Insights
Notes on Immigration
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The Proposed OPT Fee for F-1 Students: What Is Real, and What Is Not (Yet)
Recently there have been headlines indicating that international students in F-1 nonimmigrant status will soon have to pay $100,000 to obtain optional practical training (OPT) work authorization. Here's what has been confirmed so far and what to look …
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The 60-Day Grace Period Rule Is Out. Comments Close November 10.
Today, September 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its proposed rule to eliminate the 60-day discretionary grace period. Public comments are due by November 10, 2026. This is a proposed rule, not a final …
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A Week Out: The End of "Duration of Status" for F-1 Students - What to Know Before September 15, 2026
Update – September 15, 2026 This rule has been paused. On September 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts postponed its effective date under Section 705 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and enjoined …
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Two DHS Proposals Worth Monitoring: The 60-Day Grace Period and the H-4 EAD Program
The Department of Homeland Security has two separate proposals moving through federal review that, taken together, would remove much of the flexibility that nonimmigrant workers and their families rely on. Neither is a final rule, and neither is …
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New Form I-864 Edition Is Mandatory Immediately and Adds Credit-Agency Authorization
Update: September 4, 2026 USCIS has conceded that they will offer a 30 day grace period on the new Form I-864. The prior 10/17/24 edition is still accepted if it is postmarked or filed electronically through September 30. …
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Revisiting the DOL's March 2026 Prevailing Wage Proposal: What Employers Need to Know
In March 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed raising all four prevailing wage levels used in the H-1B, H-1B1 (Chile and Singapore), E-3 (Australia), and PERM programs. Because those levels set the minimum an employer must …
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Federal Court Strikes Down the Immigrant Visa Freeze for 75 Countries
UPDATE · AUGUST 27, 2026 The decision striking down the freeze still stands, but it is not yet clear how the State Department is putting it into practice. In the meantime, it has been reported that scheduled immigrant …
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DHS Proposes a $103,265 Fee on H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions, on Top of Everything Else
The Department of Homeland Security has released a proposed rule that would impose a new $103,265 fee on every H-1B cap-subject petition, payable when the petition is filed and in addition to all other fees an employer already …
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Three USCIS Filing Changes in September 2026: Why Your Filing Date Now Decides the Outcome
Employment-based and family-based filers face new form editions and a broader public charge review this fall. Here is what changes, and how to avoid a rejection. If you are planning to file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services …
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Announcing Daniel L Carpenter Law LLC
Proud to announce that I am starting my own immigration law firm, Daniel L Carpenter Law LLC , effective August 17, 2026. After close to a decade of practice, I decided it was time to take the leap …
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