Alerts & Announcements

Q: What is it?

A: The Presidential Proclamation named above restricts the entry into the United States of certain H-1B nonimmigrant workers, requiring a $100,000 payment to accompany or supplement H-1B petitions for new applications to address what the Proclamation describes as abuses that displace U.S. workers and undermine national security. 

Essentially, the Proclamation “requires a one-time fee of $100,000 to accompany any new H-1B petitions submitted on and after September 21^st, 2025.” Unless otherwise extended, the restriction will expire in one year.

Q: Who is impacted by the Proclamation?

A: USCIS guidance issued October 20, 2025 clarifies that the Proclamation on applies to: 

Any new H-1B petition submitted to USCIS after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on Sept. 21, 2025 for which the beneficiary is outside the U.S. and does not have a valid H-1B visa stamp. 

Q: Who is not impacted by the Proclamation?

A: According to the USCIS guidance, the Proclamation does not apply to any of the following scenarios:

Previously issued H-1B visas, or any petitions submitted prior to Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. This includes current H-1B employees already inside the U.S.

H-1B petitions filed after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 that requests a change of status or an amendment or an extension of status for which the beneficiary is inside the U.S. The beneficiary of such a petition is not subject to the Proclamation if they subsequently travel outside the U.S. and apply for an H-1B visa stamp based on the approved petition or seek to reenter the U.S. on a current H-1B visa stamp.  

Q: What about international travel and visa applications?

The Proclamation does not prevent any holder of a current valid H-1B visa and I-797 from traveling in and out of the United States. 

Individuals inside the U.S. with a valid H-1B status but not an H-1B visa (or an H-1B visa that has expired) are still eligible to apply for an H-1B visa at a U.S. consulate outside the U.S. and are not required to pay the $100,000 fee.

Due to the unpredictable nature of these changes, individual units at UNC Charlotte should carefully consider if traveling internationally on university business is necessary at this time. 

If international travel is necessary, H-1B employees should carry the following documents upon return to the U.S:

• Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the end date of the H-1B status.
• Valid H-1B visa (not required for Canadian citizens)
• Original I-797 approval notice
• UNC Charlotte offer letter and contract
• Print out of the 3 most recent UNC Charlotte pay stubs
• Print out of the Joseph Edlow Memo
• Print out of the CBP Memo

Q: Are any industries or organizations exempt from the Proclamation, such as institutions of higher education?

A: While there are no express exemptions contained within the Proclamation, the Proclamation provides for waivers that can be granted by the DHS Secretary of Homeland Security. USCIS explains that the Secretary may be granted exceptions to the $100,000 fee in “the extraordinarily rare circumstance where the Secretary determined that a particular alien worker’s presence in the United States as an H-1B worker is in the national interest, that no American worker is available to fill the role, that the alien worker does not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States, and that requiring the petitioning employer to make the payment on the alien’s behalf would significantly undermine the interests of the United States.”

Q: What steps should a University department or unit take if it is in the process of hiring, or is interested in hiring, an employee through an H-1B employment-based petition?

A:  There are several factors that determine whether or not an H-1B hire may be possible. If an international candidate outside the U.S. requiring visa sponsorship is among the top candidates in a faculty search, the unit must contact the International Student and Scholar Office (phone: 704-687-7781; email: intlsso@charlotte.edu) as soon as possible for guidance. 

Resources:

• USCIS latest updates dated 10/20/2025
• USCIS Memo from Joseph Endlow   
• USCIS H-1B FAQ
• Department of State Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers  
• Department of State H-1B FAQ 
• Customs and Border Protection Memo
• White House Fact Sheet
  
  Last updated on 10/21/2025

Presidential Proclamation: Entry Suspensions Affecting Certain Nationalities

Under the Presidential Proclamation of June 4, 2025, the U.S. government has suspended entry into the United States for nationals of 19 countries, effective 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9, 2025. The restrictions appear to apply only to nationals of the subject countries who are outside the United States and do not hold a valid U.S. visa as of June 9, 2025.

The restrictions are divided into two categories:

Category 1 – Full Suspension of Entry for Immigrants and Nonimmigrants

The entry of all immigrants and nonimmigrants is suspended for nationals of the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

Category 2 – Suspension of Entry for Nonimmigrants Only

The entry of nonimmigrants is suspended for nationals of the following countries:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

Please note that U.S. immigration policies can change rapidly. The ISSO is committed to providing updated and accurate information as quickly as possible in order to help the international community at UNC Charlotte navigate those changes. This summary of the Presidential Proclamation is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice, which can only be obtained from a licensed attorney. International students and scholars should exercise caution when planning international travel and consult the ISSO website and speak with ISSO advisors before committing to any international travel.

Important reminder: Upon entering the U.S., all travelers are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Inspections conducted when arriving at a U.S. border (such as an international airport) can include personal belongings, documents, electronic devices, and social media. Accordingly, it is important to ensure your social media accounts and activities comply with U.S. laws and visa regulations. Evaluate your social media activity and personal information, such as LinkedIn profiles, professional biographies, and résumés/CVs, to ensure a professional and accurate representation that is consistent with your application for admission.

