United States: Work Visas

A federal court’s injunction over the DHS fixed-period admission rule nationwide means the existing duration-of-status (D/S) framework for F-1 international students and J-1 exchange visitors will remain in place while litigation continues.

A federal court in Massachusetts has postponed the Department of Homeland Security rule that would have ended 'duration of status' admissions for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, originally scheduled to take effect September 15, 2026. This preliminary injunction affects students, exchange visitors, foreign media representatives, and their sponsoring institutions, though the postponement is not a final invalidation of the rule and litigation continues.

For employers and F-1 employees transitioning to cap-subject H-1B status, October 1 is no longer the definitive deadline. With expanded cap-gap periods and varying petition statuses, HR departments must understand when H-1B status actually begins, how work authorization continues during pending petitions, and what compliance steps are required. This practical guide clarifies the critical differences between approved and pending H-1B cases and provides actionable steps for managing the F-1 to H-1B transition

A federal judge has invalidated the U.S. Department of State's nationality-based policy suspending immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. The ruling in CLINIC v. Rubio requires the government to return to individualized adjudication under U.S. immigration law, though it does not eliminate existing travel restrictions or guarantee visa issuance.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program has issued new guidance that fundamentally reinterprets curricular practical training requirements for F-1 students, potentially eliminating Course Credit CPT and requiring practical training to be mandatory for all students in a degree program. This shift from decades of established practice creates immediate compliance challenges for institutions of higher education and raises questions about the validity of current and pending CPT authorizations.

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin reveals critical changes for EB-5 investors, particularly those from India, as unreserved visa numbers become unavailable for the remainder of FY2026. While set-aside categories remain current across all countries, the bulletin warns of potential further retrogression and highlights the importance of understanding how country of chargeability and investment category selection impact visa availability and processing timelines.

ABD İç Güvenlik Bakanlığı, H-1B vizesi için önerilen 103.265 dolarlık yeni ücretin detaylarını açıkladı. Bu ücret, yalnızca çekilişte seçilen çalışanlar için gerçek H-1B dilekçesi sunulması durumunda ödenecek ve işverenler ile uluslararası mezunlar üzerinde önemli ekonomik etkiler yaratabilir.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a dramatic new fee structure for H-1B visa petitions that could fundamentally alter the economics of hiring foreign professionals through the annual cap process. While the $103,265 fee is not currently in effect and faces significant legal and practical hurdles, employers sponsoring H-1B workers need to understand what this proposal means for their workforce planning and compliance obligations. This analysis breaks down the immediate implications, clarifies c

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to publish a proposed rule on Aug. 25, 2026, in the Federal Register that would impose a new $103,265 fee on all cap subject H-1B visa petitions. This new proposal would be in addition to existing H-1B filing fees