U.S. Department of State to “Pause” Immigrant Visa Processing for Nationals of 75 Countries at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage
Effective January 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of State will pause issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries.* Please see the U.S. State Department website on this topic.…USCIS Places “Hold” on Processing of Benefit Applications From or On Behalf of Foreign Nationals from 39 “High Risk” Countries, for Increased Vetting
On January 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum relating to vetting of benefit applications* filed by, or on behalf of, foreign nationals born in…USCIS Announces Premium Processing Fee Increase Effective March 1, 2026
On January 9, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that Premium Processing Fees will increase, effective March 1, 2026. Per the announcement, the following are examples of the…USCIS Publishes Final Rule on Weighted Selection of H-1B Cap-Subject Registrants and Petitioners — May Impact MIT Graduates and Others Leaving MIT
USCIS published a final rule in the Federal Register: 90 FR 60864 (December 29, 2025), modifying how H-1B work visa petitions will be selected for processing, as submitted by cap-subject…ISO EMERGENCY CONTACT PHONE NUMBER for PORT-OF-ENTRY ISSUES
If you encounter issues while traveling, and specifically at your U.S. Port-of-Entry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) where additional information is requested by CBP officials, please contact the…ISO, most MIT offices, CLOSED December 23, 2025-January 4, 2026; ISO Hours/Contact Information over Winter Break
The ISO, and most MIT offices, will be CLOSED from Tuesday, December 23, 2025 through Friday, January 2, 2026.Travel Ban Expansion Effective January 1, 2026
On December 16, 2025, the White House released the Presidential Proclamation Restricting and Limiting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.This Proclamation extends and…Travel Warning: H-1B and H-4 Travel and Visa Appointments at U.S. Consulates
In recent days, U.S. Consulates in India informed H-1B and H-4 visa applicants that their visa interviews, originally scheduled for December 15, 2025 or later, had been rescheduled for March or April…USCIS Policy Memo Relating to Increased Vetting of Applications from 19 “high-risk” countries
On December 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an updated policy memorandum pertaining to 19 “high-risk” countries, effective immediately. As a result, USCIS is: Placing a “hold”…Expanded Screening of H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants Starting December 15, 2025
On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced that starting December 15, 2025, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will be subject to a review of their online presence as part…ISO, and most MIT offices, CLOSED on Thursday-Friday, November 27-28 for the Thanksgiving Holiday
The ISO, and most MIT offices, will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28, 2025, in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. The ISO will close for walk-ins…DHS Announces Final Rule to Implement Biometric Entry/Exit Program, effective December 26, 2025
On November 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the publication of the final rule “Collection of Biometric Data from Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure from the…Updated USCIS guidance on H-1B petitions
November 18, 2025 On September 19, 2025, a Presidential Proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, instituted a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B petitions effective September 21, 2025. USCIS…ISO, and most MIT offices, CLOSED on Tuesday, November 11
The ISO, and most MIT offices, will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. The ISO will close for walk-ins beginning at 3:00pm on…Elimination of Automatic Extension of Certain EAD Cards
On October 30, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published an Interim Final Rule ending the automatic extension of certain employment authorization documents (EAD cards). Effective immediately, this means that…2025 – 2026 International Student Statistics are now Available!
Below are the General Statistics for the International Student body for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please click here for more comprehensive statistics. Student Body Composition Degree Level International US Citizen US PermResident …USCIS Requires Electronic Payment of All Fees for Paper-Filed Applications – effective 10/28/2025
Effective October 28, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented its requirement that it will only accept electronic payments for all paper-filed forms filed with their offices. Payments may…ISO, and most MIT offices, CLOSED on Monday, October 13, 2025
The ISO, and most MIT offices, will be closed on Monday, October 13, 2025, in observance of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday. The ISO will close for walk-ins beginning at 3:00pm…USCIS Proposed Rule for Weighted Selection Process in H-1B Cap Lottery
On September 24, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule, Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions, that would change…