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

New Addresses for Some Common DOS Web Resources

URL changes to several common resources on the Department of State (DOS) website.

Practical Training Reform

CRS Backgrounder on Optional Practical Training For some background, read the Congressional Research Service's ( CRS) In Focus Report: Optional Practical Training (OPT) for Foreign Students in the United States, IF 12631 (May 30, 2025), transcribed by NAFSA . Recent Challenges to OPT under the

USCIS Policy Memo Narrows Definition of Economist Under NAFTA

USCIS memo: "Activities that constitute a broad range of other professions related to economics, such as activity performed by financial analysts, market research analysts, and marketing specialists do not qualify for TN status."

Compilation of Agency Initiatives from the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

NAFSA compilation of immigration-related regulatory actions in the current Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions that are most relevant to institutions that invite international students and scholars to the United States.

Key Takeaways from the December 5, 2017 DOL OFLC Stakeholder Meeting

Key Takeaways from the December 5, 2017 DOL OFLC Stakeholder Meeting.

Top Issues Reported in NAFSA IssueNet

Here you'll find ISS-RP summaries of the top 3-5 topics reported to IssueNet each quarter.

National Vetting Center

On February 6, 2018, President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM 9) to establish a National Vetting Center whose principal role will be to improve the way agencies coordinate and use biographic, biometric, and contextual information from various pre-existing sources.

USCIS Policy Memo Provides Guidance on Itinerary Requirements for H-1B Petitions

On February 22, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published Policy Memorandum PM-602-0157, "relating to H-1B petitions filed for workers who will be employed at one or more third-party worksites."

IssueNet Quarterly Summary - January 2018

H1-B denials and the 60-day window. Multiple cases were reported of F-1 students whose H1B petitions were denied in early October and lost their 60 day grace period (immediate termination).

Accrual of Unlawful Presence and F, J, and M Nonimmigrants

April 15, 2025

On August 9, 2018, USCIS made fundamental changes to its policy on how an immigration status violation might lead to a finding that an F, M, or J nonimmigrant should be subject to the 3- or 10-year reentry bar provisions of INA 212(a)(9)(B). A February 6, 2020 nationwide permanent injunction blocked