New visa and green card rules coming into effect from September 2026: 75 country ban lifted?

August 2026 has been a historic month for US immigration, as several new rules were announced this month. Some were proposals, others have just been published and are awaiting public comments, while others will be implemented starting in September. Two major changes to U.S. immigration and visa policy will go into effect in September 2026, along with standard fiscal year-end changes to green card availability.

End of “Duration of Status” for student and visitor visas as of September 15

The Department of Homeland Security is replacing the decades-old open “Duration of Status” (D/S) model with fixed admission dates for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders. Students are the primary target group of these new rules. F-1 students will no longer be admitted to the US as long as they continue studying. They will receive a fixed date linked to the end date of their program or a maximum of 4 years, whichever is shorter.For courses lasting more than 4 years, students will get an extension upon application.Colleges and universities have asked international students who are outside the US to return by September 15 so that they are not negatively affected by the new rule. A lawsuit has been filed against the new rule and the first hearing is September 3. And implementation of the new rule depends on the outcome of the hearing, but universities have already taken steps to alert students.

Public charge inadmissibility rules effective September 18

This new rule is for Green Card applicants. If the immigration officer determines that the applicant does not have enough money and will rely heavily on government assistance, he or she will deny permanent residency or may require the applicant to post a public charge bond. The officer will verify whether the applicant received public benefits, such as income maintenance cash assistance, housing assistance, food stamps, college financial aid, or any other similar government benefits.“For means-tested public benefits received before September 18, 2026, USCIS will only consider the alien’s receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense. For means-tested public benefits received on or after September 18, 2026, USCIS will consider any and all benefits. USCIS will review all relevant evidence in an alien’s record and make decisions on a case-by-case basis in the of the foreigner’s benefits,” DHS said, explaining.

End of visa bulletin limit for fiscal year 2026 and possibility of regression

As September marks the last month of the US government’s 2026 fiscal year, the State Department has issued specific notices for immigrant visa processing:Limit exhaustion: High-demand employment categories, specifically EB-1 (India), EB-2 (Global/India), and EB-5 unreserved, may reach annual numerical limits and regress or become unavailable until fiscal year 2027 opens on October 1, 2026.DV-2026 Expiration: The eligibility of all those selected for the 2026 Diversity Visa officially expires on September 30, 2026.

Ban lifted in 75 countries?

On January 21, 2026, the State Department suspended immigrant visas to these countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada. Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.As a result of a court order, the ban is no longer in force as of August 21, 2026. But all embassies around the world suspended visa interviews in August for internal training of officials and therefore the lifting will take effect in September.