United States Immigration News
United States: immigration policy, education, living, property and more.
PERM Suspension Wave: Path for H-1B Holders to Stay in the U.S. Severely Blocked!
A tech giant with over 350,000 employees and a long history of heavily utilizing H-1B (specialty occupation work visa) status has suddenly had a critical step in its Green Card application process paused. WorldWay Immigration has noted that on September 9, 2026, local time, according to relevant media reports, the U.S. government has suspended new PERM (Permanent Labor Certification) application filings by Cognizant, a major IT services company. Meanwhile, federal agencies are investigating alleged fraud in the company's H-1B and PERM programs.
F-1 Refusal Rates Rise and D/S Is Overhauled: How Can Students Secure Their Stay in the U.S.?
Recently, a set of data regarding F-1 student visas has drawn attention. WorldWay Immigration has learned that a recent report released by Shorelight based on U.S. Department of State data shows that the global refusal rate for F-1 student visas reached 35% in 2025, higher than 31% in 2024, hitting a near ten-year high. Back in 2015, this proportion was only 23%.
H-1B Approved: Is Staying in the U.S. Worry-Free?
Once your H-1B is approved, can you rest easy? Recently, scrutiny by U.S. authorities over H-1B non-compliant filings and actual employment practices has continued to tighten. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently disclosed an H-1B non-compliance case: several highly skilled technical positions at a large IT consulting firm were filed under lower wage levels that did not match their actual job duties and position requirements.
Heavy Blows! US Birthright Citizenship Restrictions Escalating
On September 4 local time, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a temporary final rule, establishing new provisions for the status determination of children born in the United States to certain foreign government employees. WorldWay Immigration has noted that under the new DHS rule, if neither parent is a US citizen at the time of the child's birth, and at least one parent qualifies as a "foreign government employee" as defined by the rule, the child may not automatically acquire US citizenship by virtue of being born in the United States. Meanwhile, eligible children may apply to register as US permanent residents.
Alert! New Hurdles Being Added for Studying in the U.S.
This autumn, review procedures for international students at U.S. universities have taken another step forward. WorldWay Immigration has noted that Purdue University, a renowned U.S. STEM institution, has officially launched a new research security screening policy. Pursuant to Indiana SB 256, certain international students and postdoctoral researchers from specific countries, including China, who apply for related majors must undergo additional research security review before receiving formal admission or employment. This new rule officially came into effect on August 15, 2026. In short, while many security screenings previously occurred during the visa application process, research projects, or after entering laboratories, this review step has now been moved even earlier to the university admission stage.
Major Status Overhaul for U.S. International Students on Sept 15! Urgent Warnings Issued by Harvard and Other Universities
Returning to the U.S. this fall, international students need to pay special attention to one date—September 15, 2026. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule stating that starting September 15, the long-applicable "Duration of Status (D/S)" framework for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and others will transition to a fixed period of admission system. As the effective date of the new rule approaches, several U.S. universities—including Harvard, Columbia, Georgetown, and Ohio State—have begun issuing reminders to international students regarding their return to the U.S. and international travel plans. WorldWay Immigration notes that this change is not merely a simple adjustment of an entry date, but a significant shift in how international student status is managed.
Alarm Sounded on US Residency Status! Giving Birth in the US Faces a New Round of Strict Scrutiny
News about additional parental status checks for children applying for US passports has just drawn attention (for details, click to read WorldWay's report: Sudden Shift! New Draft Bill on US Birthright Citizenship Arrives), and new tightening signals have emerged regarding "giving birth in the US". WorldWay Immigration noted that, according to a Newsweek report on September 3, US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated in an interview with Fox News that the Department of Homeland Security is collaborating with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to study new restrictions on "giving birth in the US," including the possibility of restricting foreign travelers in their third trimester from entering the United States.
Sudden Shift! New Draft Guidelines for U.S. Birthright Citizenship Arrive
Another noteworthy shift has emerged regarding U.S. birthright citizenship. WorldWay Immigration notes that according to a Reuters report on September 1, the U.S. Department of State has drafted a new set of passport vetting guidance. Under the draft guidance, in the future, when parents apply for a U.S. passport for a child born in the United States, in addition to proving parentage and identity, they may also need to submit documentation of the parents' own U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status.
Adding Insult to Injury for H-1B Holders in the U.S.: Changes Ahead for H-4 Spouse Work Permits
H-1B-related policies are coming one after another. In early August, news that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed to eliminate the "60-day grace period for unemployment" sparked widespread attention. Today, this proposal has completed review at the White House level, moving one step closer to the official publication of the proposed rule. Meanwhile, another policy directly affecting H-1B families has re-entered the regulatory agenda—DHS plans to consider eliminating eligibility for certain H-4 spouses to apply for EAD work permits. From the status buffer for H-1B holders following job loss to whether spouses can continue working, policy changes are extending beyond H-1B holders themselves to their entire families.
Major Shift in U.S. Study! New CPT Policy Deals Heavy Blow to International Student Employment
On local time August 24, 2026, the U.S. Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued the latest guidance notice on CPT, further clarifying the applicable standards for F-1 international students applying for CPT (Curricular Practical Training).
Attention New Students Entering the U.S.! Essential Guidelines for First-Time Entry into the U.S.
Every autumn is the peak period for international students entering the United States for school. For this fall's back-to-school season, in addition to preparing entry documents and procedures in advance, important changes have also arrived for F-1 student status management. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released "First-Time Arrival: Key Information for New Students Traveling to the US" to provide entry guidelines for F and M visa students traveling to the U.S. for the first time. At the same time, rules related to F student status management have also undergone adjustments.
H-1B Faces Major Overhaul Again! New Proposal Submitted to White House for Review
Recent changes regarding H-1B have been coming almost wave after wave. On August 24, 2026, local time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) submitted a proposed rule titled "Reform of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification" to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.