Update from August 28, 2026: Based on written clarification received on August 27th from the Wisconsin SEVP representative, CPT can only be authorized for master’s or doctoral students if practical training or experiential learning is …
Year: 2026
Consolidated visa services in Africa
Effective August 1, 2026, consular services throughout Africa will be consolidated to 20 regional hubs in 19 countries. Read the State Department’s announcement. Students with previously scheduled visa appointments will likely receive a cancellation and …
Changes to the “Duration of Status” Rule for International Students and Scholars
July 17, 2026 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a federal rule change July 17 that ends the longstanding “duration of status” (D/S) rule for international students and scholars. The rule is effective …
New Student Newsletters Fall 2026
Did you miss the New Student Newsletters for fall 2026 new students? Check out the newsletters below to review the steps to enroll, learn about travel guidance and more! We know there is a lot …
USCIS Resumes Adjudication of Benefit Requests
On June 5th, the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island ruled that the USCIS’ pause on adjudicating immigration benefits for individuals from travel restricted countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10998 to be unlawful. If you …
New Student Newsletters Summer 2026
Did you miss the New Student Newsletters for summer 2026 new students? Check out the newsletters below to review the steps to enroll, learn about travel guidance and more! We know there is a lot …
UW-Madison Responds to the Middle East Conflict
UW-Madison recognizes that the impact of the conflict in Iran and the broader Middle East region is being felt by many in the campus community and is providing relevant resources, information, and support. UW–Madison responds …
USCIS Issues New Photo Guidance
On December 12, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Alert announcing new guidance governing the submission and reuse of photographs for immigration benefit requests. For all non-immigrant requests (Example: a Form I-765/OPT …
Staying Safe During Extremely Cold Temperatures
Dangerously cold weather is expected to hit Madison tomorrow. Please review the information below to stay safe! Temperature: Actual temperature will be approximately -18°F to -8°F (-28°C to -22°C) How cold it feels like (wind chill): as cold …