News
B-1 Visa Bond Pilot Program Expanded
The Department of State (DOS) published a temporary final rule on August 5, 2025, that established a 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. This list was recently expanded to new... More
US Entry Ban Expanded to Additional Countries
President Trump signed a new proclamation that updates and expands the current entry/travel ban effective from 12:01am on January 1, 2026 through December 16, 2026. This expanded ban will continue to suspend visa processing and entry to the US for international students and scholars/employees from the countries referenced below if... More
USCIS Will Stop Accepting Self-Submitted Photos
USCIS announced on December 12, 2025 that it has updated is policy on photographs and will no longer accept self-submitted photos and will limit when USCIS-taken photos may be reused in benefit requests. This means that applicants for USCIS benefits that require a photo will likely be scheduled to attend an... More
US Federal Agencies Expand Social Media Screening
USDOS announced consular posts will begin screening social media for all H-1 and H-4 visa applicants effective December 15, 2025 which will further delay visa appointment scheduling and visa processing. Social media screening has been in place for F-1, F-2, J-1 and J-1 visa applications since June of 2025 and... More
Winter Travel 2026
Greetings from the ISSO- As we approach the holidays and winter intersession, we understand that many of you are considering international travel. While we fully appreciate you have good reasons to travel outside of the US, we remain concerned that US federal actions regarding travel and enhanced vetting have increased uncertainty... More
DHS Ends 540-Day Automatic EAD Extension
US Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) announced an interim final rule that ends the 540-day automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for specific employment authorization categories (for example: applicants for US permanent residence, asylum etc.). Before this interim final rule, noncitizens with EADs in certain categories received an automatic... More
ISSO Scholar Communiqué – October 2025
Update on Presidential Proclamation Regarding H-1B Fee and Travel Restrictions More
USCIS Publishes Additional Guidance Regarding $100,000 H-1B Fee
June 8 Update: Federal Court Ruling Vacates $100,000 H-1 Fee Original post from Oct 20, 2025 USCIS published additional guidance offering clarification that the fee is intended for new petitions submitted after September 21, 2025 for employees outside the US as it exempts H-1B petitions approved for an extension of stay, amendment, or... More
Reminders to Reflect Binary Sex Marker on US Federal Applications and Forms
Various US federal systems and forms continue to be updated by agencies in accordance with the January 20, 2025, Executive Order Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government. This EO mandates that federal departments recognize gender strictly as a male-female binary determined by biological... More
DHS Seeks to Replace D/S with a Fixed Expiration Date
Update: USCIS received more than 34,800 public comments to this proposed rule in advance of the deadline of September 29, 2025. Please see the official comment letter from Boston University signed by both President Giliam and Provost Waters in opposition to the proposed rule changes. Several university offices will continue... More