Compliance Management

EVP Guidance Directive 2024-01 Discusses Patient Contact in J-1 Academic Categories

On March 14, 2024 the Department of State exchange visitor program office distributed Guidance Directive 2024-01 to program sponsors, describing several factors that sponsors should "assess in the affirmative" when determining whether human or animal contact is appropriate for an academic exchange

USCIS Rule on Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity

On February 2, 2024 USCIS published a final rule effective March 4, 2024, titled Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity. Read the final rule published at 89 FR 7456 (February 2, 2024). The rule: Creates a new "beneficiary-centric" H-1B registration selection protocol

International Health Insurance for Study Abroad

Contributors from the 2023 Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EAKC) Health & Safety in Education Abroad subcommittee: Kim Priebe, University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill Derek Smallwood, Colorado State University International health insurance for students studying abroad is not just a

SSA Guidance Incorporating DHS and DOS Policy on Electronic Signing and Transmission of Forms I-20 and DS-2019

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has updated its Program Operations Manual System (POMS) to recognize DHS and DOS policies that allow DSOs and ROs to digitally sign and electronically transmit Forms I-20 and DS-2019. However, SSA has not updated its policies requiring letters supporting F-1

USCIS Launches H-1B Organizational Accounts and Online Filing of H-1B Forms I-129 and I-907

In February, 2024 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched the following online functionality for H-1B petitions: Online organizational accounts that "will allow multiple individuals within an organization, such as a company or other business entity, and their legal representatives

USCIS Premium Processing Fees

USCIS Premium Processing Fee Hike Effective February 26, 2024 A final rule effective March 1, 2026 raises USCIS's premium processing fees as shown in the table below. See 91 FR 1059 (January 12, 2026). Forms I-907 postmarked on or after March 1, 2026 must be accompanied by the new filing fee, or

USCIS Policy Manual Guidance on F and M Students

November 26, 2024

On November 26, 2024, USCIS updated the USCIS Policy Manual section on F-1 Absences from the United States with a “technical correction” that removed a troublesome study abroad paragraph that appeared in the August 27, 2024 revision to the Policy Manual, replacing it with: “For information about

IE Competencies 2.0: Compliance Management; Relationship Cultivation; Risk Assessment & Crisis Management

In the fourth session of the IE Competencies 2.0 series, panelists highlighted the competencies of Compliance Management; Relationship Cultivation; and Risk Assessment & Crisis Management. Topics included how to: ensure activities and practices align with policies, laws, and standards; nurture

DOL Request for Information on Schedule A Occupations

Update: This item was withdrawn by the administration on 04/21/2025, as reflected in the Spring, 2025 regulatory agenda. On December 21, 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Request for Information (RFI) on "Modernizing Schedule A to Include Consideration of Additional Occupations in Science

SEVIS Support Contracts

Two DHS Acquisition Planning Forecast System (APFS) notices show that DHS plans recompetition solicitations for two contracts related to SEVIS. The first notice (October 27, 2023) is for the contract to “provide support to assist SEVP Federal staff with technical, analytical, and program support for