Regulatory Information

Exchange Visitors and Exchange Visitor Programs

Fees, Forms, Filing Procedures

Institutional Obligations and Compliance

International Faculty, Staff, Researchers

International Students and Schools

U.S. Immigration Systems, Data, Status, and Concepts

Visas, Travel, Entry

USCIS to Cease Accepting Paper Checks and Money Orders

USCIS Ceases Accepting Paper Checks and Money Orders and Accept Only Credit/Debit Cards or ACH Payments Starting October 28, 2025 In an August 29, 2025 news release, USICS announced that: "Effective immediately, individuals can make transactions directly to USCIS by completing and signing Form G

Regulatory Perspectives: New Visa Issues and Recap of Peak Visa Season 2025

NAFSA staff members David Fosnocht and Steve Springer hosted a discussion of new visa issues and a recap of peak visa season 2025. They briefly reviewed the legal framework and discussed new issues including social media vetting, travel bans and possible expansion, recent reductions in visa validity

USCIS to Consider "Anti-Americanism," "Anti-Semitism," Other Factors in Immigration Benefit Requests

On August 19, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has expanded the types of benefit requests that receive social media vetting, adding reviews for "anti-American" and "antisemitic" activity to that vetting, stating that such activity will be "an overwhelmingly

Visa Bond Pilot Program

Visa Bond Pilot Program An August 5, 2025 Department of State (DOS) temporary final rule established a one-year pilot program to test a $5K, $10K, or $15K bond system for select B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates or other conditions. Read the temporary final rule

CBP Guidance to Airlines on Male and Female Sex Markers

In a July 8, 2025 Carrier Liaison Program Bulletin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) instructed airlines (international carriers) that they must submit "M" or "F" in the sex field of the pre-departure information they transmit to to CBP through the Advanced Passenger Information System (

Reports of NTAs Issued to H-1Bs After Employer Withdraws Petition

August 13, 2025

On July 29, 2025, NAFSA was made aware of reports that USCIS has sent "Notices to Appear" to some H-1B beneficiaries whose employers had withdrawn their H-1B petition following an employment separation. A Notice to Appear (NTA) is the document that begins removal (deportation) proceedings before an

USCIS Proposal on Weighted Selection of H-1B Cap-Subject Registrants and Petitioners

On September 24, 2025 the Department of Homeland Security-US Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS) published a proposed rule titled Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions. Using higher wages as a proxy for higher skills, the

DOS Reduces Validity of New Visas for a Number of Countries

September 30, 2025

According to the Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual: "INA 221(c) and INA 281 require the Department to set visa validity, number of entries, and fees for nationals of a country based on what that country provides to U.S. citizens for the same purpose of travel. The goal of visa reciprocity

Budget Law Imposes New Immigration Fees

Budget Law Imposes New Immigration Fees H.R.1 (Pub.L. 119-221), the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed into law on July 4, 2025, imposes several new immigration fees to be paid in addition to any other fees otherwise required by law. Read TITLE X, Subtitle A, Part I, Immigration Fees, One Big

Budget Law Imposes New Form I-94 Fee

October 1, 2025

Budget Law Imposes New "I-94 Fee" Executive Summary. H.R.1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed into law on July 4, 2025, imposes a new fee of at least $24 on "any alien who submits an application for a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record." Nonimmigrants are issued an electronic Form I-94 that