Immigration Law and Legal Insights

Beginning September 15, F-1 students will transition from Duration of Status to fixed admission periods, while September 18 brings a broader public charge analysis for green card applications. A proposed $103,265 H-1B fee remains under review, with comments due September 24, as employers navigate multiple simultaneous changes to U.S. immigration procedures.

The Department of Homeland Security has finalized a sweeping regulatory change eliminating the longstanding "duration of status" framework for F, J, and I visa holders, replacing open-ended admission periods with fixed terms capped at four years. This rule, effective September 15, 2026, introduces mandatory extension filings or travel requirements for students and exchange visitors who need additional time, fundamentally altering how nonimmigrant visa holders maintain lawful status and work authorization in

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is implementing significant changes to the H-1B visa program, including immediate fee adjustments and two major proposals that could reshape how employers sponsor foreign workers. Starting September 9, covered employers will face expanded fee requirements, while a proposed $103,265 fee per cap-subject petition could dramatically increase the cost of H-1B sponsorship.