The latest news and resources from Duke Government Relations.
The DC Digest-October 31, 2025
October 31, 2025
- Shutdown Day 31
- SASC Holds Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Joseph Jewell for Assistant S&T Defense Secretary
- Federal Judge Indefinitely Blocks Trump’s Latest Layoffs
- Post of the Week!
The Duke Digest-October 30, 2025
October 30, 2025
- Discover New Innovations at Invented at Duke 2025
- Duke Engineers Pioneer Breakthrough Printing Technique to Strengthen U.S. Electronics Manufacturing
- Love, Loss and Last Wishes Fulfilled at Duke HomeCare & Hospice
- And Much More…
The DC Digest-October 28, 2025
October 28, 2025
- Shutdown Day 28
- New ARPA-H Director Named
- AAU Joins H-1B Fee Lawsuit
The DC Digest-October 24, 2025
October 27, 2025
- Shutdown Day 24
- Office of Government Relations Immigration Policy Updates
- Justice Department Finalizes Deal with UVA on Civil Rights Probe
- Post of the Week!
The DC Digest-October 21, 2025
October 27, 2025
- Shutdown Day 21
- US Chamber of Commerce Sues to Block H-1B Visa Fee
- USCIS Provides More Information on $100K H-1B Visa Fee
- More Universities Decline to Sign on to Compact Funding Agreement
The DC Digest- October 17, 2025
October 27, 2025
- Appropriations Update
- Federal Court Vacates DOD Indirect Cost Cap Policy and Grants Declaratory Judgment
- Higher Ed Groups Submit Comments on Trump Administration Effort to Collect More Admissions Data
- Multiple Colleges Decline to Sign Trump Administration Funding Compact
- Letter Requests Extension of Comment Period for Proposed Rule on H-1B Lottery
- Post of the Week!
The DC Digest-October 14, 2025
October 27, 2025
- Shutdown Day 21
- US Chamber of Commerce Sues to Block H-1B Visa Fee
- USCIS Provides More Information on $100K H-1B Visa Fee
- More Universities Decline to Sign on to Compact Funding Agreement
Federal Policy Activity: Immigration Updates
October 23, 2025
As part of the Office of Government Relations’ (OGR) ongoing series tracking federal policy areas of interest to the Duke community, here is an update on the latest federal actions impacting Duke regarding immigration policy.
From the late summer through early fall, there have been numerous federal actions related to visa programs and immigration policy that continue to have implications for higher education institutions that host international students and employ global talent in research and teaching.
In September, the White House issued a presidential proclamation to establish a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, effective September 21 and set to expire in one year unless extended. The proclamation does not apply to previously issued visas or renewals, but does apply to petitions submitted after the effective date. On October 20, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services clarified that the rule applies only to new applicants outside of the United States. It does not appear to affect anyone extending or switching status while remaining in the United States.
The proclamation also directed the Department of Labor (DOL) to update wage requirements and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to propose changes to the H-1B lottery to prioritize higher-wage applicants. At the end of September, DHS published a proposed rule on the new weighted selection process for the lottery.
A coalition of higher education and labor groups has filed a lawsuit challenging the new fee, arguing that the administration did not follow required procedures in establishing it.
Congress has independently shown an interest in H-1B reforms as Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bipartisan H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act that seeks to tighten recruitment and wage rules, increase transparency, and strengthen enforcement.
In other regulatory action, earlier this summer, the DHS proposed ending the long-standing “duration of status” policy for F, J and I visa holders. The proposal would replace open-ended status–tied to academic progress–with fixed terms of up to four years, requiring extensions for longer programs. Additionally, the proposed rule, if implemented without changes, would also shorten grace periods, limit English language study to 24 months, add new USCIS extension-of-stay requirements and restrict transfers or program changes, as well as lateral or reverse matriculation.
The American Council on Education (ACE) led 53 higher education organizations in submitting detailed comments urging DHS to withdraw a proposed visa rule that would eliminate “duration of status” for F-1 and J-1 visa holders and impose rigid fixed terms of admission. The letter warns that the rule would disrupt international student mobility, delay degree completion, and degrade the U.S. capacity to attract global talent.
The Association of American Universities (AAU) signed the ACE-led letter and also submitted its own comment letter, highlighting how the proposal would impose burdensome extension procedures, reduce flexibility for graduate, joint-degree, and postdoctoral scholars, and risk driving talent to competing nations.
We expect both the duration of the status proposed rule and H-1B visa fee proclamation to continue to work their way through their respective processes this fall. Additionally, several new DHS proposals are expected in the coming months that will focus on tightening H-1B eligibility and selection, increasing oversight of participating employers, and revising practical training programs. The specifics of these proposals and how they will interact with the regulatory actions already underway remain to be seen.
As always, the OGR will monitor federal policy action and provide updates as necessary. For additional guidance and resources from Duke Visa Services, visit their website.
The DC Digest-October 10, 2025
October 10, 2025
- Shutdown on Day 10, to Extend into Next Week
- Senate Passes National Defense Authorization Act
- Post of the Week!
The Duke Digest-October 9, 2025
October 9, 2025
- Prospective Students from the Carolinas Welcomed at Open House
- Creating New Drug Delivery Techniques With AI
- Childhood Stress Strongly Linked to Chronic Disease in Adulthood, Duke Researchers Find
- And Much More…
