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2023

USCIS Redesigns Green Card and Employment Authorization Document

February 1, 2023
"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today new designs to improve security of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). USCIS will begin issuing the redesigned cards on Jan. 30, 2023."
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Appeals Court Denies Washtech Petition for Review of Decision Upholding OPT

February 1, 2023
On February 1, 2023, a federal appeals court denied a petition by the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (Washtech) for a full en banc review of the court's decision upholding the Department of Homeland Security's authority to establish standard and STEM optional practical training (OPT) for F-1 students.
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USCIS Proposes Form I-539 and Instructions Extension and Revisions

January 30, 2023
On January 30, 2023, USCIS posted a Federal Register notice to revise and extend the authorization for Form I-539 and Form I-539 A, and Form I-539 and Form I-539A instructions. Public comments are due by March 31, 2023. Many of the changes are stylistic revisions to language and format, but USCIS also proposes revising the Form I-539 instructions to implement 2021 USCIS COS to F-1 bridge application guidance.
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Haiti Special Student Relief Extended, Hong Kong SSR Slated for Extension

January 26, 2023
A January 26, 2023 Federal Register notice extends F-1 Special Student Relief (SSR) for eligible Haitian students, and a memo from President Biden instructs DHS to take steps to extend SSR for eligible Hong Kong citizens.
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USCIS Bundling Adjudication of H-4 and L-2 Dependents' Forms I-539 and I-765 Concurrently Filed with Principal's I-129

January 26, 2023
For a two-year period, USCIS will once again "bundle the adjudication of the Form I-539 and Form I-765, where applicable, for H-4 and L-2 derivatives with the underlying Form I-129 when these forms are properly filed together regardless of whether they are filed under standard or premium processing." USCIS will not bundle adjudication if the family's Forms I-539 and I-765 are not concurrently filed with the principal's Form I-129.
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USCIS Announces Schedule for Expanding Premium Processing to F-1 OPT and COS to F and J

January 13, 2023
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.
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DHS Ends Uganda Ebola Protocol on January 11, 2023

January 11, 2023
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.
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NAFSA Comments on DHS Final Rule on Removal of Obsolete Procedures Related to F, M, and J Nonimmigrants

January 11, 2023
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.
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NAFSA Letter Urges DOS to Allow Afghan Women More Opportunity for U.S. Study

January 6, 2023
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."
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DHS Publishes Proposed USCIS Fee Rule

January 4, 2023
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.
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