The physical mailing address of the Department of Labor's Atlanta National Processing Center (ANPC) will change beginning August 25, 2021, with the exception of mail associated with the processing of applications requesting permanent labor certification subject to supervised recruitment. On the Notice of Filing (NOF) that must be posted when employers file a Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, the correct new ANPC address must be used if the required 10-day posting period for a NOF commences after September 5, 2021.

On July 12, 2021, Esther Brimmer, DPhil, NAFSA’s executive director and CEO, met with U.S. State Department Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Edward Ramotowski, to discuss growing concerns regarding limited visa appointment availability and processing delays affecting international students and scholars planning to arrive on U.S. campuses this fall. NAFSA members can read a meeting summary.

DHS/ICE will establish special student relief (SSR) for Yemeni F-1 students in a Federal Register notice effective September 4, 2021 until March 3, 2023. Benefits under the Yemen notice are not available before the effective date.

Visit NAFSA's Rebuilding and Restoring International Education Leadership page for NAFSA's specific recommendations to the Executive Office of the President and to the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Labor, Education, Commerce, Defense, and Veterans Administration.

A July 6, 2021 DOS statement extends individual (non-blanket) National Interest Exceptions to 12 months of validity for multiple entry.

On July 6, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security officially withdrew its proposed rule to eliminate duration of status for F students and their dependents, J exchange visitors and their dependents, and I media representatives.

"OFLC intends to delay implementing the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes until July 2022. OFLC will continue using the 2010 SOC during the July 2021 through June 2022 wage year and will apply the OEWS 2019 Hybrid Structure wage estimates generated by BLS for the 2010 SOC occupations."

USCIS notified the public that the Vermont Service Center facility at St. Albans, VT is being decommissioned. The new USCIS Vermont Service Center address is in Essex Junction, VT. On its Vermont Service Center Address Change alert page, USCIS states that, "The new addresses listed ... will not be in effect until June 25, 2021. Please continue to use the St. Albans addresses in the below chart under “Previous Address” through June 24, 2021." The USCIS alert page also says that "Mail sent to the previous addresses will be forwarded for one year, but any mail sent to the previous addresses after June 2022 may be returned to the sender by the United States Postal Service or the courier service used."

On June 21, 2021, NAFSA and the President's Alliance led 151 higher ed institutions in submitting an amicus brief to the appeals court in support of OPT in the ongoing WashTech litigation. "This brief describes the scope and importance of OPT to American colleges and universities."

NAFSA's International Student Scholar Regulatory Practice (ISS RP) Committee organized two "Government Connection" sessions to supplement the NAFSA 2021 annual conference agency-focused sessions. Session 1 - CIS Ombudsman: Current Issues; Session 2 - U.S. Department of Labor: Current Issues. You do not need to have registered for the annual conference to access these sessions, but you do need to be a NAFSA member.