On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule ending the long-standing Duration of Status (D/S) policy for F-1 international students and J-1 exchange visitors. Beginning September 15, 2026, individuals entering the U.S. under F or J status will no longer receive an open-ended period of stay tied solely to maintaining their status. Instead, they will be admitted for the length of their academic or exchange program, subject to a maximum admi

For nearly half a century, international students in the U.S. have operated under the Duration of Status (D/S) framework. That longstanding policy may now be subject to significant change. On May 5, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) submitted a final rule affecting F, J and I nonimmigrant classifications to the OMB/OIRA for federal review. The proposed regulatory shift would replace the current D/S system, which permits individuals to remain in the U.S. for as l

A 2025 report by PincusCo ranked iCross Capital, ARCFE’s parent company, 35th out of 105 lending institutions in NYC, highlighting the firm’s growing presence and expertise in one of the most competitive and sophisticated real estate markets in the world. The report noted that NYC construction lending activity surged in 2025, with lenders providing over $23.3B across 344 deals, reflecting strong demand for experienced capital partners capable of navigating complex developme

The Department of State has posted the June 2026 Visa Bulletin. The Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) visa categories are as below: Chart A: · Mainland China - EB-5 Unreserved category remains the same with the priority date of September 22, 2016. · India - EB-5 Unreserved category remains the same with the priority date of May 1, 2022. · All EB-5 set aside categories remain CURRENT. Chart B: · Mainland China - EB-5 Unreserved category remains the same with the priorit

In recent weeks, a proposed bill in Iowa has drawn significant attention from Chinese international students and families planning long-term careers and residency pathways in the U.S. The legislation, known as HF 2513, would prohibit public universities in Iowa from entering into new employment agreements with certain H-1B visa holders from a list of designated countries. The bill has already passed the Iowa House of Representatives and has advanced through the Senate Labor C

Redeployment is one of the most important (and often misunderstood) concepts in the EB-5 investment process. For investors pursuing permanent residency through the EB-5 program, understanding how redeployment works is essential to managing expectations, mitigating risk, and ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration requirements. What Is “Redeployment”? In the context of the EB-5 program, redeployment refers to the reinvestment of EB-5 capital into a new project or investment

On March 8 (ET), iCross Capital and its subsidiary ARCFE successfully hosted the 2026 iCross x ARCFE Chinese Lantern Festival at the Westin Flushing LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, New York. Investors from New York and the surrounding areas gathered together in a warm and festive atmosphere to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival. During the gathering, they reflected on the current market and the projects' progress over the past year, while also looking ahead to future inves

Many families shared a common thought process when evaluating EB-5 projects: there are many options, many different claims, and the more you read, the less certain you feel. This is completely understandable. Assessing EB-5 project safety goes beyond reliance on marketing materials or recommendations from friends. At its core, it is a long-term investment commitment that spans across multiple economic cycles. The factors that truly determine risk are often hidden in the struc

Recently, a new bill introduced in Congress has once again brought the future of the H-1B visa program into the spotlight. The proposed legislation, titled the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemption or EXILE Act, was introduced by Florida Republican Representative Greg Steube. The bill seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by gradually reducing the annual H1B visa cap each year until it reaches zero in 2027, effectively terminating the program. A Ren