黑料吃瓜

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule replacing Duration of Status (D/S) with fixed periods of admission for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and certain other nonimmigrants. This replaces the earlier proposed regulation. The rule is currently scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, unless its effective date is delayed or the rule is modified through the congressional review process.

The International Student Center (ISC) is reviewing the final rule and will update this page if DHS changes the effective date or publishes additional implementation guidance.

What is changing?

Under the current D/S framework, most F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors are admitted to the United States without a specific departure date, provided they maintain their immigration status and continue their approved academic or exchange activity.

Beginning with individuals admitted or readmitted on or after September 15, 2026, DHS generally will issue a Form I-94 with a specific "admit until" date rather than "D/S鈥� on their Form I-94.

For many F-1 students, the admission period generally will be based on the program end date listed on the Form I-20, subject to the limits established in the final rule, followed by an additional 30-day period to prepare for departure or otherwise maintain lawful status.

The visa expiration date, Form I-20 or DS-2019 end date, and Form I-94 admit-until date each serve different purposes. The date on the Form I-94 will be especially important under the new framework.

What should current students know?

F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors who are in the United States in D/S and properly maintaining their status on September 15, 2026, will receive transition protection.

These students and exchange visitors:

• Do not need to file an extension application solely because the rule takes effect.
• Do not need to request that an existing Form I-94 showing D/S be changed to a fixed date solely because of the rule.
• May generally remain through the applicable program or employment-authorization end date, subject to the transition provisions and maximum transition period established by DHS.
• May receive a new fixed admit-until date if they travel internationally and reenter the United States after the rule takes effect.

Students should not submit immigration applications or make significant academic or travel decisions based solely on general summaries of the rule. Individual circumstances vary, and students should consult the ISC before taking action.

How could the rule affect students?

Depending on an individual student鈥檚 admission date, travel, academic plans, and employment authorization, the rule may affect:

• International travel and reentry
• Program extensions
• Transfers to another school
• Changes of major, program, or degree level
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• STEM OPT extensions
• F-2 or J-2 dependents
• The amount of time available after completing a program or practical training OPT and STEM OPT have not been eliminated. However, some future applicants may need to coordinate an extension-of-stay application with their employment-authorization application. The ISC will provide updated instructions before these requirements apply.

The final rule also creates restrictions involving school transfers and changes in educational objectives. Some of these provisions may be delayed or suspended by DHS. Students should contact the ISC before making decisions based on these provisions.

What should students do now?

• Continue maintaining your F-1 or J-1 status.
• Do not file Form I-539 or another application solely because the final rule was published.
• Contact the ISC before international travel, requesting additional time to complete your program, transferring schools, changing your major or degree level, or applying for OPT or STEM OPT.
• If you enter or reenter the United States on or after the effective date, retrieve and review your Form I-94 as soon as possible.
• Continue monitoring this webpage and ISC communications for population-specific guidance.

The ISC will provide separate information for incoming students, current students, students planning international travel, and students participating in CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT.

Last updated: July 21, 2026. This information is intended as general guidance. Individual circumstances may require separate review by the ISC.

Back to Top

The federal government relies on annual appropriation bills passed by Congress to fund its operations. When Congress fails to enact these bills on time, federal agencies face a funding shortfall, triggering a .

During such shutdowns, immigration agencies may significantly scale back their services or suspend them altogether, leaving the public with limited or no access to critical immigration support.

Students should be aware of possible extra delays in processing in the following services, but not limited to:

• New and renewal of visa processing
• Travel within and outside the U.S.
• USCIS benefits adjudication (OPT, STEM OPT, Change of Status...)
• Social Security Number Application

Social Security Number Application

Students have been reporting delays in setting up appointments with the Social Security Administration Office and receiving their SSNs.

If approved for employment, students can start working without an SSN. Review the International Student and Social Security Number (PDF) guidelines created by the Social Security Administration Office and coordinate with your employer's HR department. While waiting for an SSN, employers can use a letter from the Social Security Administration Office stating that the student has applied for a number. .

Back to Top

What is an H1-B Visa?

The H1-B visa was created to support employers in finding international workers with highly specialized skills, abilities, and knowledge for a specialty occupation. Employers must prove that such skills and abilities cannot be found in the U.S. workforce.

What is this Presidential Proclamation about?

Starting on 09/21/25, the new requires a payment of a supplemental fee of $100K to all new H-1B applications. The sponsor employers are the payers for this fee and not the student.

This fee does not apply to those who already have an H1-B visa application pending, and those, in the future, who are selected in the H1B lottery and apply for a change of status without leaving the U.S.

Does the Presidential Proclamation affect 黑料吃瓜 International Students?

In general, 黑料吃瓜 does not sponsor H1-B visa applications.

While the ISC does not advise on H1-B visa matters, international students who are currently under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT Extension period, in the process of applying or are planning to apply for an H1B visa, and are outside the U.S., could be affected.

We recommend that students seek for further guidance.

Back to Top

Some students applying for new visas or visa renewals will face delays in visa processing due to . After a visa interview, when necessary, visa applications will undergo additional security scrutiny and clearance outside of the normal visa processing times. This process might take days. weeks, and in some cases months, since several U.S. Government agencies might review the application before a visa decision is rendered.

