Every immigration rule we have reported on, with its Federal Register details, deadlines, status and the latest court or agency action. Updated daily.
Comments open 8
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| Rule | RIN · Agency | Published | Comments close | Status | Latest development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPT fees for F-1 graduatesWould add new fees tied to Optional Practical Training for F-1 graduates. | 1653-AB01DHS (ICE/SEVP) | Oct 8 | Nov 9 | Proposed | Our coverage → |
| Ending the 60-day grace periodWould eliminate the discretionary grace period of up to 60 days that lets H-1B, L-1 and other workers stay after a job ends to find a new employer or change status. | 1615-AD22DHS (USCIS) | Sep 11 | Nov 10 | Proposed | More than 25,000 comments filed; the 60 days remain available until a final rule takes effect. Our coverage → |
| Removing deference to prior USCIS approvalsWould end USCIS deference to earlier approvals, so extension petitions for the same worker and employer get a fresh review. | 1615-AD26DHS (USCIS) | Oct 14 | Nov 13 | Proposed | Our coverage → |
| Immigration court records in DOJ crime statisticsWould exempt a Justice Department statistics database that adds immigration court records, linkable by A-number, from parts of the Privacy Act. | —DOJ (BJS) | Oct 15 | Nov 16 | Proposed | Our coverage → |
| Immigration court fraud-complaint recordsWould exempt a new immigration court records system for fraud and unauthorized-practice complaints from Privacy Act rights to see and correct records. | —DOJ (EOIR) | Oct 15 | Nov 16 | Proposed | Our coverage → |
| ACA subsidy eligibility checks for immigrantsWould require marketplace enrollees' eligibility, including immigration status, to be verified before premium subsidies begin. | 0938-AW03HHS (CMS) | Oct 27 | Nov 27 | Proposed | Our coverage → |
| IRS premium tax credit limits for immigrantsSpells out how lawfully present immigrants lose premium tax credits for marketplace health coverage under the 2025 tax law. | 1545-BS15Treasury (IRS) | Oct 15 | Nov 30 | Proposed | Our coverage → |
| Passenger lists for cross-border trainsWould require trains entering or leaving the U.S. to send CBP passenger and crew information in advance. | 1651-AB60DHS (CBP) | Oct 13 | Dec 14 | Proposed | Our coverage → |
Blocked or vacated by courts 3
| Rule | RIN · Agency | Published | Comments close | Status | Latest development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refugee termination notice cut from 30 to 10 daysCuts the time refugees have to respond to a notice of intent to terminate their status from 30 days to 10. | 1615-AD23DHS (USCIS) | Oct 14 | Nov 13 | Blocked by courtEffective Oct 14Court pause ends Nov 6 | Judge Julia Kobick (D. Mass.) paused the rule on Oct. 27 through Nov. 6 while the case moves to a full hearing. Our coverage → |
| Ending duration of status for F, J and I visa holdersWould replace open-ended duration of status for students, exchange visitors and foreign media with fixed admission periods and an extension process. | 1653-AA95DHS (ICE) | Jul 17 | — | Blocked by courtEffective Sep 15 | Blocked by a federal judge the day before it was to take effect; DHS has appealed to the First Circuit. Our coverage → |
| 2024 administrative closure ruleRestored immigration judges' power to administratively close cases, taking them off the active docket without deciding them. | 1125-AB18DOJ (EOIR) | May 29, 2024 | — | Vacated by courtEffective Jul 29, 2024 | A Texas federal court vacated the rule; the Supreme Court refused to revive it on Oct. 27, and the appeal continues in the Fifth Circuit. Our coverage → |
At White House review 2
Sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs; not yet published.
| Rule | RIN · Agency | Published | Comments close | Status | Latest development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New premium processing timeframesWould change the processing deadlines USCIS must meet for premium processing. | —DHS (USCIS) | — | — | At White House review | Proposed rule sent to the White House for review in October. Our coverage → |
| PERM labor certification overhaulWould rewrite how employers test the U.S. labor market before sponsoring a worker for a green card. | —DOL | — | — | At White House review | Cleared White House review Oct. 26; publication expected soon. Our coverage → |
Awaiting a final rule 3
Comment period over; the agency has not issued a final rule.
| Rule | RIN · Agency | Published | Comments close | Status | Latest development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census: counting only citizens and green card holders for House seatsWould count only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in the population used to divide House seats after the 2030 census. | 0607-AA75Census Bureau | Oct 5 | Nov 2 | Proposed | Comment deadline extended from Oct. 13 to Nov. 2. Our coverage → |
| $103,265 fee on every H-1B cap petitionWould charge a $103,265 fee at filing for every H-1B cap-subject petition, including advanced-degree cap petitions, on top of all other fees. | 1615-AD20DHS (USCIS) | Aug 25 | Sep 24 | Comments closed | Comments closed Sept. 24; awaiting a final rule. Our coverage → |
| Higher prevailing wages for H-1B and PERMWould raise the prevailing wage levels employers must pay H-1B workers and offer in PERM labor certifications. | 1205-AC30DOL | Mar 27 | May 26 | Comments closed | Awaiting a final rule. Our coverage → |
In effect 10
Final and interim final rules now in force.
