Posts written by paprotta
USCIS Updates Forms I-539 and I-765 Effective September 15, 2026
August 14, 2026
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will introduce new editions of Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) effective September 15, 2026. The updated forms are part of USCIS implementation of the Final Rule-Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for F […]
Duration of Status (D/S) Rule Change Summary That Takes Effect September 15, 2026
August 12, 2026
This summary is based on our initial review and analysis by the Office of International Services of the Department of Homeland Security’s final rule, “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media,” which was published on July 17, 2026. Since the […]
Expanded Screening and Vetting for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants
December 8, 2025
Effective December 15th, all applications for those seeking the H-1B and H-4 visa will have their online presence screened as part of the application process per the Department of State announcement on December 3rd. Applicants will need to modify their privacy settings on all social media platforms to make them public. This will be required […]
Department of State Update on Visa Interview Appointments
September 16, 2025
The U.S. Department of State made a recent update on adjudicating nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective September 6, 2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants will be required to schedule their visa interviews in their country of nationality or residence. Applicants will need to prove residence in the application process. For those applicants of countries that do not […]
Update on Visa Reciprocity
August 6, 2025
The U.S. Department of State updated its visa reciprocity agreements on July 8, 2025. There have been some changes, but not to all countries. Some countries now reflect shorter validity periods for visa issuance and are for single use only. If you have already been issued your visa for your current immigration status on or […]
Alien Registration Requirement
March 17, 2025
USCIS will require nonimmigrants to comply with the new alien registration form and evidence of registration requirement by April 11, 2025. While most of our international visitors are already registered, this new requirement will impact dependents. If a dependent (i.e., F-2, J-2, H-4) will be turning 14 years of age, then they will need to […]
Interview Visa Waiver Update
March 16, 2025
There has been a recent update to the eligibility for the interview visa waiver (also referred to as Dropbox). The Department of State announced on February 18, 2025, that it will return to the 12 month Dropbox eligibility from 48 months. Previously, if the prior visa expired within the last 48 months, then one would […]
Upcoming New USA Presidential Administration
January 16, 2025
As we face a new administration in the coming week, the Office of International Services (OIS) understands that many of you may have questions or concerns regarding potential changes to U.S. immigration policies, particularly as they relate to visas and the future of international visitors in the U.S. and in higher education institutions. While it’s […]
Premium Processing Fee Increase
January 5, 2024
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on December 28, 2023, that the premium processing fee would increase due to inflation. The new premium processing fee rates are effective February 26, 2024. Applications/Petitions that are filed on or after February 26th requesting premium processing will need to adhere to the new fee rate. The below […]
Electronic Signatures Now Acceptable on the Form I-983
October 18, 2023
As of September 18, 2023, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently updated their instructions for the Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students to permit electronic signatures by the student and their employer. Typed signatures are not allowed. The only acceptable signatures for the Form I-983 are any of the following: Wet […]