International Student and Scholar Services
A decorative image showing a passport, pen and visa.

Immigration News and Notes

A collection of immigration news and notes prepared by Tara Severino, associate director of Immigration Services at WMU.

More Recent

New DHS Rule to End "Duration of Status" and other Federal Immigration Policy Changes

7/17/2026 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule that changes several longstanding immigration regulations affecting individuals in F-1 and J-1 status. The rule is scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. No immediate action is required at this time.

One of the most significant changes is the elimination of Duration of Status (D/S) for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors. Under the new regulations, most individuals will be admitted for a fixed period of time and, when additional time is needed to complete their academic or exchange objectives, may be required to apply for an extension of stay with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This new fixed time will be for up to four years at a time or up to the end date of your I-20 or DS-2019, whichever is sooner.  

The new rule also includes changes that may affect several areas of international student and scholar advising, including:

  • Admission periods and extensions of stay will result in additional planning.
  • Grace periods will change for F-1 students from 60 to 30 days.
  • Changes of major or degree level will be limited.
  • School transfers will not be approved during the first year of enrollment for undergraduate students and will not be permitted at all for graduates students.
  • OPT and future benefits will require additional planning.

What This Means Right Now

Although the rule has been published, current immigration regulations remain in effect until September 15, 2026. Students and scholars should continue following the existing requirements for maintaining their immigration status.  I3S is conducting a detailed review of the new regulations and will continue to communicate updates through email, campus presentations, the I3S website and your Terra Dotta Student Portal as new guidance becomes available.

I3S will conduct two future townhall presentations. A virtual townhall is being planned for August and an in-person townhall is being planned for September. Further information regarding these two townhalls will be provided soon.

International students, scholars, researchers, and exchange visitors are an integral part of our university community and we are here to support you. 

Recommended Guidance

For Students and Scholars

  • Continue maintaining your immigration status under the current regulations.
  • Monitor your university email and the I3S website for official updates.
  • Contact I3S before making immigration-related decisions if you have questions about how the new regulations may affect you.

For Faculty, Staff, and Campus Partners

  • Continue referring immigration-related questions to I3S.
  • Watch for future guidance and training opportunities as implementation of the new regulations approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to take any action now?

No. The current immigration regulations remain in effect until September 15, 2026. 

Will current students be immediately affected?

Not immediately. If you entered the U.S. prior to September 15, 2026, you will still have D/S on your I-94 temporarily. You may receive a fixed end date in the future. More information is to come.  I3S will provide updates as implementation guidance is released by the federal government. You are not alone. We understand this can cause uncertainty and we will keep you informed as changes are made.

Where can I find additional information?

As additional information becomes available from DHS, SEVP, Study in the States and other federal agencies, we will update you via this website and through your email or through your Terra Dotta student portal.

Resources:

Study In The States Quick Facts 

Study In The States FAQ

FRAGOMEN Law Firm Insights

Federal Registrar Final Rule 

USCIS Benefit Hold for Travel Ban Countries

2/19/2026 - USCIS recently announced they have placed a hold on all pending benefit applications for individuals from countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10998, Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign National To Protect the Security of the United States. 

USCIS will be conducting a review of all policies, procedures, and screening and vetting processes for benefit requests for individuals from these countries. Petitions may still be filed and it does not affect your current status. However, until USCIS conducts their reviews and lifts the holds, they will not adjudicate any requests such as OPT or change of status for affected individuals. If you have questions about this, please contact our office.

Immigrant Visa Pause for 75 Countries

1/15/2026 - The U.S. State Department announced that it will pause immigrant visa processing for individuals from 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. Please note, this is pause only affects immigrant visas and not non-immigrant visas like F-1/J-1 students or H-1 employees. Further details and the full list of countries is on the Department of State's website.

Travel Ban Update

12/16/2025 - The White House announced today updated the list of countries where students and scholars will be unable to acquire a new visa to enter the U.S. 

The following countries are included: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Authority, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Togo, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 

The travel ban only applies to individuals without a current visa and who are outside of the U.S. Any current student from these countries should discuss any travel plans with I3S. Visit NAFSA's website for additional information including links to the Presidential Proclamations and a summary of all the travel restrictions. 

Payment Requirements for New H-1B Petitions

10/21/2025  On September 19, 2025, the White House issued the Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers Presidential Proclamation restricting the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers. This affects H-1B petitions (Form I-129) filed after September 21, 2025, and imposes a $100,000 payment for petitions filed on behalf of individuals outside the U.S. 

Those already in the U.S. (for example someone on F-1 status on OPT) can apply for a change of status to H-1B without requiring the $100,000 payment. Please contact I3S with any questions via email at @email or call (269) 387-5865.

Update: As of June 2026, this fee payment is under litigation and may or may not apply. Contact I3S for questions if you are considering sponsoring for H-1B. 

New Alien Registration Requirement for Dependents Turning 14

4/25/2025  Effective April 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new Alien Registration rule for non-citizen children (dependents) who turn 14 while in the U.S. 

The new rule only applies to children who entered the U.S. before their 14th birthday and are still in the U.S. after turning 14.  Most international students and scholars are considered already registered with USCIS and will not be impacted by this change. Make sure you have proof of Form 94 from your most recent arrival.

