Immigration

Important Information 

Presidential Proclamation Further Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to the U.S. (effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m.)

A Presidential Proclamation announced on December 16, 2025, expands restrictions on U.S. entry by adding new countries. A total of 39 countries and travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are now subject to “full” or “partial” entry restrictions. This proclamation becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. (EST) on January 1, 2026. In addition to including new countries, the range of restrictions for certain countries included in the June 4, 2025 Proclamation have been changed. Please review this Fact Sheet for a full understanding of these restrictions.

Persons who are in the U.S. and who have a valid visa issued before the effective date are not subject to the entry ban, and no currently valid visas will be revoked as a result of the Proclamation. The entry restrictions do not apply to lawful permanent residents, dual nationals carrying passports from non-restricted countries, persons granted asylum or admitted as refugees, and certain others as listed in the Proclamation. However, even if you do possess a valid visa or meet one of the exceptions above, it is important to carefully consider the necessity of future international travel. Entry to the U.S. is at the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Full and partial restrictions apply to the following countries (countries added or upgraded in the December 16, 2025 Proclamation are in bold).

  • Partial Suspension (Immigrant Visas and the following Nonimmigrant Visas:  B-1/B-2, F, M, and J Visas): Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela.
    • Note: The suspension of entry into the United States of nationals of Turkmenistan as nonimmigrants on B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas is lifted, but entry to the U.S. of Turkmen nationals as immigrants remains suspended.
  • Full Suspension (Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas):  Laos (upgraded from partial on 12/16/25), Sierra Leone (upgraded from partial on 12/16/25), Palestinian Authority Documents, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have drafted an FAQ to help Ohio University understand the H-1B Proclamation and when the $100,000 filing fee is required.

If an employer files an H-1B change of status petition in the future for an F-1 student on OPT or STEM OPT is the $100,000 required?

No. So long as the F-1 student is in valid status and eligible to change status in the U.S., the $100,000 fee does not apply.

If a foreign national is outside of the U.S. without status, and an employer hopes to file an H-1B petition for that foreign national, is the $100,000 fee required?

Yes. If the H-1B beneficiary (employee) is required to consular process or appear at a port-of-entry to obtain their H-1B status, the fee will be required.

If I received an F-1 visa stamp after the effective date of the Proclamation (September 21, 2025), and an employer later files an H-1B petition for me while I am in the U.S., will the $100,000 fee apply?

So long as the petition is being filed as an amendment, extension, or change of status, the fee should not apply.  The October 20, 2025 USCIS guidance does not provide any stipulations that require the foreign national to already be in the U.S. or already have their visa status prior to September 21, 2025 (the H-1B Proclamation effective date). In fact, the guidance states the fee “does not apply to a petition filed at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, that is requesting an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay for an alien inside the United States.” 

Will a current H-1B beneficiary or a future H-1B beneficiary of an H-1B petition amendment, change of status, or extension of stay require the $100,000 filing fee?

No. Based on the guidance, it appears the fee does not apply to petitions requesting an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay within the U.S.  If the individual is outside of the U.S. or if a change of status is unable to be granted (for example, if someone holds TPS and cannot change status to H-1B inside the U.S.), then the fee would be required.

Will current (or future) H-1B visa holders be prevented from leaving the U.S. and re-entering if the $100,000 filing fee is not paid?

No. For those who received their H-1B status in the U.S. via a change of employer, change of status or amendment/extension petition, travel abroad does not trigger the need to file the $100,000 filing fee. However, if a beneficiary of a change of status petition departed the U.S. prior to approval, then they would be subject to the $100,000 fee as the petition would be approved for “Consular Processing” rather than as a change of status.

Helpful Links

Previous Notices

Department of State Updates Interview Waiver Categories (effective September 2, 2025) 

On July 25, 2025, the Department of State announced that it will update the categories of applicants that may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview. All nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer except:

  • Applicants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1;
  • Applicants for diplomatic- or official-type visas; and
  • Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil (for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration, and who were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa’s issuance.

Visit the following webpage for more information: Interview Waiver Update July 25, 2025

Presidential Proclamation on Entry to the United States (effective June 9, 2025)

If you are planning international travel in the coming weeks, please be aware of evolving U.S. federal travel restrictions that could impact certain foreign nationals from entering or reentering the United States.

Effective 12:01 am EDT on June 9, 2025: The White House issued a proclamation suspending the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States. Entrance into the United States is “fully” restricted for nationals of 12 countries and “partially” restricted for nationals of 7 countries.

