Travel Ban Impacts

• As of January 1, 2026, forty countries are under a “travel ban” that prevents citizens and nationals of those countries 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. ISSS will post updated guidance, expected by early April 2026, when it becomes available.
• 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.

Other Travel Issues

• Due 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.

• A proposed rule to eliminate ‘duration of status,' issued on August 28, 2025, has not yet been finalized. Read our article on the proposed rule to eliminate duration of status. Once finalized, the rule will have a significant impact on how legal stays and extensions of F-1 students and J-1 students and scholars are managed. ISSS will announce whenever a final rule is published.