From September 9, certain US employers will be required to pay the existing 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee on all eligible H-1B and L-1 extension-of-status petitions. The fee structure includes $4,000 for H-1B and $4,500 for L-1 petitions, applying to employers with at least 50 US employees where more than half of their workforce is in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status. According to reports from Business Standard, the significant change is the scope of the fee, which will now cover extension petitions even when the worker is continuing with the same employer, affecting Indian IT and consulting companies that employ large numbers of H-1B workers. Amended petitions that do not seek an extension of the worker's existing status remain exempt from the new fee requirements.
The US will replace the long-standing Duration of Status (D/S) system for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors from September 15. Under the new framework, students will generally receive a fixed Admit Until Date on their I-94, with the admission period tied to the programme end date and cannot exceed four years. As reported by Business Standard, this change particularly affects Indian students pursuing programmes that run longer than expected, as those requiring additional time will need to apply for extension of stay rather than relying on the earlier D/S arrangement. September 15 is also the deadline for new editions of Form I-539 and Form I-765, with USCIS rejecting applications filed after September 15 using older editions. The I-539 is used for applications to extend or change certain non-immigrant statuses, while the I-765 is used for employment authorisation, including OPT and STEM OPT applications.
On September 18, the US public-charge rules will be revised, giving immigration officers broader discretion to assess applicant circumstances beyond the narrower framework introduced in 2022. According to Business Standard, factors such as age, health, family circumstances, financial position, education and skills can form part of the assessment, along with certain means-tested public benefits. The change applies to relevant adjustment-of-status applications filed on or after September 18, with a revised Form I-485 becoming mandatory from that date. For Indian applicants seeking US green cards, maintaining clear records of income, assets, employment and financial support will become more important.
Belgium's Flanders region is introducing a new €180 regional fee for each single permit application from September 1, covering both first applications and renewals. As reported by Business Standard, the fee applies to employers recruiting workers from outside the European Economic Area, making international hiring more expensive. Cyprus has introduced additional medical document requirements from September 1 for immigration permit applications under Categories A-F, requiring original blood-test results for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis, along with chest X-ray for tuberculosis screening. The changes affect Indian applicants across multiple countries and require careful preparation for those planning immigration applications this month.
