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

8cfr248

March 12, 2021

8 CFR Part 248 This resource is a reference aid developed by NAFSA. 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 Government Printing Office, visit the Government Printing Office website

STEM OPT Employer Site Visits

Since the 24-month STEM OPT rule became effective on May 10, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security has had authority to conduct site visits of STEM OPT employers. In late summer, 2019, a number of law firms and news outlets reported that although DHS has had this authority since 2016, it has

Rulemaking on Public Charge Determinations

Updates On September 5, 2023, DOS published a final rule effective October 5, 2023 (See 88 FR 60574 (September 5, 2023)) that reverts its public charge regulatory text at 22 CFR 40.41 to the text that was in place prior to the publication of the October 11, 2019 interim final rule (IFR) promulgated

DOS Guidance Directive 2019-03 - College and University Student Category: Screening and Monitoring

On August 5, 2019, the Department of State (DOS) issued Guidance Directive 2019-03 - College and University Student Category: Screening and Monitoring. Download Guidance Directive 2019-03 The guidance stems from DOS's review of the J-1 exchange visitor College and University Student category, and to

DOS OPA-AG Serious Problem or Controversy Reporting Rubric

22 CFR 62.13(d) requires an exchange visitor program to notify the Department of State of: any investigations of an exchange visitor's site of activity, or any serious problem or controversy that may bring the Department of State or the sponsor's exchange visitor program into "notoriety or disrepute

DHS Expands Expedited Removal Policy

March 21, 2025

Expedited removal is a procedure established by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) that allows a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official to summarily deport (remove) an individual without a hearing before an immigration judge or review by the

IssueNet Quarterly Summary - July 2019

Summary of top issues reported to NAFSA IssueNet from March 2019 to June 2019 Long delays for H-1B applications which are impacting other things such as renewing driver's licenses. USCIS continues to apply a stricter standard of the Specialty Occupation definition for H-1Bs than in the past, leading

Foreign Gift and Contract Reporting

Recent Updates Executive Order 14282 of April 23, 2025: Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities. EO on whitehouse.gov | EO 14282 published at 90 FR 17541 (April 28, 2025). This Executive Order reinstates and tightens enforcement of higher education institutions' obligation

SEVP Conference Bulletin - September 2013

September 2013 update newsletter from the Department of Homeland Security's Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

PERM Online System User Guide

DOL's PERM User Guide describes the fundamentals of the web-based system, including registering, logging in, preparing a PERM application, and managing your user account."