August 2026 has been a milestone month for US immigration, as several new rules were announced this month. Some were proposals, some were just published and waiting for public comment, while some will be implemented from September. Two major changes to US immigration and visa policy go into effect in September 2026, alongside standard end-of-fiscal-year shifts in green card availability.
End of “Duration of Status” for student and visitor visas from September 15
The Department of Homeland Security is replacing the decades-old open-ended “Duration of Status” (D/S) model with fixed admission dates for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders. Students are the primary target group of these new rules. F-1 students will no longer be admitted to the US as long as they continue studying. They will receive a fixed date ties to their program end date or a maximum of 4 years, whichever is shorter.For courses that run longer than 4 years, students will get an extension on applying.Colleges and universities have asked international students who are outside the US to return before September 15 so that they are not negatively impacted by the new rule. A lawsuit has been filed against the new rule, and the first hearing is on September 3. And the implementation of the new rule depends on the outcome of the hearing, but universities have already taken measures to alert students.
Public charge inadmissibility rules effective from September 18
This new rule is for Green Card applicants. If the immigration officer determines that the applicant does not have enough money and will largely depend on government aid, they will deny permanent residency, or they may ask the applicant to pay a public charge bond. The officer will check whether the applicant received public benefits, such as cash assistance for income maintenance, housing assistance, food stamps, financial aid for college or any other similar benefit from the government.“For means-tested public benefits received before Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS will only consider the alien’s receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at the government’s expense. For means-tested public benefits received on or after Sept. 18, 2026, USCIS consider any and all benefits. USCIS will review all relevant evidence in an alien’s record and make case-by-case decisions in the totality of the alien’s circumstances,” the DHS said, explaining.
End of FY 2026 visa bulletin cap and possibility of retrogression
Because September marks the final month of US Government Fiscal Year 2026, the Department of State has issued specific notices for immigrant visa processing:Cap exhaustion: High-demand employment categories, specifically EB-1 (India), EB-2 (Worldwide/India), and EB-5 Unreserved, may hit annual numerical caps and retrogress or become unavailable until FY2027 opens on October 1, 2026.DV-2026 expiration: Entitlement for all Diversity Visa 2026 selectees officially expires on September 30, 2026.
Is ban on 75 countries lifted?
On January 21, 2026, the Department of State paused immigrant visas to these countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.As a result of a court order, the ban is no longer in effect since August 21, 2026. But all embassies across the worlds paused visa interviews in August for internal training of officers and hence the lift will be in effect in September.
