• On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule eliminating “duration of status” (D/S) for F and J visas. Read our initial announcement on the final rule, and our earlier announcement on the proposed rule to eliminate duration of status. ISSS has started analysis of the final rule and will provide additional information in the near future.

Travel Ban Impacts

• As of January 1, 2026, passport holders from 39 countries as well as the Palestinian Authority are under a “travel ban” that prevents them from obtaining visas to travel to and enter the U.S. Check our Current Travel Restrictions page to see the complete list of countries and types of visas subject to the travel ban, as well as exceptions and exclusions.
• Also as of January 1, USCIS has paused processing of immigration applications (including, potentially, applications for OPT, H-1B, and green cards) for persons who are citizens of, or born in, countries that are included in the travel ban. Applications are still being accepted but final decisions may be delayed. Read our article about the USCIS processing pauses. As of June 2026, the adjudication pause is still in place for many USCIS applications and petitions.
• The travel ban may affect the ability of newly admitted students for Summer / Fall 2026 programs from coming to the U.S. Read our travel ban information for prospective and admitted students.
• On May 18, 2026, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies imposed heightened screening and restrictions on entry relating to current outbreaks of Ebola in central and Eastern Africa. In particular, non-US citizens who were in Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days are temporarily barred from entry into the U.S. Read more about the CDC's order.

Other Travel Issues

• Effective August 1, 2026, the State Department is reassigning visa services at many U.S. consulates in sub-Saharan Africa to regional hubs. Students and scholars from many countries will need to travel to a ‘regional hub’ consulate to obtain their visa. The State Department has announced anyone with scheduled visa applications will receive directions by email regarding this change. Read more about this development on our website.
• Changes to visa services in SDue to the current military conflict involving Iran, multiple U.S. embassies in the region have closed or limited operations for the indefinite future. Students or scholars may face appointment cancellations or visa delays. Read our update about interruptions to consular services in the Middle East. As of late March 2026, guidance regarding temporary visa services has not yet been published.
• Effective September 21, 2025 the U.S. federal government has imposed a $100,000 entry fee on new H-1B petitions submitted for individuals outside the U.S. The fee does not apply to persons currently in, extending, or changing to H-1B status from inside the U.S. This fee applies to all employers, including cap-exempt employers such as Brown.
• New Visa Reciprocity tables were issued in June 2025. Reciprocity agreements are used to set the length of visa validity for different countries. For certain countries, the length of the standard F-1 student visa has been reduced to as little as 3 months for single entry only, affecting travel timelines. Read more about visa reciprocity on our Renewing Your Visa page.
• The U.S. State Department announced a temporary pause of immigrant visa issuance for up to 75 countries. Immigrant visas are issued by U.S. consulates to allow people to travel to the U.S. as permanent residents.
• The U.S. State Department has implemented a pilot bond program affecting B-1 / B-2 visa applicants for certain countries. Introduced in August 2025, an additional 12 countries were added on March 18, 2026. The bond program requires payments ranging from $5,000 - $15,000, intended to be reimbursed once the traveler returns to the U.S. Read more information on our B-1 visitors page.

Employment and Wage Issues

• The Department of Labor issued a proposed rule on March 27, 2026 that calls for changes that would increase the prevailing wage requirements for employers seeking to sponsor workers under the H-1B and other programs, including PERM labor certifications. The average certified wage increases may be as high as $14,000 per year per worker. The proposed rule is currently open for public comment through May 26, 2026. Read more about the proposed rule here.

• On May 22, 2026, USCIS issued a policy memorandum regarding the adjustment of status process for intending permanent residences. The memo does not remove the option of filing Form I-485 applications to adjust to permanent residence, but seems to suggest heightened scrutiny of applications and expectations that intending immigrants seek an immigrant visa through consular process, instead. Read our announcement regarding the policy memorandum on adjustment of status.