Some students might be noted of a 鈥渟oft denial鈥� or visa refusal under 鈥�)鈥�. However, based on some immigration law firms, this is a temporary hold while consulars investigate the student鈥檚 history and social media further. In some cases, more documentation will be required. The visa application could be approved after the administrative processing.

Who is subject to 鈥渁dministrative processing鈥�?

Anyone applying for a visa. The selection process will take into consideration the following factors, but not limited to:

• Country of citizenship;
• Field or study, or scope of research.
• Previous immigration status in the USA
• Previous visa denials
• Criminal activities
• Previous overstay
• Very common first and last names combination
• Drug abuse record
• Social Media Vetting

What should the student do if they are subject to administrative processing?

Read the letter attentively, since students might be requested to complete other requirements. If no further information is given, students should call the U.S. Embassy or the Consulate directly.  Students can also check their at the Department of State website.

Visa applications submitted to 鈥渁dministrative processing鈥� are almost impossible to request expedited pro

To avoid further delays, read this helpful article created by NAFSA: .

Visa Application interview in the student's home country only.

Students seeking new F, J, or M visas, or renewing existing ones, should schedule their visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality. While applying in a third country was previously allowed, it was never a recommended option.

Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling interviews at their country of Nationality or residence.

Nationals of countries where the U.S. does not conduct non-immigrant visa operations must apply at the

Back to Top

During the Visa Application

On June 18, 2025, the announced enhanced visa screening and vetting procedures for students applying for visas and seeking entry into the United States. The new guidance requires a comprehensive review of the online presence of all individuals applying for F, J, and M non-immigrant visa categories.

Students have been asked to list all social media presence in the DS-160 application and to change their social media privacy settings to public prior to visa interviews.  All F, J, & M non-immigrant visa applicants will be placed in temporary administrative processing hold, viewed as a 鈥渟oft refusal鈥� under section 221 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) while additional screening is conducted. This may lead to days or weeks of delays in visa approvals.

At the Port-of-Entry

On some rare occasions, the officer may search students鈥� cell phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and other electronic devices during the inspection process.

What is the immigration officer looking for when checking students鈥� electronic devices?

• Derogatory behaviors
• Picture of people involved in possible illegal activities (or questionable behavior)
• Anti-American sentiment
• Anti-Semitism comments and behaviors
• Anti-american policies
• Anti-semitic activity

Advising Tips:

• Applicants must list all social media accounts on the DS-160 and set their accounts to public before their interview.
• Students should consider completing a new DS-160 form if they did not list all social media accounts in their previous submission.

Back to Top

No action is required with regard to the Alien Registration Requirement for International Students. Per USCIS guidance, aliens who have already registered include:

Students admitted to the United States as non-immigrants who were issued Form I-94 or I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the period of admission has expired

All students present in the United States who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their last date of arrival.

For comprehensive information, you may visit the .

Back to Top

Due to enhanced immigration enforcement led by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, current students under the F-1 non-immigrant visa status had their SEVIS and Visa records reviewed. There were reports of Visas being revoked, and in most instances, the students were informed of the revocation by the Department of State or by the students鈥� local American Embassy and Consulates. However, in rare instances, students only discovered the revocation when attempting to re-enter the United States.

Visa revocation means that the previously issued visa is no longer valid for entry or reentry in the USA. Students would have to apply for a new visa. The visa itself does not determine the student鈥檚 status in the US, but in some circumstances, it could lead to SEVIS termination.

Generally, students who are currently in the USA and have had their visa revoked do not need to leave the country, as long as they are able to maintain their F-1 legal status with their I-20.

SEVIS termination indicates that a student鈥檚 legal status in the United States has ended, requiring them to make immediate plans to depart the country. This action may result from a violation of F-1 status, such as failure to maintain full-time enrollment, failure to report employment in a timely manner, or potential involvement in criminal activity. Students currently approved for OPT or STEM OPT Extension will lose their work authorization and must cease employment immediately.

Please note, the ISC does not have access to students鈥� visa status, nor are we informed of visa revocations. However, we can determine a student鈥檚 eligibility to stay in the USA by checking their SEVIS status. The ISC checks all students鈥� SEVIS records daily and is alerted to any SEVIS record terminations. If a SEVIS record is terminated, we will inform the respective student immediately.

Students who have been notified of a visa revocation should do the following:

• Forward the email or mail notification to the Director of the ISC, Ricky Paniagua: [email protected]. We will review the notification and guide you through the process and best practices.
• Seek experienced in immigration matters to understand the implications of the status change and explore potential remedies. A list of immigration attorneys can be found here. Please note that you will be responsible for any legal fees accrued.

Back to Top

Based on the Presidential Proclamation on 鈥溾��, effective on June 9th, 2025, the Department of State has fully suspended the issuance of new visas for the following nationals:

• Afghanistan
• Burma
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

And a partial suspension of visa issuance for non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas for nationals of the following countries:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

Review .

Back to Top

DHS announced an interim final rule, effective Oct. 30, 2025, ending the practice of automatically extending the validity of EADs for aliens who apply to renew their EAD in .

This change does not apply to F-1 visa holders with pending applications. Students who submit their STEM OPT Extension requests on time will continue to receive an automatic extension of their employment authorization for up to 180 days or until USCIS adjudicates the application.

Back to Top