✦ Curated by Everest Muse
Legal migration pathways and educational visas — green cards, work visas, and F-1 student rules.
DHS published a proposed rule that would eliminate the discretionary 60-day grace period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-1/E-2/E-3, H-1B1 and TN workers whose employment ends — plus their dependents. Laid-off workers would fall out of status the day employment ends, while the current rule stays in effect until a final rule is issued. USA Today
Following a district court order in Medani v. Trump, USCIS is resuming adjudication of certain pending adjustment-of-status applications under the FY2026 Diversity Visa program — a rare opening for DV selectees. Green Card Maker
Family-based green card petitions are stalling: the State Department paused immigrant visa interviews at embassies and consulates globally to train staff on a new applicant-screening policy. Couples — including those from countries hit by an earlier immigrant-visa pause covering 75 nations — face uncertain timelines. USA Today
Immigrant visa processing restarted in Hungary and Poland, but the broader suspension affecting dozens of countries continues, alongside expanded social-media vetting for applicants. Reuters
Some 170,000 Salvadoran TPS holders — about 152,000 in the US workforce — retain protection while DHS weighs its decision, after TPS was ended for nationals of several other countries. Reuters
A revived rule lets officers weigh a wider set of means-tested public benefits — and benefits used by family members — when deciding green card applications. It takes effect September 18. CNN
USCIS approved 8.3 million applications in 2025 vs 11.4 million in 2024. Employment-based petitions dropped 26%, humanitarian 69%, green-card approvals 16% — while family-based approvals rose 8%. USA Today
Under the new framework, undergraduates are limited to 4 years and master's students to their program's exact duration. Students needing more time must apply to USCIS for an extension; first-year major changes and transfers are restricted; off-campus work authorization now requires it to be a graduation requirement. WAMC
New F-1, M-1 and J-1 issuances fell sharply — India down 57%, China 28%, Nepal 55%, Ghana 52%. Since many students later transition to H-1B work visas and green cards, experts warn the drop will cascade for years. ICEF Monitor
The final rule caps admission at the program length (max 4 years), requires USCIS extension applications with biometric vetting, cuts the post-OPT grace period from 60 to 30 days, and restricts Day-1 CPT for second degrees at the same level. Dept. of Homeland Security