- 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.
- The injunction does not affect the separate Curricular Practical Training guidance issued by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program in August 2026,
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
ICE Using Travel Data to Target Visa Overstays at Domestic Airports: Employer Considerations
Federal immigration authorities reportedly are using domestic air travel information to locate and arrest noncitizens suspected of overstaying their authorized periods of admission.
Authorities have made at least 27 arrests of noncitizens suspected of overstay at airports in at least nine states across the country, from California to Virginia, according to an ABC News report.
Your Phone Can Be Searched at the Border Without a Warrant: Seventh Circuit Reaffirms CBP Authority
A recent reminder to international travelers that the contents of their phone may be subject to inspection when entering the United States came from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
In United States v. Eta, No. 25-1891 (7th Cir. July 6, 2026), the court held that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers…
More I-94 Monitoring + Timely EOS Filing for Employers as DHS Reshapes F-1 and J-1 Framework
The Department of Homeland Security has published a final rule replacing the long-standing “duration of status” (D/S) framework for F-1 academic students and J-1 exchange visitors with fixed periods of admission. Effective Sept. 15, 2026, the rule also establishes a new extension of stay process administered by USCIS for individuals who need additional time to…
A Quicker Option: U.S. Preclearance Now Available at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport
Effective March 10, 2026, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) joined nine other Canadian airports in offering U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance. The preclearance allows travelers to complete their U.S. immigration, customs, and agriculture inspection before departure. This is great news for travelers wishing to return to the U.S. in a quicker and…
DHS Drops One‑Year Abroad Hurdle for Returning R‑1 Religious Workers
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that removes the long‑standing requirement that R‑1 nonimmigrant religious workers who have exhausted the maximum five‑year period in R‑1 status must spend one full year abroad before becoming eligible to return in R‑1 classification.
Under the IFR, an R‑1 nonimmigrant who has…
FMCSA Restricting Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses, Announces Interim Final Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that it has strengthened requirements for issuance and renewal of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for non-domiciled applicants individuals.
The FMCSA’s interim final rule limits issuance of non-domiciled CDLs to individuals with specific lawful employment-based nonimmigrant status categories (H-2A, H-2B, or E-2).
The rule also requires…
First Legal Challenge to Presidential Proclamation Imposing $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
On Sept. 19, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” (the “Proclamation”). The Proclamation requires employers to pay a $100,000 fee with any new H-1B petition for foreign workers outside the United States, effective Sept. 21, 2025. The stated purpose is to address perceived misuse of the…
Immigration Considerations in a Government Shutdown
The current government funding expired at the end of the fiscal year without a continuing resolution, resulting in a government shutdown. A federal government shutdown can create ripple effects across immigration processes, but the impact varies depending on the agency.
Since USCIS is fee-funded, most operations — like processing petitions and applications — continue as…
Trump Administration Issues Clarifications on H-1B Proclamation and $100K Entry Fee — Uncertainty Remains
President Donald Trump signed a Proclamation on Sept. 19, 2025, requiring a $100,000 fee for H-1B nonimmigrants seeking to enter the United States (“Proclamation”). Initial reports suggested the restriction applied broadly, including to current visa holders. Over the weekend, the White House, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)…