Immigration Updates

International Services actively monitors immigration developments and compiles important updates in one place for our campus community.

Please stay informed through official U.S. government sources, as this page is not a substitute for legal advice. Contact International Services at is@clemson.edu with any questions or concerns.

International Services Newsletter

• September 2025
• August 2025

September 7, 2025 - Current Status 

International Services is not aware of any changes affecting compliance requirements or sponsorship processes for the following categories:

• F-1 and J-1 students and scholars
• H-1B (current), O-1, and TN employees
• Permanent residency sponsorship under EB-1 and EB-2 categories

Current Immigration Updates

September 21, 2025 -

Guidance sent by International Services to H-1B Faculty and Scholars at Clemson. 

• Guidance and Support email sent to Clemson's H-1B Faculty and Scholars

U.S. Government issues H-1B FAQ on Proclamation

• H-1B FAQ on Proclamation
• H-1B FAQ issued by USCIS

Both USCIS and the U.S. government released an FAQ on the proclamation to explain who the proclamation effects and who it does not effect.

September 20, 2025 - USCIS Clarifying Guidance on Proclamation.

• USCIS Memo: Clarifying Guidance on Proclamation

USCIS released a memo clarifying the proclamation released on September 19, 2025. This memo states that "This proclamation only applies prospectively to petitions that have not been filed," and it does not apply to the beneficiaries of petition that were filed prior to the effective date of the proclamation, and the beneficiaries of currently approved petitions, or are in possession of validly issued H-1B non-immigrant visas. 

September 19, 2025 - U.S. Government Proclamation - Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.

• Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers

On September 19, 2025, the U.S. government enacted a proclamation requiring a one-time $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions, filed after the effective date of September 19, 2025, to be paid by the sponsoring employer. The proclamation is intended to curb abuse, protect American workers, and deter undercutting wages by increaseing the cost of brining skilled foreign workers to the U.S.   

September 7, 2025 - U.S. Department of State - Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence 

Effective immediately, the U.S> Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments:

• Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
• Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.  See the list below to determine the designated location for NIV applications.

Designated Locations for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing:

Applicants should note the following:

• Residence Requirement:  Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency.
• Fees:  Applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa.  Fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred.  
• Appointment Availability:  Wait times for nonimmigrant interview appointments vary by location.  Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment.
• Existing Appointments:  Existing nonimmigrant visa appointments will generally not be cancelled.
• Exceptions:  This guidance does not apply to applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO visas, applicants for diplomatic-type or official-type visas (regardless of classification), or applicants for any visa for travel covered by the UN Headquarters Agreement.  Rare exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons.

Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, and to learn more about the embassy or consulate’s operating status and services.

This supersedes previous guidance on visa application requirements, including designated visa processing locations.

September 6, 2025 - Cost of I-94 Increase at Land Border Ports

Before September 30, 2025 the cost of an I-94 record at land borders will increase from $6 to $30 (an increase of $24). ESTA authorization will also increase from $21 to $40 (increase of $19). For more information see the Federal Register Notice here. 

August 28, 2025 - Proposed DHS Rule to End "Duration of Status" (D/S) for F and J Nonimmigrants 

On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register that would eliminate the “duration of status” (D/S) admission period for F and J nonimmigrants, including F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and their dependents, F-2 and J-2.

Please note: This is a proposed rule. It is not yet in effect. DHS is currently accepting public comments through September 29, 2025, and comments on related information collections through October 27, 2025.

Individuals in F and J status have been admitted to the U.S. for “duration of status” rather than a fixed end date. This means they could remain in the U.S. as long as they maintained valid immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019) and complied with the terms of their program.

• F and J nonimmigrants would be admitted until the program end date listed on their I-20 or DS-2019, not to exceed four years, plus a 30-day grace period.
• To stay beyond the authorized period, individuals must file a Form I-539 for an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS before their current period expires.
• The grace period for F status would be reduced from 60 days to 30 days, aligning with current J status rules.
• Restrictions on academic changes:
  • Undergraduate F-1 students could not change majors or educational levels during their first academic year.
  • Graduate-level F-1 students could not change programs during their course of study.
• F-1 students would not be eligible to begin a new program at the same or lower academic level after completing one.
• Transfers between schools would be restricted unless the student completes one academic year at the original institution.
• Individuals traveling with a pending EOS application may be readmitted under certain conditions, but this could affect the status of their application.
• Unlawful presence would begin immediately after the authorized stay expires if no EOS is filed, unlike the current policy under D/S.

This is published as a proposed rule, which means that any member of the public (as an individual or a group) will now have the opportunity to comment on the rule during the periods specified below. Organizations representing higher education institutions will comment on the rule.

The rule will not become final until after DHS reviews all the public comments on the proposed rule, submits a final rule (with possible revisions based on comments) for review within the federal administration, and then publishes a final rule in the Federal Register with a future effective date. There is no set timeframe for publishing the final rule, but the process typically takes a couple of months.

