News and Updates

This page provides informational updates and regulatory announcements affecting international students, scholars, and faculty in the F-1, J-1, and H-1B status.

On September 14, 2026, a U.S. Federal Judge issued a   postponing the effective date of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “fixed time period of admission” rule, which was scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. 

For now, current Duration of Status rules remain in effect for ֦Ƶ international students. However, the injunction does not permanently invalidate the DHS rule, and the litigation is ongoing. 

No immediate action is required. ֦Ƶ should continue to monitor communications from the CSU Long Beach Center for International Education (CIE) and consult CIE before taking action related to travel, program extensions, or immigration filings. 

We will provide updates by email and on the ֦Ƶ CIE homepage as the litigation develops. 

Following updated guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) on August 24, 2026, the Center for International Education (CIE) will not process CPT requests for non-mandatory coursework.
 
What This Means for F-1 ֦Ƶ
 
  • Do not apply if your internship is for elective credit, an optional internship course, or general work experience. These requests will not be approved.
     
  • Do apply only if the internship is a strict requirement to graduate, as defined in your official program documentation or course catalog. Please follow instructions on how to complete and submit your CPT application on this CPT webpage.

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule eliminating "Duration of Status" (D/S) for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. Taking effect on September 15, 2026, this regulation transitions visa holders to fixed admission periods. Please review our comprehensive FAQ guide to learn how these changes impact I-94 end dates, program extensions, grace periods, and travel guidance.

What this means for current ֦Ƶ F-1 and J-1 students and scholars 

The rule is not currently in effect and you do not need to take any immediate actions on your immigration status. At this time students should:

  • Continue to maintain your immigration status as you normally would.
  • Check your I-20 end date. If you know that you will need an extension, contact cie-student@csulb.edu well before the end of summer.
  • Continue to follow all current ISS guidance regarding enrollment, employment authorization, travel, and reporting requirements.

As you learn about these changes, please be sure to rely on official and reliable sources, including information shared by the ISS Office and government websites such as:

Please Note: Federal immigration rules and fee structures are highly volatile and subject to change at any time without prior notice. Sponsoring departments and applicants should be aware that final fee obligations and processing guidelines will depend entirely on the regulatory status in effect at the exact time of filing.
 
 
September 21, 2026
A new executive order has been issued to extending the core framework of the program from September 21, 2025 announcement and renewing the underlying $100,000 fee directive. However, because of the First Circuit's active July 24 ruling, USCIS still cannot physically collect the fees until they successfully win their appeal in court.
 
 
July 24, 2026
The $100,000 entry fee requirement for new H-1B petitions from abroad is temporarily suspended by federal courts, and proposed regulations explicitly exempt higher education institutions.
 
 
September 21, 2025
As of September 21, 2025, federal regulations now require a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions from outside the U.S.  Due to this federal action, we are unable to sponsor H-1B applicants who are outside the U.S.