Additionally, beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a state-issued REAL ID – compliant license or identification card, enhanced driver’s license, valid foreign government-issued passport, or another acceptable form of ID (such as a passport), to fly within the United States.

If you have any questions regarding travel or your visa status, please contact ISSO.

The Department of State (DOS) has announced a rule that permits J-1 program sponsors to digitally sign and electronically transmit the Form DS-2019 to J-1 exchange visitors. This means J-1 exchange visitors can receive an electronic version of the DS-2019 via e-mail from the ISSO rather than a hard copy via express mail shipment. Upon receiving an electronically sent DS-2019, J-1 exchange visitors (including J-2 dependents) must download, print, sign, and date the DS-2019 in ink. The rule does not allow for e-signatures by the exchange visitors.

Last edited on 9/24/2025

Based on a combination of best practices, laws, and regulations, all students and scholars on visas and even permanent residents (i.e. all noncitizens) to carry the following documents at all times:

• Original state ID or Drivers license
• Clear paper copy of a valid passport
• Clear copy of a visa
• Clear paper copy of the I-20 or DS-2019 form
• Copy of the most recent I-94

Additionally, all noncitizens living in the United States must report any change of address within 10 days of the change.

Currently enrolled international students with F-1 or J-1 visas can easily report address changes by updating their local mailing address in my.Charlotte.edu. The address information correctly entered in my.Charlotte.edu will flow into the ISSO Portal, from whence it shall journey into SEVIS, the official electronic database for non-immigrant students at UNC Charlotte–this completes the address reporting process and satisfies the U.S. government’s requirements.

Faculty on H-1B visas are advised to submit the USCIS Form AR-11 to update their addresses.

When receiving any phone call from someone you don’t know, it is always safe to let the call go to voicemail.  If the caller is legitimate, they will leave you a message and explain how you can call them back.  We also urge you to ‘trust your gut’ when something feels like a scam and/or spam reach out to the ISSO to confirm if the threat is legitimate.  

Clues that the call is part of a scam:

Scammers do not act professionally. Scammers may be loud, pushy, rude, and scary in an attempt to get you to ‘act now’ to relieve your distress, without giving you time to carefully think through the situation.

Scammers demand payment via gift cards or Bitcoin. The U.S. Government does not accept payments via gift card or Bitcoin. USCIS only accepts payments: online using a credit/debit card, prepaid debit card or bank withdrawal; by mail with a card, check, or money order (money orders can only go to a USCIS Lockbox or a Service Center); or in person at a USCIS field office. If the person that you are talking to requests your fees in a gift card or Bitcoin, it is a scam and safe to hang up.

The phone number may appear to be from USCIS or another U.S. government agency. USCIS will not, nor will any U.S. government agency call you! Scammers can spoof the caller ID to make it seem like that the call is coming from a legitimate U.S. government agency. If the U.S. government needs to reach you, they will contact you through paper mail, or send you electronic communication as part of your electronic application process (such as the electronic I-765).

For more information regarding scams, please click here.

Effective April 11, 2025, non-U.S. citizens who stay in the U.S. for 30 days or longer are required to register online with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and have their biometrics (fingerprints) collected. Many individuals who already have certain immigration documents (such as an I-94 arrival record) may already be considered registered. Non-immigrant visa holders, including international students and scholars who hold F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1, or TN status, as well as their dependent family members who entered the U.S. at the age of 14 or older, were automatically registered when they entered the U.S. This means many foreign nationals are already registered and typically do not need to take any further action.

Those who must register include, but are not limited to:

• Non-U.S. citizen children of international students, scholars, and faculty (e.g., F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3 dependents) who turned 14 after entering the U.S. must register within 30 days of April 11, 2025, or their 14th birthday. Children under 14 must be registered by their parents or guardians, though fingerprinting is not required until they turn 14.
  
• Canadian citizens who travel into the U.S. and did not receive an I-94 or fingerprinting must also register if staying for 30 days or longer.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new online form G-325R and fingerprinting requirements to facilitate compliance. Before taking any steps, please consult the DHS Alien Registration Requirement webpage for more details. Additionally, for useful information on the Alien Registration Requirement, please click here.

Reminder: All non-U.S. citizens are required to carry proof of their registration (such as Form I-94, current EAD, passport, etc.). F-1/J-1 enrolled students will continue to report their address updates within 10 days in my.charlotte.edu. F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT will continue to report their address updates within 10 days in the SEVP Portal. F-1s’ dependents’ addresses are reported by the F-1s via proxy in either of the two methods above. The registration requirement doesn’t change this.

J-1 scholars and researchers will report their address updates using the address update eform in the ISSO Portal.  

H-1B faculty will report their address updates using USCIS form AR-11.

Important Note: While ISSO staff are trained in the visa categories sponsored by UNC Charlotte and authorized by USCIS, they are not immigration attorneys or legal advisors. This information is for general guidance only and should not be considered legal advice. If you have any specific questions about your situation, we encourage you to consult with a private immigration attorney. For a list of attorneys, you may use the search feature on the American Immigration Lawyers Association website.