The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), proposing a new $70,000 fee for initial applications for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), as well as a new $30,000 fee for subsequent extensions. The proposed fees are under consideration through the regulatory process and are not yet final.
With the MS in Engineering Management program, Nishitha Nomula hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of technology and management to make a positive impact on the world around her.
OIS Executive Director Esther C. Lee welcomes students to the fall 2026 semester at USC.
From Hong Kong to the boxing ring, undergraduate student Audrey Cheng has experienced new connections and perspectives at USC.
On Sept. 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order pausing the effective date of the Department of Homeland Security’s Duration of Status Final Rule while litigation concerning the rule continues.
On August 24, 2026, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued Broadcast Message 2608-02, further clarifying that CPT must be an integral and required part of an established curriculum that applies to all students (domestic and international) participating in the same program.
Effective September 15, 2026, F-1/J-1 students and J-1 scholars will be admitted to the U.S. until the program end date listed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019. There are no immediate changes to your immigration status or required actions at this time. Additional guidance and instructional webinar schedules will be forthcoming.
“It is a really exciting time for robotics. There are a lot of unknowns, a lot of room for improvement and a lot of room for impact,” says Yusuf Umut Ciftci.
Ioannis Moustakis, a Finance and Business Economics PhD student, explores how banking, policy and financial decision-making intersect.
Ngoi Hui Chien, a PhD student in the Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture program, brings together multiple languages, histories and critical perspectives.
