Renewing Your Visa Abroad? Plan for Extra Screening Time

By D. Kehau Paulo

If you plan to travel outside the United States and need to apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa before returning, plan ahead. The U.S. Department of State has expanded online-presence screening for visa applicants, including F, M, and J visa categories.

This update is most relevant if your visa has expired or will expire before you return to the United States. It does not change your current immigration status or affect students who are remaining in the United States.

Before you travel:

  • Check that your passport and visa are valid for your return.

  • Make sure your I-20 or DS-2019 has a valid travel signature

  • Review the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you plan to apply for a visa

  • Schedule your visa appointment as early as possible, since processing times can vary

  • Keep copies of your immigration documents and travel plans

Make sure your I-20 has a valid travel signature. J-1 students should check their DS-2019 travel signature with their program sponsor.

Sources and Resources

Updated: October 13, 2026

New OPT Fee Proposal: What F-1 Students Need to Know Right Now

By D. Kehau Paulo

Photos taken at a job fair | © Weber State University, 2025

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed new fees connected to Optional Practical Training, commonly called OPT. These fees are only a proposal. They are not currently in effect, and there is no change to the OPT application process at this time.dhs+1

Students who are currently applying for OPT or planning to apply should continue following the current instructions provided by the Weber State University International Student & Scholar Center.

What is being proposed?

Under the proposed rule, a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school would be required to pay:

  • $70,000 before making its first OPT recommendation for an individual student.

  • $30,000 before making each subsequent OPT recommendation for that same student at the same school.

The fee would apply when a school recommends a student for any type of OPT, including pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT, or the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The proposed rule does not establish a new fee for Curricular Practical Training, commonly called CPT.

Under the proposal, the school would be responsible for submitting the payment to the government. However, DHS recognizes that a school might obtain the money from students, employers, or other sources. Weber State has not announced how it would respond if the proposal becomes final.

How could this affect students?

Weber State is a SEVP-certified school. This means Weber State is authorized by the federal government to enroll F-1 students and issue Forms I-20.

If the rule becomes final, Weber State would have to submit the required payment before an ISSC advisor could enter an OPT recommendation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, commonly called SEVIS. Without the payment and recommendation, the student could not complete the normal OPT application process with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The proposal could therefore make it more difficult for students to access OPT. However, the rule is not final, and Weber State has not announced how it would respond if the proposal takes effect. Students should not assume that they will personally owe $70,000 or $30,000.

Is this happening now?

No. DHS published a proposed rule, not a final rule. This means the government is requesting public comments before deciding whether to move forward, revise the proposal, or take another action.

Public comments on the main proposal are due November 9, 2026. After the comment period closes, DHS must review the comments before it can publish a final rule. If a final rule is issued, the proposal says it would take effect 60 days after the final rule is published.

At this time:

  • The proposed fees are not being charged.

  • Students may continue applying for OPT under the current process.

  • Current OPT eligibility requirements have not changed.

  • Students do not need to pay Weber State a new OPT fee.

  • This proposal does not mean that OPT has ended.

What should student do?

Students do not need to take any special action because of this proposal. Continue maintaining F-1 status and following the current OPT application process provided by ISSC.

Students preparing to apply for OPT should complete Weber State’s OPT Canvas course and contact an ISSC advisor with questions about their individual eligibility or application timeline. Students should not rely on social media posts or unofficial websites that describe the proposed fees as though they have already taken effect.

ISSC will continue monitoring official government announcements and will share updates if the proposal changes or becomes final.

Questions?

For questions about OPT or F-1 status, email issc@weber.edu or schedule an appointment with your ISSC advisor.

Because this is still a federal proposal, ISSC cannot predict whether it will become final or how Weber State would respond if it does.

Sources and Resources

Updated: October 8, 2026

Good News: Your Current F-1 or J-1 Status Rules Have Not Changed

By D. Kehau Paulo

Photo by Kit (formerly ConvertKit) on Unsplash

A new immigration rule was expected to change how long many international students and exchange visitors could stay in the United States. However, a federal court has temporarily stopped that rule from taking effect.

For now, there is no change to the current Duration of Status system for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars.

What is duration of status?

Duration of Status” is often written as D/S on an I-94 record.

In simple terms, D/S means that your allowed stay in the United States is connected to your student or exchange visitor status. You may remain in the United States while you are following the rules of your F-1 or J-1 status, completing your program, and using any approved period after your program, such as Optional Practical Training (OPT), when applicable.

For F-1 students, this usually includes the 60-day grace period after completing your academic program or authorized OPT.

What was the proposed change?

The new rule would have ended the current D/S system.

Instead of being admitted for “Duration of Status,” students and exchange visitors would have been given a specific end date for their stay in the United States. The end date would generally have been connected to the program end date on the student’s or scholar’s immigration document, but it could not be longer than four years.

Students who needed more time could have been required to apply to the U.S. government for an extension of stay. The rule also could have made it more difficult for some students to transfer schools, change educational goals, or continue into another program.

What happened in court?

On September 14, 2026, a federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction. This means the court temporarily blocked the rule while the legal case continues.

Because of this decision, the new rule cannot take effect right now. The longstanding Duration of Status system remains in place nationwide.

What this means for you

At this time, you do not need to take any new action because of this proposed rule.

Continue to follow the normal requirements for your F-1 or J-1 status:

  • Stay enrolled as required by your immigration status.

  • Make normal progress toward your academic program.

  • Keep your immigration documents current.

  • Contact ISSC before dropping below full-time enrollment, withdrawing, taking a leave of absence, transferring schools, changing your academic program, beginning employment, or traveling outside the United States.

  • Email or schedule an appointment with your Immigration Student Advisor if you have questions.

What happens next?

The court case is still continuing. The U.S. government may appeal the court’s decision, and there may be future updates.

ISSC will continue to monitor this issue and share information if anything changes. We understand that immigration news can feel stressful. Please remember that the current Duration of Status system remains in place unless and until there is a new update.

Questions?

If you have questions about how this information may affect your F-1 or J-1 status, email the International Student and Scholar Center at issc@weber.edu or schedule an appointment with a Designated School Official (DSO).

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Immigration rules and court cases can change. ISSC can help you understand your individual situation.

Sources and Resources

Updated: September 30, 2026