Entry is fully restricted for nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The proclamation suspends entry of “immigrants and nonimmigrants.”

Entry is partially restricted for nationals of the following countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The proclamation suspends entry of “immigrants, and [ . . . ] nonimmigrants on B, F, M, and J visas.”

Possible Future Suspension: The federal government will review the list of impacted countries within 90 days, and countries may be added to or removed from these lists. 

The current iteration of this proclamation only applies to citizens of the designated countries who are outside the U.S. and do not have a valid visa. However, even if you do possess a valid visa, it is important to carefully consider the necessity of future international travel. 

Exceptions to the travel ban include foreign nationals who are lawful permanent residents (i.e., green card holders), dual nationals of one of the 19 countries above when the foreign national is traveling on a passport issued by a non-designated country, individuals who have been granted asylum, refugees, diplomatic and international organization visas, among other limited exceptions. Discretion is also granted to the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to create exceptions for individuals whose entry into the United States is deemed to serve a critical national interest. 

This guidance is intended to provide general information and does not contain immigration advice for any individual. 

June 2025 Travel Ban: What You Need to Know

Alien Registration Requirement (effective April 11, 2025) 
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued guidance on the newly-implemented Alien Registration Requirement, following Executive Order 14159. This requires non-U.S. citizens to register with the U.S. federal government under Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1302).
  • Those in F-1, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, and any dependent family members who entered the United States at the age of 14 or older were automatically registered with the U.S. government at the time they arrived in the United States and no further action is needed.
  • The I-94, Arrival/Departure Record serves as proof of registration and can be printed out as evidence of compliance.
  • Please note, nonimmigrant dependent children (for example, F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3 dependents, etc.) who turned 14 while inside the United States, must now register or re-register under this directive within 30 days of turning 14.
  • This new registration process is accessible through Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration). This form must be filed online through a USCIS online account. It cannot be filed by mail or in person.
  • Separate, but equally important, is the requirement to notify USCIS of any changes of address within 10 days of moving. Read instructions for filing an AR-11, Change of Address.
  • If you have any questions, please contact patterson@ohio.edu. 

Important International Travel Reminders (updated May 2, 2025)

As we near the end of the academic year and approach Summer break, we want to provide the following reminders and best practices if you are planning to travel outside of the United States in the coming weeks.

Travel Documentation

If you decide to travel, confirm you have all required documents for your visa status type. If the visa stamp in your passport has expired, you will need to apply for a new visa stamp to reenter the United States. U.S. Department of State consulates and embassies experience a high volume of visa applications during the summer travel season. Global visa wait times are updated monthly and wait times are subject to change.

The list provided below is a Travel Document Checklist for H-1B nonimmigrant status holders. If you hold a nonimmigrant status other than H-1B, please contact patterson@ohio.edu to inquire about necessary documents for international travel. Please also contact patterson@ohio.edu to request items 1), 2), and 6) listed below—

  1. Original Form I-797, Approval Notice and original I-94 Record (if applicable). It is also recommended to keep a photocopy of the entire I-797 Approval Notice;
  2. Copy of Ohio University’s H-1B Petition, Labor Condition Application, and Letter of Support;
  3. A passport valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan to reenter the U.S.;
  4. Valid, unexpired visa stamp;
  5. Three most recent paystubs (paystubs may be found at My Personal Information (MPI) | Ohio University);
  6. Letter of employment verification.  

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Screening

All persons, baggage, and goods entering the United States (by land or by air) are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP inspection locations also include 15 preclearance inspection locations, such as Dublin and Toronto. In recent months, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security have increased the level of review for international travelers seeking visa issuance and entrance to the United States.

  • CBP officers may ask you questions about the purpose, length, destination, and activities you participated in during your travel outside the U.S.
  • CBP officers could request to inspect your personal belongings and possibly search your electronic devices, including social media accounts.
  • CBP officers may also ask you about your current employment in the United States.

These questions and requests are not uncommon and should not cause alarm; however, secondary inspection can result in travel delays. Plan flexible travel when returning to the United States. 

Travel Restrictions

U.S. immigration policies are subject to change. Federal travel restrictions could impact one’s ability to reenter the country, regardless of visa status type. Read additional information about potential travel restrictions and enhanced vetting.

We continue to monitor U.S. immigration policy updates and are prepared to communicate any changes as new information becomes available.

This guidance is intended to provide general information and does not contain immigration advice for any individual.