Compliance Management

USCIS Adds Basic F-1 SSR Content to USCIS Policy Manual

On February 22, 2023, USCIS added basic content on F-1 Special Student Relief (SSR) off-campus employment authorization to the USCIS Policy Manual. The new content confirms that Form I-765 code (c)(3)(iii) should be used when requesting SSR off-campus employment authorization, and that USCIS should

DOS Extends Initial F and M Visa Issuance Window to 365 Days

In February, 2023, the Department of State (DOS) revised its policies to now allow consular officers to issue an F or M student visa up to 365 days in advance of a new student's I-20 program start date. See: A February 21, 2023 DOS tweet, and content on the DOS Student Visa Page (updated on February

Stateside Renewal of Nonimmigrant Visas

From January 29 to April 1, 2024, the Department of State ran a pilot program to test the resumption of domestic visa renewal for H-1B applicants who were renewing an H-1B visa that was issued by: Mission Canada with an issuance date from January 1, 2020, through April 1, 2023; or Mission India with

Evaluating Higher Risk Travel: Resources beyond the Department of State Travel Advisory Levels

Contributors from the 2022 Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EAKC) Subcommittee on Health & Safety: Colin McElroy, Director of Health, Safety, and Security, CIEE Dianne De Salvo, Director of Study Abroad, Central Michigan University Daniel Kampsen, Director of Global Safety & Operations, Drexel

USCIS Bundling Adjudication of H-4 and L-2 dependents' Forms I-539 and I-765 Concurrently Filed with Principal's I-129

For a two-year period starting around January 25, 2023, 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

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

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 at 87 FR 75891 (December 12, 2022). Read NAFSA's comment letter View NAFSA's page on

COVID-19 Executive Declarations and Determinations

April 18, 2023

Status of the following COVID executive declarations and determinations: Presidential Declaration of National Emergency: Terminated April 10, 2023. On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed into law a joint resolution that terminated the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. H.J.Res

USCIS Options for Nonimmigrant Workers Following Termination of Employment Page

On December 19, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a page titled Options for Nonimmigrant Workers Following Termination of Employment. "This page contains information for nonimmigrant workers whose employment has terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. These

DHS Removes Obsolete Procedures and Requirements Related to F, J, and M Nonimmigrants

On December 12, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an interim final rule (IFR) in the Federal Register, titled Removal of Obsolete Procedures and Requirements Related to F, J, and M Nonimmigrants. The IFR became effective on the date of publication, December 12, 2022. Public

UTC Time and Online USCIS Filings

Important note on UTC Time and Online Filing: Online USCIS filings are governed by Coordinated Universal Time, abreviated as UTC. USCIS confirmed this in the Follow Up Q&A From the May 5, 2021 CIS Ombudsman's Webinar with USCIS on Online Filing of Form I-765 for OPT: "Q9. How are date and time