Policy Updates
Immigration policy changes from the Federal Register, explained in plain language.
USCIS Sets September 2026 Green Card Filing Rules — EB Applicants Face Tighter Chart
USCIS has announced which visa bulletin charts to use for adjustment of status applications in September 2026. Employment-based applicants must use the stricter Final Action Dates chart, while family-sponsored applicants get access to the more permissive Dates for Filing chart. If you're waiting to file your I-485, this distinction could determine whether you can file at all this month.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump's 75-Country Visa Ban — What It Means for You
A federal judge has vacated the Trump administration's sweeping pause on visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, ruling it illegal under existing immigration law. The Hill reported the decision, handed down August 22, 2026, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority. If you're from one of the affected countries, this ruling could reopen a path that's been blocked since January.
F-1 Students Vanishing From U.S. Campuses as Visa Caps and Delays Bite
New data shows international student enrollment fell 17% in fall 2025 — and the decline is expected to deepen. A four-year cap on F-1 stays, appointment backlogs, and country-specific restrictions are reshaping who can realistically study in America. If you're an international student or planning to be one, the rules of the game have fundamentally changed.
DHS Ends 'Duration of Status' for F-1 & J-1 Visas — Your Stay Now Has a Hard Deadline
A major DHS final rule is eliminating the decades-old 'duration of status' framework that let international students stay in the U.S. as long as their program lasted. Starting September 15, 2026, F-1 and J-1 visa holders will be admitted for a fixed period — up to four years — instead of an open-ended stay. If your studies or program run longer, you'll need to apply for an extension or risk falling out of status.
USCIS Tightens Green Card Rules: Broader Public Charge Test Takes Effect Sept. 18
Starting September 18, USCIS officers will apply a wider, more discretionary standard when deciding whether green card applicants could become reliant on government benefits — and they can even consider a U.S. citizen family member's benefit usage against you. The Hill reported on the change, which replaces the Biden-era 2022 framework with a five-factor case-by-case review. If you're on a path to a green card through an H-1B or family petition, this is a shift you need to understand now.
Universities Sue DHS to Block F-1/J-1 Four-Year Cap Before Sept. 15 Deadline
A coalition of university groups and labor unions has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop a Trump administration rule that would limit F-1 and J-1 visas to fixed four-year periods. Forbes reported the rule is already finalized and set to take effect September 15 — meaning international students could face a hard expiration on their status if the lawsuit doesn't succeed. The stakes are enormous: affected students, universities, and researchers could all feel the impact.
USCIS Drops New I-485 Form Sept. 18 — Old Versions Rejected Immediately
If you're applying for a green card, your form has an expiration date. USCIS is releasing a new edition of Form I-485 on September 18, 2026 — and old versions will be rejected on the spot, with zero grace period. Here's what that means if you're planning to file soon.
USCIS Revamps Green Card Form I-485 Starting Sept 18 — No Grace Period
USCIS is replacing the current Form I-485 on September 18, 2026, with no grace period — meaning applicants who send the wrong version get rejected outright. The biggest change is a revamped public charge section that strips out much of the explanatory guidance that previously lived inside the form instructions. If you're planning to file for adjustment of status, the edition you use could make or break your application.
NAFSA Leads Lawsuit to Block DHS Rule That Kills F-1 Duration of Status
A coalition of major higher education and labor organizations filed a federal lawsuit on August 18 challenging a DHS rule that would scrap the Duration of Status framework for international students. If the rule stands, F-1 students and exchange visitors would face fixed four-year admission windows and new extension requirements. The lawsuit argues DHS overstepped its authority and failed to follow proper rulemaking procedures.
USCIS Rewrites Public Charge Rules — What Green Card Applicants Must Know Now
USCIS has issued new guidance on the public charge ground of inadmissibility, effective September 18, 2026, following the rollback of a 2022 rule. AILA reported the update, which reshapes how officers evaluate whether applicants could become financially dependent on government benefits. If you're applying for a green card or adjustment of status, this change could affect your case.
Groups Sue DHS Over Rule That Would Cap F-1 Status at 4 Years
A major federal lawsuit filed in Massachusetts is challenging a new DHS final rule that would end the long-standing 'duration of status' system for international students. If the rule stands, F-1 and J visa holders would face a hard four-year stay limit — and uncertain extension requests — instead of staying through program completion. Universities, educators, and labor unions are fighting back in court.
F-1 Visa Rule Faces Court Challenge, New I-485 Form Drops Sept. 18 — What You Need to Know
A coalition of universities is suing to block a Trump administration rule that would end open-ended F-1 and J-1 status — and a September 15 deadline looms. Meanwhile, USCIS is rolling out a new green card application form with no grace period, and a major DOJ settlement is putting employers on notice about green card recruitment practices. Boundless Immigration rounded up the week's biggest moves so you can stay ahead.