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Published on: July 21, 2026

Fixed Periods of Admission Replaces D/S. Understanding DHS’s New Framework for F-1 Students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, and I Media Representatives

The Chicago immigration lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer PC are studying the final rule eliminating Duration of Status, and explain the changes in our blogs. The elimination of Duration of Status (D/S) by the final rule, Final Rule, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media, 91 Fed. Reg. 44976 (July 17, 2026) is only half of the story. Equally significant is what replaces it.

Under the Department of Homeland Security’s July 17, 2026 Final Rule, F-1 academic students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I representatives of foreign information media will no longer generally receive an open-ended period of lawful admission tied to continued compliance with their program. Instead, DHS establishes a system of fixed periods of admission, bringing these classifications much closer to the framework already used for H-1B professionals, L-1 intracompany transferees, O-1 individuals of extraordinary ability, TN professionals, and most other nonimmigrant categories. This represents one of the most significant structural changes to nonimmigrant admissions in more than four decades.

Rather than allowing status to continue automatically while a student remains enrolled or an exchange visitor remains in an approved program, the government will now determine an authorized period of stay at the time of admission. Individuals who need additional time generally must affirmatively request an extension before that admission period expires. This change alters not only immigration procedure but also the allocation of responsibility between the government, educational institutions, exchange sponsors, employers, and the nonimmigrant themselves.

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Published on: January 30, 2023

H-1B Application Season Begins

By Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The Chicago immigration lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer are preparing for the H-1B registration. The H-1B visa is a type of non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. To qualify for an H-1B visa, the job must meet the following requirements:

Specialty Occupation: The job must require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s or higher degree in the specific field or its equivalent.
Bachelor’s degree or higher: The worker must have completed a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the specific field related to the job.

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Published on: January 23, 2023

Getting Ready for the H-1B Registration Process

By Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The H-1B visa registration process for FY 2024 has not been announced yet. The immigration lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer PC are preparing for the registration period to ensure that our clients can successfully register their H-1B visa beneficiaries. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) typically opens the registration process for H-1B visas in the beginning of the year. The exact dates and details of the registration process are typically announced several weeks in advance by the USCIS. It is important to stay informed about the H-1B registration process and be prepared to submit your application as soon as the registration period opens. We expect that USCIS will announce the registration process within the next couple of months. Please complete and send us this H-1B Registration Form if you would like our help.

Employers who wish to sponsor an employee for an H-1B visa must create an H-1B registrant account on the USCIS website. This account allows employers to submit registrations for their employees during the H-1B registration period.

It is important for employers to stay informed about the H-1B registration process and ensure that they are following all requirements set by the USCIS. Following the USCIS’s announcements helps to ensure that the registration process runs smoothly and reduces the risk of errors or complications that could delay or prevent an employee from obtaining an H-1B visa. To ensure compliance, employers should:

stay up-to-date with the latest information and changes to the H-1B registration process and requirements as announced by the USCIS.
review and understand the guidelines set by the USCIS for the H-1B registration process.
gather all required documents and information for the employee and the employer before the registration period opens.
double check all the information and documents for accuracy before submitting the registration.
consult with a qualified immigration attorney or a registered agent if in doubt.

By following these steps, employers can help ensure that their H-1B registration is complete and accurate, which will increase the chances of their employees being selected for the H-1B program.

The registrant account will require the employer to provide basic information about their company, including Employer Identification Number (EIN), company name, and contact information. Once the account is created, the employer can use it to register their employees for the H-1B visa program. It is important to note that creating an H-1B registrant account does not guarantee that an employee will be selected for the H-1B program. The number of H-1B visas available is limited and selected through a lottery system.

To ensure proper registration, we typically require the following information for H-1B registration: Continue reading →

Published on: March 6, 2017

President Trump Reissued the Order Suspending Entry for 90 Days

By Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

President Trump today signed a new Executive Order, explaining the reasons to suspend admission of foreign nationals from certain countries. The Order, entitled Executive Order Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States restricts admissions of foreign nationals from six countries: Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya, and Sudan. It removes the prior restrictions for citizens of Iran, and exempts permanent residents of the United States. The Order states that Iraq represents a “special case”. While [p]ortions of Iraq remain active combat zones”….”the close cooperative relationship between the United States and the democratically elected Iraqi government, the strong United States diplomatic presence in Iraq, the significant presence of United States forces in Iraq, and Iraq’s commitment to combat ISIS justify different treatment for Iraq.”

The Order applies to foreign nationals from these countries who are:

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Published on: July 9, 2015

Expiring foreign passports create problems upon admission to U.S.

By Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The immigration lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer remind foreign nationals to monitor their passport expiration dates. Many foreign nationals traveling to the United States do not realize that their period of admission is tied to the expiration date of their passports.

The general rule is that visitors coming to the U.S. must have passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the U.S. This means that a foreign national who has an approved petition for three years, but whose passport expires in eight months, will be admitted only for two months. This is so because the foreign national must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of admission. As the foreign national’s passport is valid for eight months, he or she will only be admitted for two months.

There are certain countries, which are exempted from the general passport requirements. However, citizens of these countries must still have a valid passport for the full period of intended stay but are not required to have a valid passport for six months beyond the intended period of stay. If a foreign national from such country has an approved petition for three years, but presents at the border for a passport valid for eight months, he or she will be admitted only for eight months instead.

Foreign nationals who fail to realize timely that they have been admitted for a lesser period, may find themselves and any derivatives out of status and unlawfully present, with possible severe consequences, including termination from employment, inadmissibility, and removability.

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