News Updates

  • Proposal for new visa integrity fee

    The Budget bill passed in July 2025 included several new visa fees to be implemented at the agency level in the future. These included a new visa application fee of at least…

  • Travel bans to the U.S.

    The U.S. issued travel bans and restrictions for certain countries as published in Presidential Proclamation 10949 .

  • Social media vetting at the State Department

    The U.S. State Department issued an announcement regarding mandatory social media vetting for all F, M and J visa applicants – and ended the pause on visa appointments that had been in…

  • OPT Record Terminations for Unemployment

    OPT record terminations for students who exceed the allowed number of unemployed days. SEVP issued a letter to international students who had no reported employment under OPT for more than 90 days.

  • US State Department Visa Changes

    Pause in student visa appointment scheduling and processing

  • SEVIS Record Terminations

    Some SEVIS records were terminated by Immigration Customs Enforcement with no advance notice to students. These were sometimes based on visa revocations by the U.S. State Department.

  • USCIS Changes on Social Security Card Applications

    Application for a new social security card is no longer linked within the I-765 application for a temporary work card. If you are applying for OPT and have not yet applied for…

  • USCIS Changes on Social Media Information

    USCIS proposes to collect social media information on certain immigration forms to enhance screening and vetting of applicants.

  • Updated Registration Requirements

    Updated registration requirements for non-immigrants present in the U.S. Most persons admitted to the U.S. through a U.S. Port of Entry have already been registered.

  • F-1 Cap-gap Period Extended

    A new H-1B modernization rule extends the cap-gap period for F-1 students with an approved OPT and a pending or approved H-1B petition by six months, from the previous end date of…