ISSS will highlight recent changes to immigration and what they may mean for you.  We'll keep this page updated with the most recent information and our guidance. If you have any questions, you can contact International Students and Scholar Services.

News, Statements and Press Releases

• 02/13/2026 - DHS Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Yemen -  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Yemen. The termination is effective 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
   
• 1/21/2026 - DOS Pauses Immigrant Visa Issuance for Nationals of 75 Countries -  The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced a pause on issuing immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries starting January 21, 2026, citing a high risk of public benefit usage, with processing to resume after a policy review. This affects family-based and employment-based immigrants. Applicants can still apply and interview, and visas are paused until the review is completed. Click here for the list of countries. 
  
  Nonimmigrant visas (like tourist/student/scholar)  and visas previously issued are not impacted by the pause. Exceptions exist for dual nationals using a passport from a country not included on the list.
   
• 1/12/2026 - Premium Processing Fees Increase on March 31, 2026. USCIS will raise premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026. The final rule summarizes the changes: "premium processing fees that were $1,685, increase to $1,780; the premium processing fees that were $1,965, increase to $2,075; and the premium processing fees that were $2,805, increase to $2,965."
   
• 01/05/2026 -  USCIS Expands and Clarifies Adjudication Policies Applied to Foreign Nationals from Travel Ban Countries - On January 1, 2026, USCIS issued a new memorandum that expanded its current adjudication hold policy to foreign nationals from countries on the new travel ban list published on December 16, 2025 . The policy memorandum affects individuals born in countries or citizens of countries listed in Presidential Proclamations 10998. The memorandum requires a re-review of immigration benefits that were approved on or after January 20, 2021 if the foreign national is from a country on the newly published travel ban list. 

2025 News, Statements and Press Releases

• 12/29/2025 - DHS H-1B Weighted Selection Final Rule Effective February 27, 2026 -  Department of Homeland Security-US Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS) published a final rule titled Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions.
   
• 12/16/2025 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States - Effective January 1, 2026,  Presidential Proclamation 10949 modifies and expands the the list of countries on the U.S. travel ban.  Reference NAFSA's webpage for the list of countries with a full/partial ban.
   
• 12/12/2025 - USCIS issued a Policy Alert announcing new guidance governing the submission and reuse of photographs for immigration benefit requests. The alert applies to immigrant requests.
  
  For all non-immigrant requests (e.g., a Form I-765/OPT application), USCIS may reuse a previously collected Biometrics Services Appointment (BSA) photograph if it is less than three years old at the time of filing, at the discretion of USCIS.  It is possible that you may receive a notification to schedule a BSA at an Application Support Center (ASC) as part of the application process. Applicants should follow the instructions provided in the notification to schedule the BSA at the closest available ASC. We recommend Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applicants continue to follow the posted instructions and submit two passport-style photographs with their applications until USCIS updates its instructions.
  
  If you receive a USCIS communication regarding a photo or biometric appointment request and have questions, please contact your ISSS advisor. We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as needed.
   
• 12/05/2025 - Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for H-1B and Dependent H-4 Visa Applicants - Effective December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will expand social media vetting to H-1B workers and their H-4 dependent family members. Applicants will be required to make their social media profiles public for consular review. The expansion will apply to both initial and renewal applications. Please allow for increased delays in visa processing. 
   
• 12/02/2025 - USCIS Policy Memo-Halting of Asylum and Benefit applications submitted by citizens of the 19 countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949 -  USCIS issued a Policy memorandum instructing a hold and review of all USCIS benefits applications filed by individuals from 19 countries.
  
  The USCIS Policy Memo issued on December 2nd, 2025, references Proclamation 10949, and halts the processing of Asylum applications and all other benefit applications from citizens of the 19 countries mentioned in the earlier proclamation. It requires a thorough review and possible re-review and interviews of any applicant from the listed countries.  This could cause delays in processing of any USCIS applications such as OPT applications (Form I-765), Change of status applications (I-539), Application to adjust status (Form I-485), and others.
  
  Presidential Proclamation 10949 was issued on June 4th, 2025.  Entitled, “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats”, the proclamation listed 19 countries that would have restrictions placed on citizens seeking to enter the U.S. Twelve countries would be subject to full restrictions: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.   Seven countries would be subject to partial restrictions:  Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
  
  If you are in F-1 or J-1 immigration status and are a national of one of these 19 countries you are subject to a travel ban. If you are in H1B immigration status and are from one of the 12 countries subject to full restrictions, you are subject to the Proclamation.  Please contact an ISSS advisor prior to undertaking any international travel.   
  
   
• 11/24/2025 - DHS Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Burma -  The Secretary of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar). The termination will be effective on Jan 26, 2026. 
   
• 10/30/2025 - DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Certain Employment Authorization - The Department of Homeland Security published an Interim Final Rule (IFR)  that ends the automatic extension of employment authorization for certain categories. Notably, the rule does not apply to F-1 holders applying to Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT as those are not visa renewals. The rule primarily impacts refugees, asylees, those granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and spouses of certain H-1B visa holders, among others. The IFR rescinds a Biden-era policy that automatically extended work authorization for certain individuals for 540 days, up from 180 days.
   
• 10/20/2025 - USCIS Guidance on when the $100K H-1B Proclamation Will and Will not Apply - USCIS clarified when certain H-1B petitions will and will not be subject to the $100,000 fee under Presidential Proclamation 10973 of September 19, 2025 titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers." USCIS clarified that the proclamation will not apply to H-1B petitions that are requesting an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay for an alien inside the United States when the application is approved.  It additionally clarifies that an H1B beneficiary of an approved petition is eligible to apply for a visa and to travel internationally. 
   
  • When the Proclamation applies
    • New H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, for beneficiaries outside the U.S. who do not have a valid H-1B visa.
    • New petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, requesting consular notification
  • When the Proclamation does NOT apply
    • Any previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas.
    • H-1B Petitions submitted before September 21, 2025.
    • Travel by current H-1B beneficiaries with approved petitions.
    • Petitions filed after September 21, 2025, for a person physically present in the U.S.  requesting an amendment, change of status, change of employer or extension and is granted that amendment, change, transfer or extension. (i.e. F1 student on OPT with approved change of status to H1B)
       
• 9/30/2025 - What Happens at UMD if There’s a Federal Government Shutdown - At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, many parts of the U.S. government may begin the process of shutting down if Congress doesn’t pass a stopgap funding measure to keep the lights on and the bills paid.
   
• 09/19/2025 - Termination of the Designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status - The Secretary of Homeland Security is terminating the designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status. The designation of Syria is set to expire on September 30, 2025.
   
• 09/06/2025 - Department of State Announces Immediate Changes to Nonimmigrant Visa Applications - As of September 6, 2025, the United States Department of State is requiring all nonimmigrant visa applicants to schedule visa interviews in their country of residence or nationality.  This is a significant change to visa processing and has implications for visa applicants currently outside the U.S. Please review the Fragomen Alert for more information.