Staying Informed: Immigration Updates & Guidance
The Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) mission is to empower WashU’s international community with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate U.S. immigration compliance—guiding with care, compassion, and respect. We monitor the evolving landscape of immigration policies and ensure the university community is informed about changes that may affect international students, scholars, and their dependents. These changes may result from executive actions, congressional legislation, or regulatory updates from federal agencies.
This page serves as a central resource for the most current immigration-related developments. We are committed to providing timely updates and helping the WashU community understand changes. Some policy updates may be complex, and we ask for your patience as we carefully analyze and interpret them before offering guidance. We remain dedicated to supporting our international community with accurate information, thoughtful communication, and attention to your needs, every step of the way.
On this page
Presidential actions
H-1B Presidential Proclamation
A Presidential Proclamation, signed on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications submitted on or after September 21, 2025, and restricts the entry of H-1B workers from outside the U.S. unless the fee is paid. Read the Proclamation.
Key provisions:
- Entry restriction: Applies to new H-1B petitions filed after the effective date of 12:01 am (ET) on September 21, 2025.
- Effective date: Starts on September 21, 2025, for 12 months.
- Prevailing wages: Policy adjustments favor higher-paid, higher skilled applications.
Important Notes:
- The proclamation does not apply retroactively to already filed or approved H-1B petitions. See Sept. 20, 2025 memorandum from DHS clarifying that the Proclamation only applies prospectively to petitions that have not yet been filed.
- Current H-1B visa holders and those with valid visas are not restricted from traveling in and out of the U.S.
- Petitions for individuals in the U.S., such as extensions, or amendments, are unaffected.
Suggested action items:
- H-1B visa holders in the U.S. should be cautious about international travel.
- Consult OISS before making travel decisions to understand potential risks.
- Read the White House Fact Sheet.
- Review H-1B FAQs from the U.S. Department of State.
Presidential Proclamation on Entry to the United States
On June 4, 2025, the White House issued a proclamation suspending the entry into the United States of nationals of nineteen countries, which took effect on Monday, June 9, 2025.
In line with this presidential proclamation, the Department of State also announced, with limited exceptions, the full or partial suspension of visa issuance for these nineteen countries.
Countries whose nationals are restricted entry into the U.S.
The proclamation suspends the entry into the United States of nationals of twelve countries as “immigrants and nonimmigrants.” These twelve countries are subject to a full travel ban:
- Afghanistan
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Seven countries are subject to a partial travel ban, which suspends entry into the United States of “immigrants, and (…) nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.” These countries are:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
Department of State (DOS) actions
Updated policy on nonimmigrant visa application in a third country
Effective September 6, 2025, the Department of State announced that non-immigrant visa applicants should schedule visa interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Read the U.S. Department of State’s notice on “Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence” for more information.
Enhanced social media vetting
On June 18, 2025, the Department of State announced Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants. Key points of the new guidelines for comprehensive vetting include:
- Applicants must set social media profiles to ‘public’.
- Media reports confirm U.S. consular officers will vet social media for “hostile attitudes” towards the U.S. and may also be looking for:
- Indications of affiliation with or support for organizations designated as terrorist groups by the U.S. government;
- Evidence of involvement in, or planned illegal activities;
- Online content expressing threats, harassment, or hostility toward individuals or institutions in the United States;
- Discriminatory or hate-based content, including antisemitism;
- Evidence of past noncompliance with U.S. visa regulations; and
- Inconsistent information between the DS-160 form and the visa interview.
- Visa interview scheduling will prioritize J-1 physicians and students in universities with less than 15% international students.
Additional guidance:
As part of the DS-160, visa applicants will be asked to provide information associated with social media presence, including the types of online providers/platforms, applications and websites used to collaborate, share information, and interact with others. Visa applicants must list the username, handle, screen-name, or other identifiers associated with their social media profiles. Applicants must include information for ALL accounts that are listed on the DS-160 application. See image of Social Media section of the DS-160 below:
The dropdown social medial provider/platform list includes:
ASK FM, DOUBAN, FACEBOOK, FLICKR, GOOGLE+, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN, MYSPACE, QZONE (QQ), REDDIT, SINA WEIBO, TENCENT WEIBO, TUMBLR, TWITTER, TWOO, VINE, VKONTAKTE (VK), YOUKU, YOU TUBE
Recommendations:
We recommend that you are honest and forthcoming with providing all requested social media information.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Actions
Employment site visits for STEM OPT participants
As of September 2025, it has been reported that federal government officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may visit STEM OPT employees or employers to confirm that their training and employment information is accurate. These visits are a normal part of the government’s oversight of the STEM OPT program.
The STEM OPT participant (or their employer) may be contacted for a visit whether the STEM OPT extension is pending or approved, so it’s best to be prepared at all times.
For more details, visit the Study in the States website.
DHS proposes changes to Duration of Status
On August 28, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule to end duration of status: “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.”
This is a proposal. The rule is not final.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) actions
USCIS screening social media activity for antisemitism
A DHS news release on April 9, 2025, announced a new guidance, effective immediately, that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering social media activity of nonimmigrants deemed anti-Semitic as grounds for denying immigration benefits adjudicated through USCIS. This will affect “aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to anti-Semitic activity.” The agency added that USCIS will consider “social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting anti-Semitic terrorism, anti-Semitic terrorist organizations, or other anti-Semitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests.”
Additional guidance:
OISS interprets this announcement and new vetting process to apply to CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, Change of Status, Extensions and other F & J immigration benefit requests.
Know Your Rights
Understanding your legal rights and responsibilities is essential when living in the U.S., especially as laws may differ from those in your home country.
Refer to the Know Your Rights section of the OISS website for information on WashU policies, maintaining and protecting your non-immigrant status, your rights and interactions with law enforcement in the U.S., and more.
Attend a Webinar
OISS offers regular “Navigating U.S. Immigration Today” webinars in which our staff discuss the latest information on immigration policies and updates that may impact your immigration status. These sessions offer practical information and an opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment.
Check the OISS Event Calendar for the next session!