In a January 12, 2023 notice, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a timeline for its plan to expand the fee-based premium processing program to F-1 optional practical training (OPT) applications and applications for change of status (COS) to F student and J exchange visitor status. USCIS must update its "How do I request premium processing" page before filers can begin requesting premium processing for those categories.

In a Federal Register notice to be published on January 17, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the January 11, 2023 termination of the protocol that since October 10, 2022 had restricted the landing of flights carrying persons who were recently present in Uganda.

On January 11, 2023, NAFSA submitted a comment letter in response to Docket No. ICEB-2021-0016, Removal of Obsolete Procedures and Requirements Related to F, J, and M Nonimmigrants, an interim final rule published on December 12, 2022.

In a December 22, 2022 letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO, Dr. Esther Brimmer, urged the Secretary and the Department of State "to act on your promise to Afghan women and girls by providing guidance to consular officers to recognize that Afghan women and men remain eligible for F foreign student status even if they are displaced."

DHS published a proposed USCIS fee rule on January 4, 2023. There will be a 60-day public comment period ending March 6, 2023. Find a link to the proposed rule and a NAFSA summary on NAFSA's Rulemaking on USCIS Fees page.

In a January 3, 2023 Federal Register notice, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) extended Special Student Relief (SSR) availability from March 4, 2023 until September 3, 2024, for F-1 students from Yemen.

The current version of Form I-129 is dated 11/02/22. The USCIS Form I-129 page states: "Edition Date: 11/02/22. Starting Feb. 27, 2023, we will only accept the 11/02/22 edition. Until then, you can also use the 05/31/22 and 03/10/21 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions."

USCIS issued policy guidance relating to the public charge final rule that went into effect on December 23, 2022. The December 19, 2022 policy alert contains language that will be incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual.

In a December 23, 2022 announcement, the Department of State (DOS) extended until December 31, 2023 the discretionary authority given to consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain "F, M, and Academic J Visa Holders" and "Petition-Based H, L, O, P, and Q Visa Holders."

NAFSA issued the following statement addressing the announcement by Afghanistan's Taliban-run higher education ministry to ban access to universities by female students: "NAFSA strongly condemns the Taliban's ban on Afghan women attending universities. Access to higher education is a fundamental right and an investment in peace and economic growth. Congress should act immediately by expanding dual intent to Afghan women seeking a student visa to study in the U.S. and by providing Afghan women already here the opportunity to quickly apply for legal permanent residency status. The Biden administration should also quickly announce and implement a program allowing U.S. colleges and universities to sponsor Afghan refugee students."