🛑 What to Know Before You File Anything in August

This Week’s Immigration News Highlights

• ICE Budget Bigger Than Some Country’s Military

• Judge Rules Against Trump to Protect 60k Undocumented Immigrants

• U.S. to Build the Largest Detention Center in Texas

🎓 Back-to-School, But Not Back to Status: F-1 Students Facing Delays and Denials

Each August, international students flood U.S. campuses eager to begin or continue their academic journey. But this year, many are being met not with welcome banners but with bureaucratic red tape. Reports from across the country show increasing delays in visa processing, SEVIS system glitches, and even rejections of CPT and OPT requests that previously sailed through.

What’s Causing the Hold-Up?

The combination of record-high F-1 filings, understaffed consulates, and tech issues with SEVIS has created a bottleneck. Several U.S. embassies are facing limited interview slots (especially in India, China, and Nigeria) leaving students scrambling for appointments or unable to travel in time for their program start dates.

Even students already in the U.S. aren’t immune. CPT (Curricular Practical Training) applications have seen more scrutiny, with schools tightening their approval processes to avoid DHS audits. Meanwhile, OPT (Optional Practical Training) delays are leaving graduates jobless as they await Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), some for over 100 days.

What Can You Do?

Here are a few critical steps for affected students:

• If you're outside the U.S.:

  • Check for expedited interview requests via consulate websites, use proof of academic deadlines or financial hardship.

  • Look into third-country visa appointments in places with more availability (e.g., Vietnam, Qatar, or Mexico).

• If you're in the U.S. and stuck on EAD delays:

  • Call USCIS after 90 days have passed using your receipt number. Ask to escalate based on severe financial loss.

  • Contact your school’s DSO for help submitting an expedite request or correcting any SEVIS record errors.

• Document everything. Keep copies of emails, appointment confirmations, I-20 forms, and any correspondence with your school or USCIS. If your case spirals, you’ll need a paper trail.

As colleges begin the semester, hundreds of students are still in limbo. Some arriving late with temporary solutions, others forced to defer. If you're navigating this mess, remember you're not alone.

Quick, informed action can make the difference.

⏳ Beware of the August Rush: USCIS Processing Slowdowns and How to Beat Them

Every August, USCIS offices face a perfect storm of backlogged cases, budget exhaustion, and a surge in filings ahead of the September 30th fiscal year end. The result? Longer response times, misplaced paperwork, and inexplicable case stagnation.

Here’s how to avoid getting swept up:

• File early in the month. Submitting forms in the first two weeks of August can help your case avoid the worst of the backlog.

• Track your mail like it’s gold. Use certified mail or delivery confirmation when sending forms. Misplaced applications are more common during this period!

• Include a cover letter. Briefly explain what you’re submitting and list all enclosures. It helps USCIS officers quickly understand and organize your file.

• Set up USPS Informed Delivery. Know exactly when your mail gets picked up or delivered, and take screenshots of every notice you receive.

The chaos usually cools by mid-October, but for now, a little extra vigilance can keep your case from getting lost in the shuffle.

That’s it for this week!

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Whether you're a student arriving on campus or a petitioner trying to beat the fiscal year clock, August is not the month to leave things to chance. Proactive steps, strong documentation, and persistence can help you stay ahead of a system that’s struggling to keep up.

Until next time, hope y’all find shade! ⛱☀️