The U.S. Department of State has announced resumption of student and exchange visitor visa processing, along with expanded digital vetting procedures. The June 18, 2025, press release, “Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants,” aligns with guidance issued the same day to consular posts in a cable, “Action Request: Expanding Screening
J-1 Exchange Visitors
Trump Suspends Travel to U.S. for Nationals of 19 Countries
By Aimee Guthat & Amy L. Peck on
Posted in Asylum / Refugee, B Visa, Business Visitors, Citizenship, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of State, Executive Orders, Global Immigration, Green Cards, J-1 Exchange Visitors, J-1 Trainees, Students / CPT / OPT / STEM, Travel (General), Travel Ban, Trump Administration, US Immigration
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry to the U.S. for nationals of 19 countries on June 4, 2025. The proclamation stated that the designated countries are so deficient in their information screening and vetting that a suspension on the entry of nationals from those countries is necessary. “Presidential Proclamation Restricting the Entry…
State Department Halts New Student Visa Interviews, Expands Social Media Vetting
- New student visa interviews are temporarily paused as of 05.27.25 to implement enhanced social media and security screening.
- Applicants with existing appointments are likely not affected, but new applicants will face delays.
- Consular officers are instructed to scrutinize applicants’ online presence, including private or limited social media accounts or the lack of any online
U.S. Still Leads in Attracting International Talent — But For How Long?
- The United States continues to attract the largest share of international graduate students, particularly in STEM fields, but its dominance may be slipping.
- Other countries are expanding their post-study work options and streamlining their immigration pathways to compete for the world’s best and brightest.
- U.S. employers seeking to secure international talent should act early
USCIS Announces Initial FY 2026 H-1B Cap Selection: What Employers Need to Do Next
Takeaways
- The initial drawing includes registrants under both the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 master’s cap.
- Employers and attorneys have been notified of selection results through their myUSCIS accounts.
- H-1B petitions must be filed between 04.01.25 and 06.30.25 to use the cap selection.
USCIS announced on Mar. 31, 2025, that it has completed the…
DOS Announces Dropbox Eligibility Reduced to 12 Months
After quietly updating consular websites, signaling a significant change to Visa Interview Waiver (“dropbox”) eligibility requirements, on Feb. 18, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) officially announced the reversion to pre-COVID eligibility standards, reducing the window for dropbox eligibility from 48 months to 12 months. This update follows reports of Visa Application Centers turning away…
U.S. Visa Dropbox Eligibility Reverts to Pre-COVID Standard, More Applicants Will Need In-Person Interviews
The U.S. Department of State has unexpectedly updated Consular websites with revised eligibility requirements for Visa Interview Waiver (“dropbox”) appointments.
Effective immediately, dropbox eligibility is limited to applicants renewing a visa in the same nonimmigrant classification that expired within the past 12 months. While no official government announcement has been made, Visa Application Centers (VACs)…
J-1 Exchange Visitors From 30+ Countries No Longer Subject to Two-Year Foreign Home Residency Requirement
- The 37 countries that have been removed from the J-1 Skills List are: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,
U.S. Embassy in Havana Restores Visa Services for 7 Work, Exchange Visas
By Sydney Wong on
Posted in B Visa, Biden Administration, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of State, Exchange Visitors, Global Immigration, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, Immigrant Visas, J-1 Exchange Visitors, J-1 Trainees, L-1A / L-1B, O-1, Other Non-immigrant Visas, P-1, Temporary (Non-immigrant) Work Visas, Travel (General), Trump Administration, US Immigration, USCIS
- H – Temporary workers or trainees
- J – Exchange visitors
- L – Intracompany transferees
- O – Workers with extraordinary ability or achievement
- P
State Department Announces New J-1 Visa Japanese Specialist Program
The Department of State announced that the United States and Japan have established a new J-1 Exchange Program – the Japanese Specialist Program. The new program specifically facilitates the exchange of Japanese language and culture specialists to observe U.S. educational methods and to share their knowledge of Japanese educational methods with U.S. colleagues.
The program…