Major Immigration Updates

February 2024

USCIS Announces Application Fee Increases, Effective April 1, 2024
January 31, 2024

On January 31, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Final Rule to adjust fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit applications, effective April 1, 2024.  As indicated […]

December 2023

USCIS Premium Processing Fees to Increase Effective February 26, 2024
December 28, 2023

On December 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) announced a final rule that will increase the filing fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Premium […]

November 2023

Potential Impact on International Students and Scholars of a U.S. Government Shutdown
November 13, 2023

On November 16, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the stopgap two-step spending bill, passed passed by the U.S. Congress, into law. The spending bill extends funding until Friday, January […]

October 2023

U.S. Visa Services Suspended in Israel
October 13, 2023

On October 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of State posted the following notice on the U.S. Embassy-Israel website concerning nonimmigrant (NIV) and immigrant (IV) visa processing in Israel: “Due to […]

September 2023

Potential Impact on International Students & Scholars of a U.S. Government Shutdown
September 27, 2023

September 30, 2023: The U.S. Congress this evening passed a continuing resolution to allow the government to remain funded for the next 45 days, avoiding a shutdown.We will continue to […]

July 2023

USCBP Announces Tourist Visa Waiver Program Not Available If Individual has Past Travel to Cuba
July 6, 2023

On July 6, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that nationals who have been present in any State Sponsor of Terrorism country, including Cuba, would NOT be eligible […]

June 2023

USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Change of Status Applications to F, M, or J Nonimmigrant Status
June 12, 2023

On June 12, 2023, USCIS announced that it will expand the use of premium processing for applications for Change of Status to F, M, or J nonimmigrant status filed using […]

May 2023

Nonimmigrant Visa Application Fees Increase Delayed until June 17, 2023
May 26, 2023

The U.S. Department of State announced on May 26, 2023 that the implication of the increase in nonimmigrant and special visa fees, scheduled to go into effect on May 30, […]

USDHS/SEVP Announce COVID-19 Flexibilites End at Start of Fall 2023 Term
May 12, 2023

On May 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that the COVID-19 regulatory flexibilities, including where exceptions were provided to the maximum number of online courses that can […]

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements at US Ports-of-Entry No Longer Required as of May 12, 2023
May 1, 2023

The White House and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have announced that, effective May 12, 20223, non-U.S. citizen travelers entering the U.S. by air, land ports, or ferry terminals […]