Regulatory Information

Exchange Visitors and Exchange Visitor Programs

Fees, Forms, Filing Procedures

Institutional Obligations and Compliance

International Faculty, Staff, Researchers

International Students and Schools

U.S. Immigration Systems, Data, Status, and Concepts

Visas, Travel, Entry

U.S. Directs Planes Carrying Persons Who Recently Traveled to Rwanda to Land Only at Three U.S. Airports

On October 15, 2024, the Secretary of Homeland Security directed “all flights to the United States carrying persons who have recently traveled from, or were otherwise present within, Rwanda to arrive at one of the U.S. airports where the U.S. government is focusing public health resources to

USCIS Updates EB-11 Extraordinary Ability Guidance in USCIS Policy Manual

On October 2, 2024, USCIS revised the Employment Based First Preference 1 (EB-11) "Extraordinary Ability" guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to: Confirm "that we consider a person’s receipt of team awards under the criterion for lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for

DOS Clarifies That J Visa Can Be Used Following Standard Program Transfer

On August 15, 2024, the Department of State (DOS) updated its Foreign Affairs Manual to allow use of an unexpired J-1 visa following a standard program transfer. Under the prior policy, an exchange visitor who traveled after transferring J programs needed a new J visa that reflected the transfer-in

USCIS Enterprise Change of Address Tool

The USCIS Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) tool allows individuals with pending applications, petitions, or requests to update their address online via their MyUSCIS account. This tool removes the need to update addresses in multiple places or submit a paper form. The tool is accessible to all

New Process to Submit Form I-515A Documentation By Email

On June 27, 2024, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced on Study in the States a new process to submit Form I-515A documentation via email to SEVP rather than mailing that documentation. The notice instructs: "Beginning June 26, 2024, F, M and J nonimmigrant student and exchange

Supreme Court Overrules Chevron Case

In Loper Bright Enterprises et al. v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, et al. (June 28, 2024), the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the 1984 decision that established the "Chevron Doctrine," determining instead that "courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is

Administration Policies on Parole in Place for Spouses of U.S. Citizens and D-3 Waivers for Dreamers

On June 18, 2024, President Biden announced two "new actions for people who have been here many years to keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to our economy." Both the Department of State and Homeland Security have begun issuing statements and guidance on the

Regulatory Perspectives: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

NAFSA members joined NAFSA staffers David Fosnocht and Steve Springer for a discussion of F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT), the CPT regulation and agency guidance on CPT, and an overview of NAFSA’s agency liaison on CPT. What are common institutional approaches to CPT? What are the

EVP Guidance Directive 2024-01 Discusses Patient Contact in J-1 Academic Categories

On March 14, 2024 the Department of State exchange visitor program office distributed Guidance Directive 2024-01 to program sponsors, describing several factors that sponsors should "assess in the affirmative" when determining whether human or animal contact is appropriate for an academic exchange

USCIS Rule on Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity

April 12, 2024

On February 2, 2024 USCIS published a final rule effective March 4, 2024, titled Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity. Read the final rule published at 89 FR 7456 (February 2, 2024). The rule: Creates a new "beneficiary-centric" H-1B registration selection protocol