News & Announcements
Penn Immigration Guidance Advisory: Federal Court Decision Regarding the H-1B Supplemental Fee
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…
CDC Ebola-Related Travel and Entry Restrictions
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…
Update on USCIS Policy Memo Regarding Adjustment of Status
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…
Penn’s Enduring Commitment to Global Engagement
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…
USCIS Implements Additional Security Review for Certain Pending Applications
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…
U.S. State Department Announces Pause on Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries
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…
USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increase – Effective March 1, 2026
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)…
Urgent: U.S. Entry Restrictions Effective January 1, 2026
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…
Advisory Guidance on New U.S. Entry Restrictions
This advisory is intended for Penn administrators, faculty, department staff, and campus partners who support international students, scholars, and employees. It provides context and guidance related to a new White…
Travel Reminders
As winter break approaches, we wants to ensure you are prepared for any upcoming international travel. ✈️ Required Documents for Re-Entry to the U.S.:When returning to the United States, you…
Scam Alert for Penn International Students & Scholars
We want to ensure that all international Quakers are aware of a recent increase in scam calls. These scammers may contact you pretending to be University representatives or government officials….
Expansion of U.S. Department of State Enhanced Social Media Vetting for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants
Beginning December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will extend its enhanced social media vetting to H-1B specialty-occupation workers and their H-4 dependent family members. This expanded screening…
Advisory for Faculty: Unsolicited Requests for National Interest Waiver (NIW) Recommendation Letters
ISSS has recently been made aware that some Penn faculty members are receiving unsolicited emails from individuals overseas requesting letters of recommendation to support their National Interest Waiver (NIW) permanent…
DHS to End Automatic EAD Extensions for Most Categories — No Impact on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT Students
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced an interim final rule ending automatic extensions of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for most…
AAU Joins Legal Challenge to Presidential Proclamation on H-1B Program
As of October 24, Jenner & Block has filed an amended complaint in Chamber of Commerce v. DHS (D.D.C., J. Howell), adding the Association of American Universities (AAU) as a…
USCIS H-1B $100K Payment Requirement
USCIS has posted an important update regarding H-1B filings (https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-specialty-occupations). Below is a summary of how this change impacts our Penn community. Who Must Pay Applies to: Does not apply…
H-1B Processing and Presidential Proclamation Update
This is to confirm that ISSS continues to file H-1B petitions and has not ceased H-1B processing following the recent Presidential Proclamation. Key Points Regarding the $100,000 Fee: ISSS will continue to move forward with…
Government Shutdown – Will It Impact Your Immigration Status?
As the current U.S. federal government shutdown will have an impact on crucial immigration services, ISSS has prepared a detailed Q&A regarding the potential effects on immigration matters. Please revisit…
UPDATE #2 H-1B Proclamation: What’s Affected, What’s Not, & Next Steps
What’s Happened What’s New (Recent Agency Guidance) Key Points Location Petition Status Impact of Changes Inside the U.S. Approved Petition Not impacted. May continuework and travel. Filed Petition (no decision)…
USCIS Clarification: Travel Advisory for H-1B Employees
UPDATE: USCIS Guidance on H-1B Proclamation USCIS has released a memorandum providing clarification on the Presidential Proclamation restricting entry of certain H-1B nonimmigrant workers. Key Points from the Guidance: We…