The 5-minute brief for international students in America.
A rule gets paused. A fee gets extended—and stays blocked. Keeping up shouldn’t require a second degree.
Here’s what matters, plus three openings and a career-fair tip worth stealing.
The Big 3
Duration of status stays. For now.
Catch-up: A September 14 court order postponed the rule that would replace duration of status—the framework that lets eligible students remain while maintaining their status—with fixed admission periods. The rule is paused, not permanently struck down. Berkeley says it is processing program extensions, OPT, STEM OPT, and academic changes under existing rules; keep following your school’s current instructions. Court order · Berkeley’s explanation
The $100,000 fee has another chapter.
The White House extended its policy requiring a $100,000 payment for certain H-1B cases into September 2027. The crucial footnote: Notre Dame’s international office says the policy remains blocked by a court order. If you’re discussing sponsorship with an employer, the extension alone does not establish that this payment is currently due; the employer’s immigration counsel should confirm how the current rules apply. Proclamation · Current university guidance
Your sponsor’s layoffs enter the picture.
A separate September 18 executive order directs agencies to consider sponsoring employers’ layoffs in the previous year, and planned layoffs affecting similarly situated US workers, when reviewing specified H-1B matters. It also directs Labor to begin reviewing previously submitted labor condition applications within 30 days. Our takeaway: ask a prospective sponsor whether these changes affect its filing plans; the order does not say every employer with layoffs is automatically barred. Read the order
Status Update
New screening headline. Check the category.
Starting October 1, the State Department is expanding online-presence review to I, TN, and TD visa applicants. F-1 applicants are already covered, so this announcement does not newly add student visas. Applying for a visa? Read the instructions for your category and consulate rather than assuming every new headline changes your process. State Department notice
Open Roles
Checked September 24. Sponsorship language is role-specific; eligibility still depends on your circumstances.
H-1B SPONSORSHIP STATED
IXL · Software Engineer, New Grad
Raleigh-Durham, NC · $110,000–$135,000 base
The posting explicitly offers H-1B sponsorship. Requires a computer science or related degree and strong programming skills; work is in the Raleigh-area office. View the role
SPONSORSHIP NOT STATED
IXL · Associate Product Manager, New Grad
San Mateo, CA · $95,000–$120,000 base
A product role for STEM or related graduates interested in education, design, and problem-solving. The application asks for a résumé and a cover letter under 600 words. Sponsorship is not stated. View the role
SPONSORSHIP NOT STATED
Stripe · Software Engineer, New Grad
New York, Seattle, or South San Francisco · $122,100–$134,400 US base
For candidates with a computer science or related degree by summer 2027, or equivalent experience; no more than 18 months of professional experience, excluding internships. Sponsorship is not stated. View the role
Group Chat
Your dream employer doesn’t need your first draft.
From the archive: Mona Foroughi’s career-fair post recommends warming up with a lower-priority employer before approaching your top choice. She also suggests a compact company cheat sheet: what it does, a recent development, and your connection to the work.
Saved
The spreadsheet behind the sponsor search.
The Labor Department publishes downloadable employer application data, including H-1B labor condition applications. Its latest listed quarterly files cover determinations through June 30, 2026—a starting point for researching employers’ filing history. These are application records, not a list of open jobs or a promise of sponsorship. Bookmark the data
What’s Next
- Online-presence review expands to I, TN, and TD visa applicants. Details
- MIT lists the next hearing in the duration-of-status case. A date to watch, not a student filing deadline. Case update
Your status may be TBD. Your information shouldn’t be.
Status: TBD · Information checked September 24, 2026. General information, not individual legal advice. For decisions about your status, consult your school’s international office or qualified immigration counsel.