On September 19, 2025, a proclamation was signed restricting nonimmigrant workers entering the U.S. under H-1B without a $100,000 payment accompanying their employer-sponsored petitions. USCIS provided clarifications on October 20, 2025, regarding the implementation of this proclamation.
In this town hall webinar, the OISS team discusses the recent notice issued by the Department of Homeland Security on August 28th regarding a proposed rule change to eliminate the “duration of status” (D/S) for F and J nonimmigrants, as published in the Federal Register.
Effective September 6, 2025 (updated December 12, 2025), the Department of State (DoS) announced that non-immigrant visa applicants should schedule visa interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. This restricts processing for “third country nationals” (TCNs), a practice that has become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing applicants to apply for visas outside their home country.
On August 28, 2025, DHS proposed ending “duration of status” (D/S) for F and J nonimmigrants. The proposal, which is currently open for public comment, aims to replace D/S with fixed periods of stay.
Effective December 15, 2025
The U.S. Department of State (DoS) announced new procedures for vetting the online presence of H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. This includes reviewing social media and professional network activities as part of the application process.
A DHS news release on April 9, 2025, announced a new guidance, effective immediately, that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering social media activity of nonimmigrants deemed antisemitic as grounds for denying immigration benefits adjudicated through USCIS.
