USCIS plans to change the timeline for premium processing of applications.

DHS has proposed a major new fee for F-1 Optional Practical Training, or OPT: $70,000 for an initial OPT recommendation and $30,000 for each later recommendation, including a STEM OPT extension. A typical OPT-plus-STEM-OPT path could therefore cost $100,000 under the proposal.

With the Dates for Filing chart moving forward significantly, a lot of people are suddenly eligible to file Form I-485. Should you file now, or should you wait? My view is simple: if you have the opportunity to file your I-485 now, there are strong reasons to do it.

We still do not know exactly how the government will enforce this EO. One possibility is that USCIS may start issuing new RFEs asking employers about recent or planned layoffs, especially where those layoffs involve roles similar to the H-1B position.

Even though the White House has now extended the proclamation for another year, the court order blocking the $100,000 remains in place for now.