• DHS is accepting public comments via Regulations.gov under Docket No. ICEB-2025-0001 found here.
• After the comment period, DHS will review feedback, possibly revise the rule, and publish a final rule with a future effective date.
• There is no set timeline for finalization, but it typically takes several months.

International Services is reviewing the proposed rule in detail and will provide further updates, FAQs, and transition guidance for those currently in D/S status.

April - July 2025 - Previous Immigration Updates 

July 25, 2025 - Visa Interview Waiver Update 

Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will update the categories of applications that may be eigible for a waiver of the non-immigrant visa interview. All non-immigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer.

July 22, 2025 - Budget Law Imposes New Immigration Fees 

According to NAFSA, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", signed into law on July 4, 2025, imposes several new immigration fees to be paid in additional to any other fees required by law. The two fees that will affect international students and scholars is the Visa Integrity Fee and the new fee for the I-94. The fees are not in effect now, but may be in the future.

The U.S. Department of State has updated the Visa Reciprocity Tables. Nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of the following countries will now be limited to a 3-month, single-entry visa: Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

June 18, 2025 - Resumption of F and J Visa Appointments with Social Media Screening 

The U.S. Department of State has announced that visa appointments have resumed for F and J status. Applicants are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public’ as part of this process.

Presidential Proclamation: Travel Restrictions on 19 Countries

Issued: June 4, 2025 | Effective: 12:01 a.m. (EST), June 9, 2025

The U.S. government issued a Presidential Proclamation restricting the entry of certain foreign nationals from 19 countries.

• Full Restrictions
  Immigrants and nonimmigrants from the following countries are fully banned from entering the U.S.: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.
  
  
• Partial Restrictions
  Entry is partially restricted for immigrants and nonimmigrants holding B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas from: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela.
  
  
• Scope and Limitations
  These restrictions only apply to:
  • Foreign nationals outside the U.S. as of the proclamation’s effective date.
  • Individuals who do not have a valid visa on that date.
    
    
• Exemptions
  The proclamation does not apply to:
  • Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders).
  • Dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-restricted country.
  • Holders of valid nonimmigrant visas in the following categories: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6.
  • Athletes, coaches, and immediate relatives attending major international sporting events (e.g., World Cup, Olympics).
  • Immediate family immigrant visas: IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5.
  • Adoption-related immigrant visas: IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4.
  • Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders.
  • U.S. Government employee Special Immigrant Visa holders.
  • Immigrant visa applicants who are ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

If you have questions or need assistance related to the travel restrictions and you meet one of the criteria below, please contact Lindsey Hill at lwhill@clemson.edu.

You are encouraged to reach out if you are:

• A current international student from a restricted country and are abroad without a valid visa.
• An incoming international student from a restricted country and are abroad without a visa.
• An incoming J-1 Exchange Visitor from a restricted country and are abroad without a valid visa.
• A returning J-1 Exchange Visitor from a restricted country and are abroad without a valid visa.
• A current or new faculty member, staff, researcher, or postdoc from a restricted country and are abroad without a visa.

• Does this impact Permanent Residents?
  Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) are fully exempt from the travel restrictions.
  
  
• I have a valid visa and am from a country listed in the travel ban. Can I enter the U.S.?
  The proclamation does not apply to individuals with a valid visa.
  
  
• Will valid visas for foreign nationals from banned countries be revoked?
  The proclamation does not revoke any visas issued before the effective date.
  
  
• I’m currently in the U.S. and changing my status (e.g., from F-1 to H-1B). Will this affect me?
  The proclamation only applies to individuals outside the U.S. on the effective date.
  
  
• I’m from a banned country and have a pending visa interview abroad. Will my visa be denied?
  The proclamation increases the likelihood of denial. Unless you qualify for an exemption, your visa is unlikely to be approved.
  
  
• I need immigration help but am not in F, J, O-1, TN, H-1B, or permanent residency sponsorship through Clemson. What should I do?
  You should consult a qualified immigration attorney. If you are not sponsored by Clemson University, refer to our legal resources for assistance.

Before making travel plans, please review all current travel bans and restrictions. Standard travel requirements—such as valid I-20 or DS-2019 travel signatures—still apply.

Refer to the appropriate travel guidance below:

• F-1 and J-1 Students & Scholars
• H-1B Employees
• USCIS Guidance for Permanent Residents

May 28, 2025 - Department of State Announcement regarding Chinese Student Visa Revocations 

The U.S. Department of State announced in a press release that a new policy would pursue the revocation of student visas for certain persons from China and Hong Kong. Details regarding the scope, scale, and exact actions to be taken have not been provided. IS is actively monitoring this situation and will provide updates as more information is available.

April 9, 2025 - USCIS Update: Immigration Eligibility and Conduct

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued guidance indicating that certain forms of antisemitic conduct—such as social media activity or harassment—may be considered when reviewing immigration benefit applications. This may impact individuals applying for permanent residency, student visas, or those affiliated with institutions connected to such activity.

Important Links:

U.S. Department of State (DOS)
Travel.State.Gov - U.S. Visa News
Study in the States 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
USCIS Address Update Information

Additional University Resources: