Effective March 1, 2026, USCIS will increase the fees for premium processing of certain employment-based applications to reflect the amount of inflation from June 2023 through June 2025. The inflationary adjustment occurs on a biennial basis and the premium processing fees were last adjusted in February 2024.

A new Visa Bond Pilot Program effective January 21, 2026, requires nationals of designated countries to pay a $10,000 bond (or $5,000 or $15,000, depending on personal circumstances) as a condition of

B-1/B-2 visa issuance or ESTA. The full bond amount is to be later returned to the foreign national if the government determines that the individual complied with the terms of their visa classification in the United States and either departed prior to the end of their authorized stay, or timely and properly filed an extension of stay or change of status application.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced it will pause the issuance of immigrant visas at U.S. consulates worldwide starting January 21, 2026 for nationals of 75 countries that DOS deems are “at high risk of public benefits usage”. The U.S. government has not indicated when the suspension will be lifted.

Presidential Proclamation 10998 of December 16, 2025, also titled Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, modified the lists of countries identified in Presidential Proclamation 10949, and became effective at 12:01 am eastern standard time on January 1, 2026.

UAF ISSS is monitoring changes in immigration policy so that we can inform our international students, scholars, and employees of these changes and how they may be impacted. More information can be found here:  Executive and Regulatory Actions Under the Second Trump Administration

The U.S. Department of State this week directed all nonimmigrant visa applicants to apply in their country of nationality or residence.

Three weeks after implementing a temporary pause, the U.S. Department of State has announced it will resume processing visa applications. Under new directives, U.S. consular officers will conduct “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of all students and exchange visitor applicants to identify “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.” 

Presidential Proclamation of June 4, 2025: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats establishes a full travel ban on 12 countries and a partial travel ban on 7 countries, effective 12:01 am eastern daylight time on June 9, 2025.

Effective May 27, 2025, a visa pause has been issued by the U.S. Department of State for all F and J visa appointments.

Beginning today (7 May 2025), all adult travelers (age 18 and above) must present their REAL ID or other appropriate forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities within the United States.

If there are any policy changes or updates that might impact your ability to travel, study, or work in the U.S., we will update our website and reach out with resources.