| Rule | RIN · Agency | Published | Comments close | Status | Latest development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDC foreign quarantine ruleExpands CDC authority to restrict or set conditions on the entry of travelers to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. | 0920-AA88HHS (CDC) | May 27 | Jun 26 | Interim finalEffective May 22Ebola entry attestation starts Nov 3 | CDC's Ebola attestation order under the rule starts Nov. 3 and now covers airline crews. Our coverage → |
| H-2A farmworker wage (AEWR) methodSets how the minimum wage for H-2A farmworkers, the adverse effect wage rate, is calculated. | 1205-AC24DOL | Oct 2, 2025 | Dec 1, 2025 | Interim finalEffective Oct 2, 2025Court deadline to replace Dec 30 | A federal court in California ordered DOL to replace the methodology by Dec. 30; back pay remains unresolved. Our coverage → |
| Failure-to-depart fines and civil penaltiesSets procedures for ICE and CBP to impose civil fines, including for failing to depart after a removal order. | 1125-AB36DHS / DOJ | Oct 14 | — | In effectEffective Oct 14 | DHS ratified fines issued under the 2025 interim rule. Our coverage → |
| End of automatic EAD extensionsEnds the automatic extension of expiring work permits while renewals are pending, for renewals filed on or after Oct. 30, 2025. | 1615-AD05DHS (USCIS) | Oct 14 | — | In effectEffective Oct 14 | Final rule adopted the October 2025 interim rule without change. Our coverage → |
| Public charge ruleChanges how DHS decides whether a green card applicant is likely to become a public charge. | 1615-AD06DHS (USCIS) | Jul 20 | — | In effectEffective Sep 18 | Our coverage → |
| $4,500 fee on H-1B and L-1 petitionsImposes the $4,500 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit fee on H-1B and L-1 petitions from covered employers, including extensions. | 1651-AB48DHS (CBP) | Aug 10 | — | In effectEffective Sep 9 | USCIS issued fee guidance for L-1 petitions on Oct. 27. Our coverage → |
| Mandatory online filing with USCISRequires most USCIS forms to be filed online, with limited hardship waivers. | 1615-AD19DHS (USCIS) | Aug 11 | Oct 13 | Interim finalEffective Aug 11 | Comments closed Oct. 13; USCIS published Form I-936 for hardship waivers. Our coverage → |
| Visa bond programLets consular officers require bonds from certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants. | 1400-AG33State | Aug 3 | — | In effectEffective Aug 3 | The pilot that began in August 2025 became a standing program. Our coverage → |
| Asylum referrals without interviewLets asylum officers refer certain affirmative asylum cases to immigration court without an interview. | 1615-AD18DHS (USCIS) | Jul 28 | — | Interim finalEffective Jul 28 | Our coverage → |
| $750 expedited visa interview feeAdds a $750 fee for an expedited visa interview option for B-1/B-2 applicants at select consulates. | 1400-AG13State | Jun 9 | Jul 9 | In effectEffective Jul 1 | Our coverage → |
Archive 5
Rules in force for more than six months, or withdrawn.
| Rule | RIN · Agency | Published | Comments close | Status | Latest development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIA appeal proceduresChanges procedures for appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals. | 1125-AB37DOJ (EOIR) | Feb 6 | Apr 8 | Interim finalEffective Mar 9 | Our coverage → |
| Premium processing fee increaseRaises USCIS premium processing fees for inflation. | —DHS (USCIS) | Jan 12 | — | In effectEffective Mar 1 | Our coverage → |
| Wage-weighted H-1B lotteryReplaces the random H-1B lottery with a selection weighted toward higher wage levels. | 1615-AD01DHS (USCIS) | Dec 29, 2025 | — | In effectEffective Feb 27 | Our coverage → |
| R-1 religious worker changesChanges how long R-1 religious workers can stay and eases the requirement to spend a year abroad before returning. | 1615-AD02DHS (USCIS) | Jan 16 | Mar 17 | Interim finalEffective Jan 16 | Our coverage → |
| H-1B modernization ruleUpdated H-1B specialty occupation rules, cap-gap protection for F-1 students and other program changes. | 1615-AC70DHS (USCIS) | Dec 18, 2024 | — | In effectEffective Jan 17, 2025 | Our coverage → |
Compiled from Federal Register documents and our reporting. Rule names link to the Federal Register. Check the official documents before relying on any date.