SEVP has "created a new Fraud Hub on Study in the States with resources to train school officials on common fraud indicators and best practices for preventing, detecting and reporting fraud."

The Department of Labor's FLAG website has been updated with the message that OFLC "has resumed processing of employer requests for prevailing wages and labor certification determinations for temporary and permanent employment in the United States," but also notes that "some stakeholders may experience longer than normal processing and response times."

On November 3, 2025 NAFSA submitted comments on DHS/ICE's proposal to significantly expand data collected on SEVIS Forms I-17 and I-20.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule effective October 30, 2025, ending the 540-day automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for renewal applicants in affected categories such as refugees, asylees, TPS beneficiaries, E- and L-dependent spouses, H-4 spouses, VAWA self-petitioners, and adjustment-of-status applicants. Preliminary analysis is that the rule should not impact extensions of work authorization "otherwise provided by law," such as the 240-day extension for H-1B, O-1, and TN workers and the separate F-1 cap-gap and 180-day STEM OPT extension provisions. Although the rule went into effect on October 30, DHS will accept public comments through December 1, 2025.

A reminder that effective October 28, 2025 USCIS "will only accept electronic payments for paper-filed forms. Payments may be made either via credit card or debit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, or ACH debit transactions from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH transactions."

NAFSA submitted comments on the proposed changes to affected "information collection" instruments, including SEVIS (Forms I-17 and I-20) and USCIS Forms I-539 and I-765, that would implement the proposed rule to eliminate duration of status, if finalized as proposed.

NAFSA has updated its "USCIS Proposal on Weighted Selection of H-1B Cap-Subject Registrants and Petitioners" to include links to sign-on letters it has joined in.

On October 20, 2025, 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." Notably, USCIS says 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 where the alien is granted such amendment, change, or extension," and additionally clarifies that "an alien beneficiary of such petition will not be considered to be subject to the payment if he or she subsequently departs the United States and applies for a visa based on the approved petition and/or seeks to reenter the United States on a current H-1B visa."

A Federal Register notice announces the implementation of "the new immigration parole fee of $1,000 for any alien who is paroled into the United States who does not meet an exception," as required by HR-1. The action is effective on October 16, 2025. Advance parole obtained by applicants for adjustment of status is one of the ten exceptions to the parole fee requirement.

On October 8, 2025 the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) sent SEVIS users Broadcast Message 2510-02: Reminder to School Officials of Program Compliance and Reporting Requirements for F, M and J Nonimmigrants. The broadcast message reminds principal designated school officials (PDSOs) and designated school officials (DSOs) of their regulatory responsibilities under 8 CFR 214.3 and 214.4 and emphasizes student compliance with regulations and the Immigration and Nationality Act. The message reiterates existing requirements such as cooperating with SEVP record requests, ensuring DSOs are knowledgeable about F-1 and M-1 regulations, and updating SEVIS within 21 days of certain actions, and highlights statutory grounds of inadmissibility and removability related to criminal conduct, threats to public safety, and activities opposing the U.S. government. While the notice does not impose new rules, its tone aligns with broader administration messaging linking immigration compliance to national security and public safety and it outlines the statutory provisions the administration has been using to exclude and remove individuals from the United States. Institutions should ensure that DSOs remain current on regulatory requirements, maintain accurate SEVIS reporting practices, and educate students about their obligations to maintain status.