Headlines:
‘One Large Lovely Invoice Act’ Introduces New $250 ‘Visa Integrity Price’; USCIS Releases Checklist of Charges – The brand new charge shall be charged to people making use of for a nonimmigrant visa on the time of visa issuance. Additionally, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers introduced its new charges.
DOS Broadcasts Investigation of Harvard’s Participation in Alternate Customer Program – The Division of State is investigating Harvard College’s “continued eligibility as a sponsor” for the Alternate Customer Program.
DOS Updates Visa Reciprocity Schedules, Reduces Validity Interval for Nonimmigrant Visas – The Division of State has up to date the visa reciprocity schedules for greater than 50 nations, considerably decreasing the validity interval for nonimmigrant visas.
OFLC Broadcasts Modifications in E-mail Addresses for Nationwide Processing Facilities – The brand new electronic mail addresses shall be rolled out on-line and in letter and electronic mail templates over the approaching months.
Particulars
‘One Large Lovely Invoice Act’ Introduces New $250 ‘Visa Integrity Price’; USCIS Releases Checklist of Charges
The lately enacted “One Large Lovely Invoice Act” (H.R. 1) introduces a new $250 “Visa Integrity Price” for nonimmigrants, amongst different charges. The Visa Integrity Price is meant to spice up funding for the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help elevated immigration enforcement actions. The brand new charge shall be charged to people making use of for a nonimmigrant visa on the time of visa issuance. The laws contains provisions that enable the DHS Secretary to boost the charge as wanted and improve the charge based mostly on inflation. There’s not a set date on which the charge shall be enacted.
These required to pay the charge will embrace:
- Employment-based staff and their dependents: H-1B, H-4, L-1, L-2, TN, TD, O-1, O-3, P
- College students and their dependents: F-1, F-2
- Alternate guests and their dependents: J-1, J-2
- Guests: B-1, B-2
Coming into the US underneath the Visa Waiver Program wouldn’t be topic to the visa integrity charge. There are not any exceptions to the charge, which can’t be diminished. Nonetheless, the laws permits for reimbursement in sure circumstances after the interval of admission has expired.
Additionally, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers printed a discover on July 22, 2025, asserting the company’s new charges, to whom these charges apply, when the brand new charges take impact, directions on their cost, when and if the charges could also be waived, and penalties of the failure to pay..
DOS Broadcasts Investigation of Harvard’s Participation in Alternate Customer Program
On July 23, 2025, the Division of State (DOS) introduced an investigation into Harvard College’s “continued eligibility as a sponsor” for the J-1 Alternate Customer Program.
The announcement referenced nationwide safety considerations typically however supplied no specifics on why Harvard was being investigated. In keeping with experiences, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave Harvard one week to supply many college data associated to the visa program. Mr. Rubio additionally stated DOS will interview college employees and visa holders. Harvard stated the investigation was “one other retaliatory step” in violation of the college’s First Modification rights. Harvard stated it will “defend its worldwide group and help them as they apply for U.S. visas and journey to campus this fall.”
DOS Updates Visa Reciprocity Schedules, Reduces Validity Interval for Nonimmigrant Visas
The Division of State (DOS) has up to date the visa reciprocity schedules for greater than 50 nations, considerably decreasing the validity interval for nonimmigrant visas. International nationals from affected nations will now be issued visas just for a interval of three months and for a single entry. The affected visa classes embrace B (vacationer), F (pupil), H (specialty occupation non permanent employee), J (trade customer), M (pupil), and O (extraordinary capacity). Beforehand, nonimmigrant visa validity durations could have been 12 months or longer and for a number of entries.
International nationals with a number of citizenships are topic to the corresponding reciprocity schedule of the nation that issued the passport used for the visa software. Visas issued earlier than the change in reciprocity shouldn’t be affected and will retain their unique validity.
OFLC Broadcasts Modifications in E-mail Addresses for Nationwide Processing Facilities
The Division of Labor’s Workplace of International Labor Certification is altering the mailing deal with for all its packages to: Workplace of International Labor Certification, 200 Structure Avenue, NW, Room N-5311, Washington, DC 20210. As a follow-up to this course of, on July 25, 2025, OFLC introduced a change to the naming conventions for all electronic mail addresses at present used for assist desks.
The brand new electronic mail addresses shall be rolled out on-line and in letter and electronic mail templates over the approaching months, OFLC stated. To make sure minimal disruption, the outdated addresses will stay legitimate and usable throughout this transition. OFLC encourages customers to reference the OFLC official web page and the International Labor Utility Gateway processing web site to observe the adjustments.
