On July 16, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a rule rescinding the 2022 Public Charge regulation. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on July 20 and will take effect on September 18, 2026. For many individuals pursuing permanent residence through employment-based immigration or family sponsorship, this change introduces greater uncertainty into the green card applica

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