A new report by the Council of Graduate Schools indicates offers of admission to foreign students to attend graduate programs at U.S. universities grew by 11% in 2010, fueled by a 23% increase in offers of admission to prospective students from China. This represents a significant increase from 2009’s growth rate of 3%. In addition to continuing strong growth in admissions to Chinese students (the sixth year in a row of double-digit gains), overall rates were boosted by strong growth in admissions to students from Turkey, the Middle East and India, and a leveling-off of declining student admissions from South Korea. Read the report’s highlights and further analysis of foreign graduate student trends in the United States at the CGS website.

Haitians in the United States affected by the devastating Jan. 2010 earthquake have until Nov. 15, 2011 to file for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) if they have not done so already. Haitians previously granted TPS that expires on July 22, 2011 must re-file by Aug. 22, 2011. All holders of TPS in the United States should stay informed of expiration of status, filing deadlines and requirements for employment authorization with USCIS online at http://www.uscis.gov/tps or by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
at 800-375-5283.

In a July 26 ruling, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denied an I-130 petition filed by a San Francisco man seeking immigrant benefits for his same-sex spouse. The decision portends future legal battles over same-sex immigration benefits. The Department of Justice under the Obama Administration has decided not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), the 1996 law which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples, on equal protection grounds. Read more about the controversial decision.