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
Electronic I-20s now Acceptable Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)now allows international student advisors to send (email) and sign I-20s electronically. Students must still print their I-20 and use a hard copy for travel.	Other	F-1 student Dependent	November 1, 2021	Ongoing
H-1B, F and J Visa Interview Waiver Eligibility DHS has temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa (H-1B, H-2, F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2)	Travel Other	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B Dependent	December 23, 2021	December 31, 2022
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Response time to Requests for Evidence and Others This flexibility ended on March 23, 2023 and is no longer in effect. USCIS will accept responses to Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny (see website for full list) that are received by USCIS within 60 calendar days of the due date set in the request or notice for any notice that is dated between March 1, 2020 and March 23, 2023; USCIS will not take any action. For example, if you receive a Request for Evidence with a due date of October 1, 2021, you now have an additional 60 days (until November 30, 2021) to respond to this Request for Evidence.	Other	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B Permanent resident Dependent	December 30, 2021	January 23, 2023
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions and Exceptions All non-US citizens traveling to the US must show proof of COVID-19 vaccine. The following vaccines are accepted: Moderna, J&J and Pfizer (FDA and WHO approved) and Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield, Sinopharm and Sinovac.	Travel Immigration/Visa status	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B	January 2, 2022	Ongoing
Processing Posts for Ukrainian Visa Applicants Nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications may be processed wherever a Ukrainian applicant is physically located and can schedule an appointment.	Travel	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B Permanent resident	March 1, 2022	Ongoing
USCIS Announces Online Filing for DACA Renewal Forms U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that individuals who previously received deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) may now file Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, online.	Other	DACA	April 12, 2022	Ongoing
DHS Designates Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months Department of Homeland Security designates Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status from April 14, 2022 to October 14, 2023. Citizens of Cameroon who demonstrate conintuous residence in the US as of April 14, 2022 are eligible for TPS under Somalia'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	April 14, 2022	October 14, 2023
Updated COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for J-1 Exchange Visitors Provides regulatory updates for J-1 exchange visitors during COVID-19, including impacts on travel, on-line vs. in-person programs, and DS-2019 issuance April 22, 2022: EVP extended guidance for 2022-23 academic year	Travel Employment Other	J-1 student J-1 scholar	April 22, 2022	June 30, 2023
President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Beginning on April 25, 2022, U.S.-based individuals and entities can apply to DHS to sponsor Ukrainian citizens who have been displaced by Russia’s aggression through the Uniting for Ukraine process, which will go live that day on the DHS website. Any U.S. citizen or individual, including representatives of non-government organizations, can sponsor Ukrainian applicants. Individuals and organizations seeking to sponsor Ukrainian citizens in the United States will be required to declare their financial support and pass security background checks to protect against exploitation and abuse.	Travel Other	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B Permanent resident Dependent DACA	April 25, 2022	Ongoing
DHS extends Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan The Department of Homeland Security published a Federal Register notice (FRN) announcing that it is automatically extending the validity of TPS-related documentation for beneficiaries under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for South Sudan, effective May 3, 2022 through Nov. 3, 2023. 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.	Travel Employment Other	F-1 student J-1 student J-1 scholar H-1B Permanent resident Dependent DACA	May 3, 2022	November 3, 2023