News & Notes – Spring 2026

March 11, 2026 News

General Information

FSIS & HR Specialist/Administrative Officer Partnership 

To ensure that FSIS is advising in the interest of the UH college/school, we work directly with HR Specialists/AOs for all immigration matters. We rely on the expertise of the HR Specialist/AO to coordinate and review documentation, confirm approval for the sponsorship, and assist their departments, faculty, and employees in the complex filing processes. We kindly ask that department-level staff and faculty continue to route all immigration-related questions and requests through their designated HR Specialist/AO. 

Travel & Visa Processing Changes
  • Expanded Travel Restrictions (Effective January 1, 2026): A new Presidential Proclamation has expanded entry restrictions for certain regions. Please review impacted areas before any international travel.
  • Immigrant Visa Pause: The Department of State (DOS) announced a pause on immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries as of mid-January 2026.
  • In-Person Interview Requirement: As a reminder, all nonimmigrant visa applicants now require an in-person interview in their country of nationality or residence (effective September 2, 2025).
  • Online Presence Reviews: As of December 15, 2025, there is an expanded review of online presence for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants.

For full details and a complete archive of these notifications, please visit the FSIS News & Notes Page.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Program 

Reminder from DOS on monitoring welfare of Exchange Visitors (EV)

In January, we had an in-person visit from Kati Rogers, Branch Chief in the Office of Private Sector Exchange Program Analysis and Compliance (OPAC) and a refresher RO/ARO training webinar from the Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation. On both occasions they highlighted the importance of monitoring the welfare of J-1 EVs. At their recommendation we will start checking in with new J-1 EVs by sending them a short survey three months into their program. 

Preparing for the elimination of D/S

As mentioned in a previous email, we are anticipating a regulation change from DHS regarding the elimination of Duration of Status (D/S). While we do not know the full details of the change, we expect this will require an adjustment of FSIS deadlines for processing DS-2019 requests. 

Currently, the deadline for DS-2019 Initial Requests are three months before the intended start date, and 45 days prior to the program end date for DS-2019 Extensions. As a best practice, please submit DS-2019 requests as early as possible to ensure timely processing.

E-3, H-1B, O-1, and TN Employment

Reminder: New Process for USCIS Filing Fees  For Account Supervisors and Fiscal Authority.

As a reminder, effective November 2025, USCIS no longer accepts paper checks for petition filings. To streamline operations and ensure timely processing, FSIS now charges all filing fees to an FSIS-managed PCard.

  • Authorization: Upon receipt of a nonimmigrant request packet, FSIS emails the HR Specialist with the PCard Charge Authorization Form. This email includes the exact filing fee amount and completion instructions.
  • Submission: The completed form is returned to the FSIS Immigration Specialist.
  • Reconciliation: During the monthly PCard reconciliation, FSIS attaches the authorization form, receipts, and supporting documentation to the transaction.

Action Items for Account Supervisors & Fiscal Authority – FSIS will send a notification email regarding upcoming PCard reconciliations. When you receive the automated email from SAP Concur:

  • Review: Click “View Report” to see the charge details.
  • Verify: Check the “Receipt” tab for the authorization form and supporting documentation.
  • Approve: Once verified, please promptly approve the transaction to ensure the reconciliation is finalized within the required university timelines.
Fee Increases & Policy Changes
  • USCIS Premium Processing (Effective March 1, 2026): DHS has increased premium processing from $2,805 to $2,965. 
  • H-1B Presidential Proclamation Fee: A reminder that the $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions does not apply to petitions for extensions of stay, amendments, changes of status, or changes of employer for an individual who is already inside the U.S. and maintaining legal status.

Given the evolving nature of federal immigration regulations, FSIS is actively monitoring all policy developments. We will notify the field promptly regarding any future adjustments that impact our university operations or processing requirements.

Thank you for your attention and for all you do to support our international faculty and exchange visitors.