Immigration Insights
Dive deeper into U.S. immigration trends and policy changes shaping student experiences.
U.S. Expansion of Travel Restricted Countries
This report analyzes the December 2025 expansion of U.S. travel restrictions and what it means for international students, scholars, and institutions. It breaks down the new proclamation taking effect January 1, 2026, including which countries are now subject to full or partial travel bans, how visa categories such as F, J, M, B-1, and B-2 are affected, and which prior exceptions have been eliminated. The report also highlights key considerations for students currently in the U.S. who may be planning international travel, estimates the scope of the student population impacted—including the significant addition of Nigeria, and outlines potential legal challenges to the policy.
Designed to help readers understand both immediate risks and longer-term implications, this analysis provides essential context for navigating travel and status decisions in a rapidly changing immigration environment.
Review of Pending Dept. of Homeland Security Rule: Loss of D/S
This report examines a proposed Department of Homeland Security rule that would significantly reshape how F-1 and J-1 students—and their dependents—maintain lawful status in the United States. The analysis breaks down the potential elimination of “Duration of Status,” new fixed end dates on stays, reduced grace periods, stricter limits on program changes and transfers, and expanded requirements for USCIS filings, fees, and biometrics. It also explores how these changes could affect OPT, STEM OPT, PhD timelines, graduate medical education, and postdoctoral researchers, alongside the financial and administrative burdens for students and institutions alike. With the rule potentially taking effect as early as 2026, this report provides critical context, planning considerations, and impact assessments to help students and campus stakeholders understand what may be coming—and how to prepare.