Headlines:
DOS Declares Momentary Pause on Sure Visas for Nationals of 75 Nations – The Division of State introduced a short lived pause on the issuance of immigrant visas (inexperienced playing cards from abroad) for nationals of 75 international locations, efficient January 21, 2026.
DHS Terminates TPS Designation for Somalia – The Division of Homeland Safety is terminating Somalia’s Momentary Protected Standing designation, efficient March 17, 2026.
DHS Reduces Wait Instances for Sure Non secular Employees Overseas – The Division of Homeland Safety has issued an interim last rule, efficient instantly, to eradicate the one-year international residence requirement and permit 1000’s of non secular employees in R-1 standing, who beforehand had been required to stay outdoors america earlier than returning, to renew their important companies.
Harvard Hits Excessive for International Pupil Enrollment Regardless of Battles With Trump Administration – Harvard College’s worldwide pupil enrollment hit a excessive of 6,749 college students within the fall of 2025, which is almost 28 % of the overall variety of college students learning at Harvard and is the very best recorded share since no less than 2002. The rise is due no less than partly to graduate pupil enrollment; undergraduate worldwide pupil enrollment nationwide declined within the fall 2025 time period.
Particulars:
DOS Declares Momentary Pause on Sure Visas for Nationals of 75 Nations
On January 14, 2026, the Division of State (DOS) introduced a short lived pause on the issuance of immigrant visas (inexperienced playing cards from abroad) for nationals of 75 international locations, efficient January 21, 2026. DOS mentioned this pause is for the federal government to evaluation how immigrant visa candidates are evaluated below the “public cost” guidelines. In saying this evaluation, the federal government has indicated it needs stricter requirements to forestall new immigrants from receiving any public assist.
This coverage applies solely to immigrant visas (inexperienced card processing via a U.S. embassy or consulate) for candidates who’re:
- Nationals of one of many 75 international locations recognized by DOS, and
- Making use of for an immigrant visa overseas (not adjustment of standing in america).
The affected international locations embody Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Candidates from these international locations could attend their visa interviews, however their immigrant visas is not going to be issued in the meanwhile, except a restricted exception applies. A twin nationwide making use of with a legitimate passport of a rustic that isn’t listed above is exempt from this pause. No immigrant visas have been revoked as a part of this steerage.
DHS Terminates TPS Designation for Somalia
On January 13, 2026, the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) introduced that it’s terminating Somalia’s Momentary Protected Standing (TPS) designation, efficient March 17, 2026.
DHS mentioned it has mechanically prolonged the validity of sure Employment Authorization Paperwork (EADs) beforehand issued below the TPS designation of Somalia via March 17, 2026. As proof of continued work authorization via March 17, 2026, Somali TPS beneficiaries can present their EADs which have the notation A-12 or C-19 below Class and a “Card Expires” date of March 17, 2023, September 17, 2024, or March 17, 2026.
DHS mentioned that Somali nationals who shouldn’t have a authorized standing apart from TPS that will permit them to stay in america ought to use U.S. Customs and Border Safety’s CBP Dwelling cellular app to report their departure from america. The app features a complimentary airplane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and “the chance for potential future authorized immigration,” DHS mentioned.
DHS Reduces Wait Instances for Sure Non secular Employees Overseas
On January 14, 2026, the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) introduced that it has issued an interim last rule, efficient instantly, to eradicate the one-year international residence requirement and permit 1000’s of non secular employees in R-1 standing, who had reached their most interval of keep in america and had been required to stay outdoors america earlier than returning, to renew offering their companies to “U.S. church buildings, mosques, synagogues, and different bona fide nonprofit spiritual organizations.”
DHS mentioned the rule “considerably reduces this wait time, offering stability and minimizing disruptions for faith-based communities.” The company mentioned that the aim of this variation “is to advertise stability and reduce disruptions to the important companies that R-1 spiritual employees present to U.S. church buildings, mosques, synagogues, and different bona fide nonprofit spiritual organizations.”
The rule removes the requirement that R-1 spiritual employees reside outdoors america for one yr after they attain the statutory five-year most interval of keep. Whereas R-1 spiritual employees are nonetheless required to depart america, the rule establishes that there isn’t any longer a minimal time period throughout which they need to reside and be bodily current outdoors america earlier than looking for readmission in R-1 standing.
Harvard Hits Excessive for International Pupil Enrollment Regardless of Battles With Trump Administration
In keeping with stories, Harvard College’s worldwide pupil enrollment hit a excessive of 6,749 college students within the fall of 2025, which is almost 28 % of the overall variety of college students learning at Harvard and is the highest recorded share since no less than 2002. The rise is due no less than partly to graduate pupil enrollment; undergraduate worldwide pupil enrollment has been declining. This was regardless of the college’s battles with the Trump administration over funding cuts and vetting and admission of international college students.
In keeping with Bloomberg Legislation, international graduate pupil enrollment at U.S. universities declined by 1.4% within the fall 2025 time period. The variety of international college students throughout the U.S. dropped by shut to five,000 at the same time as the general variety of college students grew by 1%, in response to the Nationwide Pupil Clearinghouse Analysis Middle. Harvard’s share of scholars from India (545) dropped by about 31 % within the fall of 2025. The most important group of worldwide college students at Harvard are Chinese language.
