USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Applicants Seeking to Change into F, M, or J Nonimmigrant Status
Major News for students here who want to start quickly and who we don’t want or need to travel abroad. USCIS has expanded premium processing to include students who are looking to change status to F, M, and J. Our team had suggested this to Ur Jaddou in 2020 before she became the Director of the agency; we are thrilled to see this happen!
“Beginning June 13 USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. Beginning June 26, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed either via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, when filed together with Form I-539.”
Get the full story on USCIS >
Foreign students critical to U.S. Research
This article was very interesting and full of some useful facts. There have been so many attempts to bar some foreign students from research and numerous claims that, given the opportunity, the students are involved in IP theft. Our counter-argument to this has always been to remind policymakers that the US has implemented safeguards to prevent international students from participating in security-sensitive research. This article reminds readers that very little research in the higher education space is secret.
“A serious lack of public understanding is seen in the ignorant view that most research in U.S. universities is somehow secret. Over 99% of research is neither intellectual property or military secrets, and it is published openly in science journals for all to read. Not only do other countries’ scientists read our basic research, but we read theirs. And we collaborate often.”
Get the full story on The Emporia Gazette >
Interview slots for US student visa applicants to be out soon
Capacity continues to be a challenge for Mission India. The US Consulate is preparing to once again process more students this fall than ever. Our team at Shorelight is closely monitoring visa appointment slots and working hard to ensure students who want to come to the US get that important interview!
“We have already released tens of thousands of appointments, and we have tens of thousands of additional appointments for July and August that will be released soon. Applicants should aim to check our website once or twice per day for this upcoming appointment release,” a US Embassy official told The Times of India.
Get the full story on The Times of India >
