NEWS
Timely coverage of H1B, OPT, and immigration policy changes that affect visa sponsorship
- USCIS Restores Officers' Power to Deny H-1B, EB, and Adjustment Cases Without an RFE or NOID First
A USCIS policy alert effective August 5, 2026 lets adjudicators deny a benefit request outright — no Request for Evidence, no Notice of Intent to Deny — whenever the filing as submitted does not establish eligibility. Here is what Policy Alert PA-2026-05 actually changes, and what filers should do differently now.
August 14, 2026 - SEVP Warns Schools Over CPT Authorization: What the August 12 Broadcast Message Means for Day 1 CPT and F-1 Students
A new SEVP broadcast message sent to every designated school official on August 12, 2026 warns that a rising share of CPT authorizations do not meet federal requirements — and puts schools on notice that improperly authorized CPT can trigger investigation and loss of SEVP certification. Here is exactly what the message says, and what it does not change.
August 14, 2026 - DHS Moves to Eliminate the 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and Other Nonimmigrant Workers
A newly submitted USCIS proposed rule (RIN 1615-AD22) would scrap the discretionary 60-day grace period that currently protects H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, and other high-skilled nonimmigrant workers after their job ends. Here is exactly what is confirmed so far — and what is not.
August 7, 2026 - USCIS Reaches the FY 2027 H-1B Cap: No Second Lottery, and a Weighted System That Keeps Favoring Higher Wages
USCIS confirmed on July 17, 2026 that it received enough registrations to fill both the 65,000 regular H-1B cap and the 20,000 U.S. advanced-degree exemption for FY 2027 — with no second selection round this year. Registrations fell sharply from the prior cycle, while the share of selected beneficiaries holding U.S. advanced degrees and higher wage levels climbed again.
August 3, 2026 - DHS's Next Target Is OPT, STEM OPT, and CPT: What RIN 1653-AA97 Signals — and Why the Rule Just Slipped to 2027
A DHS regulatory-agenda item called the "Practical Training" rule has been aimed at Optional Practical Training, STEM OPT, and curricular practical training for over a year. The newest Unified Agenda entry now shows a proposed rule expected in February 2027, not 2026. Here is what DHS has confirmed, what is still just a placeholder, and what is not changing yet.
August 2, 2026 - The $100,000 H-1B Fee Is Not in Effect Right Now: The Full Timeline From Proclamation to Court Battle
Proclamation 10973 imposed a $100,000 charge on new H-1B petitions in September 2025. Nearly a year of litigation later, a federal court has vacated it and an appeals court has refused to put it back — so as of this writing, the fee does not apply. Here is the full timeline, and why the posture could still shift again.
August 1, 2026 - DHS Ends "Duration of Status" for F-1 Students: What the New Fixed-Period and Extension-of-Stay Rule Means for OPT and STEM OPT
A final DHS rule effective September 15, 2026 replaces indefinite "duration of status" for F, J, and I nonimmigrants with fixed admission periods — and requires a new USCIS Extension of Stay filing, including for post-completion OPT and STEM OPT. Here is what changes, the transition rules, and how the H-1B cap-gap is affected.
July 31, 2026