{"id":24468,"date":"2025-04-11T14:19:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T14:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/international.northeastern.edu\/ogs-ca\/?p=24468"},"modified":"2025-09-05T19:41:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T19:41:04","slug":"uscis-policy-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/international.northeastern.edu\/ogs-ca\/uscis-policy-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"USCIS Policy Changes &#8211; Updated September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote>\r\n<h3><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">August 19, 2025: USCIS Considers \u201cAnti-American\u201d Activity when Adjudicating Applications\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<span data-contrast=\"none\">When adjudicating certain immigration benefit requests, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will now consider whether an applicant has:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201c&#8230;endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused anti-American views or the views of a terrorist organization or group (including in social media content by, or involving an alien). This includes organizations who support or promote anti-American ideologies or activities, antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, antisemitic ideologies, or has engaged in physical harassment of any person in furtherance of the organization or group&#8230;\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span data-contrast=\"none\">This may impact individuals submitting a variety of application to USCIS, including:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Applications for<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> F-1 reinstatement<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Most applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), including<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), F-1 STEM OPT<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, H-4 EADs, and adjustment of status EADs;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Applications for extensions or changes of status;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Applications for a National Interest Waiver; and<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Applications for adjustment of status.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span data-contrast=\"none\">To review the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/document\/policy-manual-updates\/20250819-DiscretionaryFactors.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">updated Policy Guidance from USCIS, click here.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span data-contrast=\"none\">If you have questions about how this may impact your F-1\/J-1 status, please contact the Office of Global Services.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559739&quot;:396}\">\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>April 11, 2025: USCIS Policy Changes of &#8220;Antisemitic Activity&#8221;<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\nThe U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a policy change that may impact international students, scholars, and other noncitizens applying for U.S. immigration benefits.\r\n\r\nEffective immediately, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will consider involvement in &#8220;antisemitic activity&#8221;\u2014including social media content that supports or promotes antisemitic terrorism or organizations such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or the Houthis\u2014as a negative factor in immigration benefit requests.\r\n\r\nThis policy may affect F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM OPT, Economic Hardship, Special Student Relief, etc., and other F\/J individuals applying for immigration benefits via USCIS. We encourage members of the Northeastern international student and scholar community to review the full announcement here:\r\n\r\n<a id=\"OWAfb150d69-d868-83da-45ac-d0edbb38af85\" class=\"x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/newsroom\/news-releases\/dhs-to-begin-screening-aliens-social-media-activity-for-antisemitism. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uscis.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fnews-releases%2Fdhs-to-begin-screening-aliens-social-media-activity-for-antisemitism&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cr.elliott%40northeastern.edu%7C0b9ed797c2654b48c1ea08dd790276ba%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C638799773674184758%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=qXhankGITdiQWhRZuKAgI8tm7556qSo1Aj4yumAo8Cs%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"0\">DHS Announcement<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 April 11, 2025\r\n\r\nIf you have questions about how this may impact your immigration status, please contact the Office of Global Services.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>August 19, 2025: USCIS Considers \u201cAnti-American\u201d Activity when Adjudicating Applications\u00a0 When adjudicating certain immigration benefit requests, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will now consider whether an applicant has:\u00a0 \u201c&#8230;endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused anti-American views or the views of a terrorist organization or group (including in social media content by, or involving&#8230;  <a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/international.northeastern.edu\/ogs-ca\/uscis-policy-changes\/\" title=\"Read USCIS Policy Changes &#8211; Updated September 2025\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-updates"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>USCIS Policy Changes - Updated September 2025 - OGS - Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/international.northeastern.edu\/ogs-ca\/uscis-policy-changes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"USCIS Policy Changes - Updated September 2025 - OGS - Canada\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"August 19, 2025: USCIS Considers \u201cAnti-American\u201d Activity when Adjudicating Applications\u00a0 When adjudicating certain immigration benefit requests, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will now consider whether an applicant has:\u00a0 \u201c&#8230;endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused anti-American views or the views of a terrorist organization or group (including in social media content by, or involving... 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