F-1 and J-1 student categories. These changes are part of broader efforts to enhance national security and ensure thorough review of applicants’ backgrounds prior to visa issuance. What is the new guidance? Expanded Online Presence Screening and Vetting Consular officers will begin conducting a comprehensive review of applicants’ publicly available online presence. This includes using all available…

On June 04, 2025 U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation titled, “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” This proclamation establishes a full or partial entry ban on nationals from 19 countries with limited exceptions and goes into effect at 12:01 am eastern daylight time on June 9, 2025. Full Suspension of Entry Nationals, including all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories, from the…

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on April 9, 2025, that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would begin considering social media activity of foreign nationals-including F and J visa holders—when evaluating immigration benefit applications. This could include applications for work authorization, change of status, or reinstatement. According to the DHS announcement, social media content that shows support for “antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations” can be used as a negative factor in determining whether to approve…

​On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14159 which introduces changes to U.S. immigration enforcement policies. The executive order clarifies registration requirements and processes for non-immigrants including those under the F or J status. The changes in this Executive Order are scheduled to take effect on April 11, 2025. What does the executive order do? Executive Order 14159 clarifies that the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires that  non-immigrants 14 years of age or older who were…