Latest Updates
- USCIS Guidance on When the $100K H-1B Proclamation Will and Will not Apply. 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." See NAFSA's page.
- DHS Implements HR-1 Immigration Parole Fee. 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. See NAFSA's page.
- SEVP Reminds DSOs of Program Compliance and Reporting Requirements and Students to Avoid Activities that Jeopardize Their Immigration Status. On October 8, 2025 the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) sent SEVIS users Broadcast Message 2510-02, reminding DSOs of their regulatory responsibilities and emphasizing the consequences on students who do not comply with regulations and the Immigration and Nationality Act. 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. See NAFSA's page for a transcription of the broadcast message.
- Impact of FY 2026 Appropriations Lapses on Immigration Agencies. The consequences of Federal budget shutdowns vary depending on whether specific operations are fee-funded or rely on appropriations. While some essential services, such as USCIS adjudications, State Department consular operations, and ICE functions typically continue, other services, like the Department of Labor’s labor certifications or USCIS programs dependent on appropriations, may halt until funding is restored. The FY 2026 cycle brings added uncertainty, as agencies have been directed to prepare potential Reduction in Force (RIF) plans alongside their contingency strategies. See NAFSA's page for background and links to resources.
- More Countries Added to List of Countries Covered by B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Pilot Program. On October 8, 2025 DOS added more nations to the list of countries covered by the B-1/B-2 visa bond pilot program, which now includes Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Zambia. See NAFSA's page.
Key Executive and Regulatory Actions
DHS Proposes Ending Duration of Status
Comments in response to the DHS/ICE proposed rule to end "duration of status" for F, J, and I nonimmigrants are due by September 29, 2025. NAFSA has prepared high-level guidance to assist institutions in submitting a comment letter, along with a non-technical "explainer" and an advocacy campaign to engage Congress.
Government Funding, Staffing, and Operations
The president's draft fiscal 2026 "skinny" budget proposes a 93 percent reduction in funding for State Department Educational and Cultural Exchanges, effectively dismantling the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and its programs. Urge Congress to defend and fund federal international education and exchange programs.
Vetting and Enforcement
The Department of State (DOS) announced that it finally issued the expected "new guidance" on social media vetting, and that consulates will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa appointments. It includes information on how consular officers should screen the social media and online presence of applicants applying for F, M, and J visas, and factors the consulates should consider as they resume scheduling student visa interviews
NAFSA Statements and Commentary
NAFSA Decries DHS Proposal to End D/S as a 'Gross Governmental Overreach'
NAFSA CEO, Fanta Aw said in response, "Shifting from a ‘duration of status’ policy to a fixed expiration date is a bad idea for an administration that prides itself on advancements in efficiencies and ‘America First.’ These changes will only serve to force aspiring students and scholars into a sea of administrative delays at best, and at worst, into unlawful presence status—leaving them vulnerable to punitive actions through no fault of their own."
NAFSA: U.S. Economy Could Lose $7 Billion Due to International Student Enrollment Decline
Preliminary projections by NAFSA and JB International reveal that recent actions such as visa bans and disruptions in visa interviews and processing could have a devastating effect on U.S. local economies.
NAFSA Responds to DHS Threats Against Harvard, OPT
"Revoking an institution’s ability to enroll international students and threatening to dismantle OPT are ill-conceived attacks on high-functioning systems and programs," said Fanta Aw, NAFSA CEO. "International students are not bargaining chips—they are scholars, researchers, and contributors to our communities whose presence strengthens U.S. higher education and society. We turn global talent away at our own expense."
Related Resources
2025 Policy Digest
A chronological compilation of U.S. government policy and regulatory developments and related advocacy activities, updated on a monthly basis.
Connecting Our World
Connecting Our World is NAFSA's weekly newsletter that distills the top policy and regulatory developments affecting international education and identifies how members of the field can use their voice to take action in simple but meaningful ways.
Helpful Resources
Helpful resources from NAFSA and others on initiatives under the Second Trump Administration