On January 29, 2024, DHS published a notice in the Federal Register extending eligibility for Special Student Relief (SSR) benefits to certain F-1 students from Syria. The prior notice published in 2022 expires on April 1, 2024.

on January 12, 2024, DHS sent for OMB review its final rule titled "Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers." The proposed rule published in October sought to add flexibility to F-1 to H-1B "cap-gap" and to redefine the term "specialty occupation" for H-1B purposes. Read a summary of the proposed rule and NAFSA's comment letter on NAFSA's page.

USCIS plans to launch two new online functionalities for H-1B petitions: Online organizational accounts and online filing of H-1B Forms I-129 and I-907. The agency plans to host two national engagements on the new organizational accounts on January 23 and 24, 2024.

The U.S. for Success Coalition, of which NAFSA is a founding and steering committee member, recently provided the Department of Homeland Security with a set of recommendations that would make the U.S. a more welcoming destination for international students. These solutions are focused on pressing issues, including lengthy and unpredictable processing times, duplicative and burdensome paperwork, and lack of inter- and intra-agency coordination.

The Department of State announced a revised visa interview waiver policy that is broader in some respects and more limiting in others than the policy expiring December 31, 2023. Read a summary on the NAFSA web site.

On December 21, 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a Request for Information (RFI) on "Modernizing Schedule A to Include Consideration of Additional Occupations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Non-STEM Occupations." Public comments are due by February 20, 2024.

From January 29, 2024, to April 1, 2024, the Department of State will run a pilot program to resume domestic visa renewal for individuals who are renewing an H-1B visa that was issued by Mission Canada (with an issuance date from January 1, 2020, through April 1, 2023) or Mission India (with an issuance date of February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021), and who meet all other conditions specified by the pilot program notice to be published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2023.

On December 20, 2023 USCIS added F and M student content to the USCIS Policy Manual. A Public Engagement Division message states: "This guidance consolidates existing policy. USCIS expects that this will provide welcome clarity to international students and U.S. educational institutions on a wealth of topics, including eligibility requirements, school transfers, practical training, and on- and off-campus employment." Public feedback on the new content is due by January 22, 2024.

On December 15, 2023, USCIS began transitioning the filing location for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, when filed for a pending Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, from the service centers to appropriate USCIS lockboxes. Starting on or after January 14, 2024, USCIS will reject any Form I-907 filed for a pending Form I-140 that is received at the previous service center address.

On December 19, 2023, NAFSA submitted a comment letter focusing on various aspects of the proposed H-1B modernization rule.