Immigration Rules Tracker

Modification of the Test of the New Electronic Informal Entry Process for Mail

This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is modifying the test of the new electronic informal entry type for merchandise entering the United States through the international mail process to permit transmission of the entry with or without electronic Partner Government Agency (PGA) data.

Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process; Delayed Compliance Extension

This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will extend the compliance date for the regulatory provisions mandating the formal entry of merchandise arriving through the international postal network that is subject to partner government agency requirements, subject to duties under Chapter 98 or Chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), or for which duty-free treatment is claimed under Chapter 98 of the HTSUS or pursuan...

Accreditation and Approval of SGS North America, Inc. (St. Rose, LA), as a Commercial Gauger and Laboratory

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that SGS North America, Inc. (St. Rose, LA), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of May 29, 2025.

Accreditation and Approval of AmSpec, LLC (La Porte, TX), as a Commercial Gauger and Laboratory

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that AmSpec, LLC (La Porte, TX), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of July 7, 2026.

Accreditation and Approval of SGS North America, Inc. (Carteret, NJ), as a Commercial Gauger and Laboratory

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that SGS North America, Inc. (Carteret, NJ), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of September 5, 2025.

Accreditation of SGS North America, Inc. (Reserve, LA), as a Commercial Laboratory

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that SGS North America, Inc. (Reserve, LA), has been accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of May 28, 2025.

Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation

In the Notice section of today's Federal Register, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), a component within the United States Department of Justice (DOJ or Department), has published a notice of a new system of records titled "Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program Records" and numbered JUSTICE/EOIR-006. This system of records is exempt from U.S.C. 552a(c)(3) and (d) pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a (k)(2). EOIR proposes to exempt this system of records from certain provis...

Removal of Automatic Extensions for Certain Employment Authorization Documents

On October 30, 2025, DHS published an interim final rule (IFR) that amended DHS regulations to end the practice of automatically extending the validity of employment authorization documents (Forms I- 766 or EADs) for aliens who have timely filed an application to renew their EAD in certain employment authorization categories. This final rule responds to comments received on the IFR and reaffirms and finalizes the provisions of the IFR. Ending the automatic extension of EADs e...

Who this affects: EAD / work-authorization holders

Removing 30-Day Refugee Termination Notice

This interim final rule (IFR) amends Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to expedite termination of refugee status when DHS determines an alien was not a refugee within the meaning of section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act at the time of admission to the United States. The response period to a Notice of Intent to Terminate (NOIT) is reduced from thirty to ten days. These changes aim to restore integrity to the immigration system, mitigate risk...

Who this affects: Asylum seekers and refugees

Imposition and Collection of Civil Penalties for Certain Immigration-Related Violations

On June 27, 2025, the Departments issued an interim final rule ("IFR") to streamline assessment of civil penalties under the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA") for aliens who fail to depart during a voluntary departure period, willfully fail or refuse to depart after a final removal order and certain other proscribed activities, or are apprehended while improperly entering or attempting to enter the United States. This final rule addresses comments and finalizes the IFR...

Removing Deference to Prior USCIS Determinations of Eligibility

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), proposes to remove 8 CFR 214.1(c)(5), which generally provides that USCIS gives deference to a prior approval involving the same facts when adjudicating a request to extend a petition for an alien's employment or stay. This change would better align DHS regulations with the statute, which places the burden of proving eligibility for all immigration benefits on the petitioner, ap...

Who this affects: U.S. employers filing H-1B petitions · Naturalization applicants

Advance Traveler Information for Rail

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is proposing to require rail carriers to transmit advance electronic traveler information to CBP for any individual (crew and passengers) who is arriving in or departing from the United States on board a train. The rail carrier also would be required to transmit an advance notice of arrival or departure, as applicable, for the train. This rule would enhance security while facilitating legitimate international travel on board trains.

Low-Value Shipments

This document proposes to amend the U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations to modify filing requirements for informal entries of goods valued at $2,500 or less and to establish a new electronic informal entry type for merchandise entering through the mail environment. This document also proposes other related changes such as requiring an additional data element for carriers pertaining to mail shipments and imposing bonding requirements for certain informal entries.

Optional Practical Training Fees

This rule proposes new fees for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect U.S. workers. The following fees would apply for each F-1 nonimmigrant student to engage in OPT through a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified institution: $70,000 for initial OPT; and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT.

Who this affects: F-1 / J-1 students and OPT holders

Title: Determinations Pursuant to Section 2(b)(2) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962

Who this affects: Asylum seekers and refugees