Overview The University of Pennsylvania’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) ismonitoring significant developments involving a recent federal court decision affectingcertain U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudication policies. On June 5, 2026, Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Districtof Rhode Island ruled that four USCIS policies were…
This advisory updates Penn’s June 9, 2026 guidance regarding recent litigation involving the $100,000 supplemental fee imposed on certain H-1B petitions under Presidential Proclamation 10973. Summary of Recent Developments: On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that the $100,000 supplemental H-1B fee was unlawful and vacated the policy…
ISSS is providing the Penn community with guidance regarding a significantfederal court decision affecting the H-1B visa program. On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusettsinvalidated the Department of Homeland Security’s implementation of the$100,000 supplemental fee that had been imposed on certain H-1B petitionspursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10973. The court…
On May 22, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an amended temporary order suspending entry into the United States for certain non-U.S. persons who have departed from, or were physically present in, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. The order is related…
On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum (PM-602-0199) reframing adjustment of status and green card procedures within the United States. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) has been closely monitoring this development since its release. Based on our initial review, this represents a significant and concerning shift in…
Penn proudly welcomes students and scholars from around the world, and our academic community is more rigorous, ingenious, and excellent for this dynamic exchange. I recently returned from a trip to Asia including Singapore and South Korea—home to our fifth-largest international alumni community—where I reinforced a core principle of our University’s mission: bringing the world…
Effective December 2, 2025 and January 1, 2026, USCIS has shared two policy memoranda that may affect processing times for certain pending immigration benefit applications. What USCIS announced USCIS has directed its officers to place an adjudicative “hold” on final decisions for certain pending immigration benefit requests connected to individuals from designated “high-risk” countries while…
On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced that it will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries. According to the official announcement, the pause is tied to a federal policy review related to public benefit usage and will remain in effect until further notice. It is important to highlight that: The suspension…
This message is to share an important update regarding USCIS premium processing fees that may affect petition and application planning for our schools and units. What’s ChangingThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule adjusting USCIS premium processing fees based on inflation between June 2023 and June 2025, as authorized under the USCIS Stabilization Act. This…
Dear Penn Community, The White House issued a Proclamation (Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals) on December 16, 2025, imposing new entry restrictions into the U.S. for nationals of certain countries, effective 12:01 a.m. (ET), January 1, 2026. Many students and scholars are traveling now, so it is important to understand these updates. What Changed As…