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Happy Wednesday. ✨

The Open Atlas Weekly Bulletin

DHS Reviewing OPT Rules for F-1 Students

US Increases Premium Processing Fees Starting March 1, 2026

Anthropic Launches Skilljar Learning Platform for Claude AI

Now, onto the newsletter.

🧑‍🎓 Admissions Corner

​DHS Reviewing OPT Rules for F-1 Students​

The US Department of Homeland Security is reviewing the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, including the 24-month STEM extension. OPT currently allows 12 months of post-graduation work, with extended work authorization for STEM fields, and is widely used by international students. The review is examining labour market impact, oversight, and regulatory authority. While no changes have been announced, potential adjustments to duration or eligibility could affect post-study work pathways.
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​GoScholar.ai Uses AI to Instantly Match International Students With Best-Fit Global Universities​

GoScholar.ai is an AI platform that matches international students with universities in 60 seconds based on academic profile, test scores, and preferences. It covers 1,000+ schools across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, highlighting budget-friendly and no-fee options with estimated acceptance probabilities. Upcoming features include scholarship matching, visa checklists, essay feedback, and deadline tracking. Early users report admits and full scholarships at institutions such as Cornell, Vanderbilt, and USC.

📗 Immigration desk: Visa news, options & updates

​H-1B Visa Stamps Revoked Over Remote Work From Abroad​

H-1B holders are facing visa stamp revocations linked to extended remote work outside the U.S. While remote work within the U.S. is allowed only if properly covered under a certified LCA, working from abroad can raise re-entry and eligibility concerns. Under Section 221(i), the State Department can revoke a visa stamp at any time if circumstances change. Importantly, a revoked visa stamp does not automatically cancel H-1B status if the underlying petition and I-94 remain valid.
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​US Increases Premium Processing Fees Starting March 1, 2026​

USCIS will raise Premium Processing fees across multiple visa categories effective March 1, 2026. For H-1B and most other Form I-129 classifications, the fee will increase from $2,805 to $2,965. H-2B and R-1 petitions will rise to $1,780, while I-539 and I-765 premium fees will also see moderate increases. Any request postmarked on or after March 1 must include the new fee. Premium Processing timelines remain unchanged, with USCIS continuing to guarantee action within 15 to 45 calendar days depending on the form category.

💫Career Resources

​Anthropic Launches Skilljar Learning Platform for Claude AI​

Anthropic’s Skilljar platform offers structured, trackable courses on using Claude AI models, APIs, and related tools. The modules cover topics such as Claude API development, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Claude Code integration, and deployment via Amazon Bedrock or Google Cloud Vertex AI. Designed for developers, students, educators, and professionals, the platform provides hands-on learning beyond basic documentation.
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​Google Launches AI-Powered Job Search Certificate on Coursera​

Google’s beginner-friendly Career Certificates specialization teaches job seekers how to use tools like Gemini, NotebookLM, Career Dreamer, and Google Sheets to run a structured job search. The 4-course program covers skill identification, tailored resumes and cover letters, application tracking, AI-driven networking outreach, and interview practice. No prior AI experience is required. Learners finish with a complete job search portfolio and a Google-issued certificate for LinkedIn and CV use.
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🪄 Community highlight

MBA Round 1 Strategy: How to Build a Winning B-School Application
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We’re hosting a free webinar on how to approach MBA Round 1 with clarity and structure.

Sridhar Y, Columbia Business School alumnus and founder of Open Admits, will break down what top MBA programs actually look for and how to build a cohesive, competitive application. With 130+ successful admits and over $7M in scholarships secured, he’ll share how to think about essays, recommendations, resume positioning, and overall narrative from a strategic lens.

Date & Time: March 7, 2026 | 10:00 AM EST
​Register here.
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Check out our calendar for upcoming events or subscribe to stay updated.https://luma.com/openatlas​
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​👉 Want to put yourself in front of 40,000+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.

Until next week, stay awesome.

Yours truly,

Team Open Atlas 💙

💡 None of the information shared in this newsletter is meant to be legal advice. If you're looking for legal advice, speak to a lawyer.

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