News

USCIS announced in the Federal Register that the fees for some USCIS forms will increase on October 2nd, including the fee for Form I-129 [Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker]. When filed in connection with an H-1B application, the I-129 fee will increase from $460 to $555. The fee increase is expected* to go into effect on October 2, 2020*. H-1B […]

The following message was sent to F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors on Friday, September 25. On Friday, September 25, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule to eliminate duration of status (D/S) for F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, and their dependents. Under current regulations, F and J visa holders are admitted […]

This message was sent on 9/1/2020 to all students in F-1 status who have a requested, pending or approved OPT authorization. On Friday, August 28, SEVP notified schools that it will be mailing notices to OPT students who do not have employer information in SEVIS. The notice states: Nonimmigrant students and designated school officials (DSOs) […]

The following message went to incoming international undergraduate students who were issued or had requested an I-20 for fall 2020. Dear JHU International Class of 2024: Last evening, the university sent you an announcement of the change to all-online courses and co-curricular activities for undergraduates this fall, and we can only imagine how disappointing this news must […]

This message went to all international students at JHU who have an I-20 for fall 2020 and to all students who have a pending New International Student eForm on August 3, 2020. By now you have likely heard that on July 24 SEVP issued updated guidance and FAQs for fall 2020 that specifically addressed new students. The guidance states that […]

This message was sent to all JHU students outside the U.S. issued an initial I-20 with a fall start date.* We are writing to provide more information about the most recent Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidance updated on July 15 as it applies to thousands of new students expecting to come to the U.S. […]

[This message was sent to all JHU students with an active, initial, change of status or transfer-pending F-1 record at JHU on July 16, 2020.] Dear Johns Hopkins International Students: We are writing to provide important updates to our message from July 7. First, please accept our sincere gratitude for your incredible efforts to raise awareness […]

On June 22, 2020, the Trump administration released a proclamation entitled “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.” This order does not impact our J-1 exchange visitors or F-1 students, including those on OPT or STEM OPT. The order does impact new H-1B temporary workers who are outside […]

On June 3, 2020 the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an order to “suspend scheduled passenger operations of all Chinese carriers to and from the United States.”  The order will become effective on June 16, 2020.  

USCIS announced Friday plans for the resumption of premium processing service for certain petitions. If your Department already has a H-1B case in progress with the OIS or has a H-1B case pending with USCIS, you may contact the H-1B advisor assigned to the case to inquire about upgrading the case to premium processing. Do not mail a check to USCIS directly. […]