Administration Revives Public-Charge Rule Targeting Green-Card Applicants Who Use Benefits
DHS Final Rule Ends ‘Duration of Status’ for F-1, J-1 and I Visa Holders
First biometric ‘Operación Paso del Estrecho’ tops 640,000 travellers without major delays
Latest News
DHS Replaces ‘Duration of Status’ With Fixed Visa Stays for F-1, J-1 and I Non-Immigrants
DHS has finalized a rule that ends open-ended ‘duration of status’ admissions for F-1, J-1 and I visa holders. Starting in mid-September, students and exchange visitors will be admitted for fixed periods (maximum four years) and must formally extend status to stay longer. Universities, program sponsors and multinational employers should expect a surge in extension filings, tighter grace periods and higher compliance costs.
DHS limits international student visas to four years, ending ‘duration of status’
DHS has replaced open-ended student and exchange-visitor admissions with a fixed four-year stay. Universities must now file extensions for longer programmes, and students risk travel interruptions if approvals lag. Corporate mobility teams should prepare for higher compliance costs and tighter timelines.
Australia Replaces Paper Arrival Cards with Nationwide Digital Passenger Card
The federal government has confirmed that a QR-code-based Australia Travel Declaration will replace the paper Incoming Passenger Card at all ports over the next 18 months. Backed by a $56 million investment, the digital card lets travellers lodge passport and customs information before they fly, cutting clearance times and giving companies real-time arrival data. Business groups say the move is essential for supporting Australia’s post-pandemic growth in trade, tourism and skilled migration.
Canada Raises LMIA Median-Wage Thresholds Nationwide, Effective Today
ESDC has increased the median-wage cut-off that decides whether an LMIA application is treated as high- or low-wage. Starting July 17, 2026, thresholds rose in 12 of 13 jurisdictions, meaning more job offers will fall into the low-wage stream with stricter caps and advertising rules. Companies must recalculate planned offers immediately; foreign workers should verify whether their prospective jobs are still high-wage. The change tightens access to low-wage temporary foreign workers and encourages higher pay or alternative, permanent immigration pathways.