Under the new rule, dependents in F-2, J-2, H-4, TD, O-3, and other nonimmigrant statuses must:

Upon registration and fingerprinting, DHS will issue proof of registration. All noncitizens 18 and older must carry this documentation at all times. DHS is prioritizing enforcement of this rule. As always, continue to also carry copies of all of your other immigration documents with you, as well.

Canadian citizens who entered the U.S. via a land port of entry and were not issued an I-94 should check their most recent entry record. If an I-94 was not provided, they may need to register using Form G-325R.

Unsure if you need to register? Visit USCIS Alien Registration page for more information including a "Do I need to Register?" questionnaire to help you determine your next steps for your dependent.

If you have questions, you may contact I3S (269) 387-5865 or you may also consult with an immigration attorney.

New Terra Dotta ISSS Student Portal Coming Soon

4/25/2025  Exciting news! I3S will be implementing a new Terra Dotta ISSS Student Portal this summer. Terra Dotta is an online solution used to enhance the experience of WMU’s international students, scholars, and faculty and staff. 

During our implementation week, immigration processing will be on hold. Student requests, including new admission I-20s, submitted the week of April 28th will not be processed until after May 5th. Normal processing time is 5-10 business days so we do not expect there to be any additional delays.  

We are excited to soon introduce to you the ISSS Student Portal to be able to assist you with all of your student immigration needs.  

Immigration Enforcement and the Safety of Students, Faculty and Staff

4/9/2025 Western Michigan University is, and will remain, a globally engaged campus that is enriched by the presence of students, faculty and staff from around the world. Please review the updated policy resources page for official university statements, guidance and resources.  

U.S. government officials this month have taken action to terminate some international students studying at U.S. higher education institutions from a system known as the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and/or revoke their visas.  If you have been impacted by this, you will receive an email from I3S directly with further guidance. 

COVID-19 Recovery Rebate Credit Checks Issued in Error To Nonresidents

1/15/2025 In December 2024, the IRS began issuing payments for unclaimed Recovery Rebate Credit under the American Rescue Plan Act (so called COVID stimulus payments) to individuals that did not file 2021/2022 tax returns. However, many nonresidents have reported receiving these payments unexpectedly, leading to confusion.

If a student has recently received such a payment, it’s likely due to filing a 1040 tax return at some point after 2022. In these cases, the IRS may have issued the payment in error. If any of the students who received the check were a nonresident in 2020 or 2021 and mistakenly received this payment, they are required to return the checks as well as provide and clarify their nonresident status for those years.
 
Options for Return:
  1. They received the check but have not yet cashed it:
    1. Write “Void” on the back of the check.
    2. Mail the check to a valid IRS branch location
    3. Include in it a note outlining why they are returning the check.
  2. They received the payment as a check and cashed it/they received the payment through direct deposit. 
    1. This will require them to send a personal check, or money order, etc., to their relevant IRS branch location
    2. On the check or money order, they’ll have to write “made payable to ‘U.S. Treasury’” and also write ‘2021EIP’, and their taxpayer ID (in this case their social security number, or individual taxpayer identification number/ITIN).
    3. Again, give an explanation of the reason for returning the payment.
For more information, visit Sprintax blog and irs.gov.

Homeland Security makes temporary exceptions to online course mode requirements 

02/01/2023  Please be advised that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Homeland Security made temporary exceptions to online course mode requirements continuing through the 2022-2023 academic year. 
 
Homeland Security is not extending these relaxed online exceptions beyond the 2022-2023 Academic Year, therefore students and departments should plan for and anticipate the reinstatement of the pre-pandemic requirements following the end of Spring 2023 semester.
 

Academic Students

For international students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken on-line or through distance education. 
 
Courses that are coded as Hybrid in the WMU course catalog which require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class, are not deemed “online” and will be counted toward status.
 

English as a Second Language Students

If the student's course of study is in a language study program, then no on-line or distance education classes count toward the full course of study requirement.
 
For questions, please inquire with International Student and Scholar Services (I3S) by calling (269) 387-5865 or emailing @email. 
 

New Visa Service Fee Structure

07/11/2018  Effective July 1, 2018, a new fee structure will be implemented for the services provided by the WMU Haenicke Institute for Global Education Immigration Services office. These fees will help provide continuation of service and support.

Meet the Author

I3S Staff
Tara Severino is the associate director of immigration Services at WMU.

Immigration news and notes are posted by Tara Severino, associate director of immigration services in International Student and Scholar Services (I3S). With more than 20 years of experience in international student and scholar immigration services, Severino serves as Western Michigan University's Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Responsible Officer (RO), overseeing immigration advising and compliance responsibilities for international students and exchange visitors.

Severino is a member of the Professional Staff Association of Western (PSAW), Western Wellness, and serves on the Faunce Student Services Emergency Volunteer Team. She is a recipient of the WMU Semi-Annual Make A Difference Award and participated in WMU’s 2025-2026 Academic Leadership Academy. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Severino enjoys community service, nonprofit involvement, exploring maritime interests, engaging in cultural activities, and spending time with her family.

Contact International Student and Scholar Services