MATES Resources
Verified student visa, immigration, work-rights and post-study updates for United States, each linked to the official government source.
Visa and immigration requirements can change. Review the linked official government source and confirm the latest requirements with MATES before making an application decision. This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
Speak with a MATES counsellor and explore destinations, universities and programmes suited to your profile.
2 updates
A Department of Homeland Security final rule, effective 15 September 2026, admits F and J students for the length of their programme — up to four years — instead of 'duration of status'. Students who need more time must apply to USCIS for an extension, and the F-1 post-study grace period falls from 60 to 30 days.
A Department of Homeland Security final rule, effective 27 February 2026, replaced purely random H-1B cap selection with a weighted process that generally favours higher-skilled and higher-paid positions, while keeping a chance of selection at all wage levels. It applied from the FY 2027 registration season.