This is a proposed regulation to apply a weighted selection process based on wage levels to determine access to the H-1B lottery program. Instead of a purely random lottery, USCIS would assign more entries to H-1B registrations offering higher wages, based on the Department of Labor’s four wage levels. 

The U.S. The Department of State (DoS) began scrutinizing social media postings and content of some student visa applicants during the visa application process. USCIS is now implementing a similar policy, to allow scrutiny of social media accounts held by people submitting certain applications.

A proposed regulation was published on September 3, 2025, requiring additional data tracking for the F-1 I-20 form and the sponsoring school’s I-17 form.

Effective October 1, 2025, F and J student visa applicants are no longer eligible for visa application interview waivers. Previously, F and J students were able to waive out of the visa interview if they were applying to renew a visa that had expired within the previous 48 months, and they were applying in their home country. 

Changes to the Visa Reciprocity tables for certain countries.  Changes were made to the duration of visas issued for certain countries, and the number of entries allowed per visa issued.

The U.S. State department is amending the reporting requirements for J-1 exchange visitors to include a requirement that the J-1 program sponsors report to the State Department any J-1 who participates in terrorist activities, endorsement of terrorist activities, or antisemitic activities.

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 $250., and an I-94 fee of at least $24., among others.

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

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.

Pause in student visa appointment scheduling and processing

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. 

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 or received a U.S. Social Security Number, you will need to process the SSN application separately from the OPT application. 

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. 

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 October 1 to April 1 of the relevant fiscal year.