Office of International Education and Development

US Immigration Updates

US Immigration Updates

What is this database?

This resource is a searchable database of US immigration updates impacting members of the Appalachian community. This is a general information summary database of select immigration updates and is not intended to be comprehensive.

This table is updated weekly on Mondays.

Please contact issso@appstate.edu if you would like to suggest an update or if you have questions or concerns regarding your specific situation.

Title	Topic	Population impacted	Effective start date of guidance	End date of guidance
2019 Public Charge Rule Vacated and Removed March 11, 2021: DHS formally removed the "Public Charge Rule" which required certain individuals applying for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status to demonstrate they will not at any time in the future become a "public charge" (receive government assistance in the form of unemployment benefits, food stamps, etc.) March 9, 2021: DHS provided an update directing applicants and petitioners to no longer provide information required solely by the Public Charge Final Rule when completing USCIS forms (ISSSO will not include Public Charge information when filing H-1B petitions; personal filings of extension of stay, adjustment of status, etc. need not incude Public Charge information)	Travel Employment Other	H-1B Permanent resident DACA	March 9, 2021	Ongoing
DHS Designates Myanmar for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months Department of Homeland Security designates Myanmar (Burma) for Temporary Protected status from March 11, 2021 to September 11, 2022 Citizens of Myanmar who demonstrate conintuous residence in the US as of March 11, 2021 are eligible for TPS under Myanmar's designation. Individuals who are granted TPS 1) are protected from forced removal from the US (deportation), 2) can obtain special authorization to work in the US, and 3) may be granted authorization to leave and re-enter the US	Employment Other	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B Permanent resident Dependent DACA	March 11, 2021	September 11, 2022
F-1 Students Seeking Optional Practical Training Can Now File Form I-765 Online F-1 students can now apply for OPT online. Online filing allows applicants to submit forms electronically, check the status of their case anytime from anywhere, and receive notices from USCIS online instead of waiting for them in the mail. Certain individuals applying for an EAD card for other applications may also file the I-765 online Applicants can still submit paper applications to USCIS	Employment	F-1 student Permanent resident	April 12, 2021	Ongoing
DHS eases work rules for some Syrian, Venezuelan F-1 students Syrian and Venezuelan students in F-1 status may request work authorization, work an increased number of hours, and reduce their courseload while maintaining F-1 status.	Employment Other	F-1 student	April 22, 2021	September 30, 2022
DACA and International Students Eligible for COVID-19 Financial Relief The Biden administration reversed a previous policy that barred F-1 international students, undocumented college students, and other immigrants from receiving federal education relief grants to pay for expenses during the coronavirus pandemic; those individuals are now eligible for receiving COVID-19 relief grants. The funds can be used for housing, food, and childcare.	Other	F-1 student J-1 student DACA	May 12, 2021	Ongoing
New H-1B Prevailing Wage Rule Effecting Researchers and Faculty Proposed rule to increase minimum wage levels by 39% - 49%; this would raise the mimimum wage universities are required to pay H-1B employees Applies to new H-1Bs and H-1B extension filed after effective date Proposed rule is not in effect and is currently frozen for review until November 14, 2021	Employment Other	H-1B	May 14, 2021	Ongoing
DHS Proposal to Replace Duration of Status (D/S) for F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, and their dependents The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule to eliminate Duration of Status (D/S) for F-1 and J-1 visa holders and dependents, limiting those individuals to their program end date, not to exceed 2 or 4 years Proposal would require F and J visa holders to apply for program extensions through USCIS Proposed rule was frozen for review until November 14, 2021 Proposed rule was officially withrawn on July 6, 2021 and will not take effect.	Immigration/Visa status	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar Dependent	May 14, 2021	July 6, 2021
USCIS Temporarily Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Form I-539 Applicants Applicants filing Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrant status are no longer required to submit biometrics with their application	Other	F-1 student H-1B Dependent	May 17, 2021	May 17, 2023
DHS Designates Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Department of Homeland Security designates Haiti for Temporary Protected Status from May 21, 2021 to December 31, 2022 Citizens of Haiti who demonstrate conintuous residence in the US as of May 21, 2021 are eligible for TPS under Haiti's designation Individuals who are granted TPS 1) are protected from forced removal from the US (deportation), 2) can obtain special authorization to work in the US, and 3) may be granted authorization to leave and re-enter the US Department of Homeland Security re-designates Haiti for Temporary Protected status from August 3, 2021 to February 3, 2023	Employment Other	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B Permanent resident Dependent DACA	May 21, 2021	December 31, 2022
F-1 Students from Burma eligible to apply for Severe Economic Hardship (special work authorization + reduced course load) F-1 students whose country of citizenship is Burma/Myanmar are eligible to apply for authorization to work off-campus, work more than 20 hours/week, and take less than the full-time required course load Undergarduate student could enroll in 6 credits/ semester instead of the required 12 credits/semester; graduate students could enroll in 3 credits/semester instead of the required 9 credits/semester	Employment Other	F-1 student	May 25, 2021	November 25, 2022