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

ECA Pauses ECA-Funded Exchange Visitor Programs

On May 12, 2020 the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "all ECA-funded in-person exchange programs will remain paused until further notice." This extends indefinitely for now the 60-day temporary pause that ECA had put into place

I Nonimmigrant Media Representatives from the PRC No Longer Admitted for D/S

Under a final DHS rule published May 11, 2020 but effective May 8, 2020, representatives of foreign information media holding passports from the People's Republic of China (PRC) will be admitted to the United States in I nonimmigrant status only for the period necessary to accomplish the authorized

Optional Practical Training Resource: Understanding the Online and Mailed Application and Troubleshooting Processes

Compiled by NAFSA members: Hanna Bliss, Laure Bordas-Isner, Sarah Brockmeyer, Joshua Davis, Michelle Massey, and Nusha Shishegar. Last updated January 26, 2023. The resource includes helpful tips on: Documents Needed to File for OPT Troubleshooting Resources: Rejected and Denied Applications

COVID-19 Public Charge Issues

A number of questions have arisen about how receipt of certain services or payments during the COVID-19 pandemic might constitute receipt of a public benefit that could trigger a public charge determination or the public benefit condition (see NAFSA's page for background on the public charge/public

Suspension of In-Person Services at Local USCIS Field Offices

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended its temporary suspension of routine in-person services at local USCIS field offices by 30 days, now saying on its website that such services will continue to be suspended "through at least June 4." The original suspension announced on March

Presidential Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020 (Revoked)

Update: Proclamation of February 24, 2021 revoked Proclamation 10014 and the proclamations that extended it, effective February 24, 2021. This page is maintained for research and reference purposes. Presidential Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020, titled Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present

CRS Legal Sidebar: Recovery Rebates and Unemployment Compensation under the CARES Act: Immigration-Related Eligibility Criteria

A "Legal Sidebar" produced by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) "reviews the immigration-related eligibility requirements for two types of benefits established by the CARES Act: (1) the recovery rebates under Section 2201; and (2) the various forms of federally funded unemployment insurance

The USCIS Special Situations Page

November 12, 2025

USCIS's Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances page (formerly called the "Special Situations" page) describes long-standing, preexisting options that might be of use in an emergency situation. The page states: "USCIS has discretion to take the following measures on a case-by

NAFSA COVID-19 Regulatory Requests to the Agencies

A number of NAFSA letters sent to agency leadership ask the agencies to address immigration-related COVID-19 concerns within four major groupings that offer specific examples: Protect the immigration status of students, scholars, staff, and faculty at U.S. educational institutions Provide

22cfr4161

April 6, 2020

22 CFR 41.61 - Students - academic and nonacademic. This resource is a reference aid developed by the NAFSA Adviser's Manual 360 team. This is not an official edition of the Code of Federal Regulations. For information on the official edition of the Code of Federal Regulations published by the