At the risk of being a broken record, as I’ve already mentioned this several times over the past few months: Three proposals from DHS have their comment windows closing this week, If you want to share your experience with the government, regulations.gov is where you can do that. If you are nervous, you can do it anonymously.
The F-1 OPT fee proposal: closes tonight, Monday, November 9.
DHS has proposed a $70,000 fee for initial OPT and $30,000 for subsequent OPT. It's a proposal, not a final rule, so nothing about your current OPT has changed. The docket is ICEB-2026-0100. This one mostly affects F-1 students and the schools that would collect the fee.
The 60-day grace period proposal: closes Tuesday, November 10.
Right now, workers in categories like H-1B, L-1, O-1 and TN can have up to 60 days (or until their validity ends, whichever is shorter) after a job ends to look for a new sponsor or change status. DHS has proposed eliminating that. Again, it's a proposal, and the grace period still exists today. The docket is USCIS-2026-0364.
The deference proposal: closes Friday, November 13.
DHS has proposed ending the practice of deferring to a prior approval when the same petition is filed for an extension (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E). The docket is USCIS-2026-0529. If finalized it could mean more scrutiny at renewal, but it hasn't been finalized.
One more thing worth knowing: the CPT hearing.
A federal judge in Massachusetts heard arguments last Friday, November 6, on the lawsuit over SEVP's CPT guidance. I haven't seen a ruling reported yet, so I'm not going to guess what happens next. If you're on CPT, your DSO is your best first call.
TLDR
Your last chance to voice your opinions or concerns on the three critical proposals is coming up!
The proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period closes Tuesday, November 10.
The proposal to remove deference for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E petitions closes Friday, November 13.
If you have an opinion, and data to back up solid reasoning, please go comment.
Connect by InHouse Core can notify you when status-relevant news lands, so you hear it from one place.
This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please consult a licensed immigration attorney or your school's DSO.
